Where is Kim Belassen now?
Kim is one of ITC’s Data Science Fellows alumna who graduated from the third cohort. Two years later she is now working as a front-end engineer at vente-privee, a French e-commerce company in Israel. Kim is currently working on developing an internal tool that will be used to ease sales management for the company. What adds to the excitement is that she is working with a scrum team in a multicultural environment (check out her buddy on the right).
How did you end up in Computer Science?
After getting my high school degree, I started to study design and visual communication. It didn’t take me long to realize that this field was more of a hobby than a career for me. I left the program and decided to enroll for an engineering degree which I believed would open a lot more options in terms of a career choice and job positions. I love the creative aspect of visual communication, and I feel I still have it when it comes to creating a web application or software.
What are the challenges you face of being a woman in tech?
I think the main challenges to overcome the ideas and prejudice toward us. I think this is the main gap and the reason why women are represented less in tech.
Do you notice a lack of women in technology? If so, why do you think that’s the case?
I first noticed it at school, then during my internships, at work and even at ITC. I think the truth is that we are not aware of what tech could bring to us. There are a lot options open to us when we start a tech career. I asked many of my school’s alumni about their job missions and this shed light on my understanding that a computer science degree could lead to me working in various fields, in various positions. This is what I love about tech.
What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in the tech industry? What do you wish you had known?
Don’t be afraid to ask. The tech eco-system is vast, and there are many different career paths that you can take and enjoy. If you’re interested, go to meetups, meet people in the field and ask about their typical day. Be confident and believe in you!
Something I wish I knew about is the imposter syndrome (the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills). I think I would have been more confident if I knew that a lot of people were actually feeling the same.
What has been your most career-defining moment that you are proud of?
I am proud and happy that I learnt so many skills and knowledge during the last two years after completing the Data Science program at ITC. I had the opportunity to work in different fields which helped me decide what I really like doing in the vast work of tech.
What’s next for you? Where would you love to see yourself in a few years?
I see myself evolving in my current job. I just started there, and I love the atmosphere and what I do. I am learning all the time and I hope it will continue like this for many years.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not coding?
When Kim is not working and running the front-end engineering at her office, you will find her listening to podcasts (her most current is – http://www.streetwisehebrew.com/), swimming and playing guitar.