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Find out more about Vanina Reinert’s inspiring career path. After an initial career in languages and banking, Vanina took a decisive turn towards IT. She tells us about her professional development and shares her valuable advice for those considering a career in this field.
My name is Vanina and I have been with Caceis for 17 years. For the last 7 years, I have worked as a Business Coordinator, meaning I act as a link between the operational and technical teams. CACEIS is a bank that helps other companies manage their finances and investments. Initially, I was recruited because of my language skills, after studying in this field. For ten years, I held various positions in customer relations and in the operations department. Then I decided to go into IT, attracted by my curiosity about the sector and the exchanges with the IT team. I have now been working in IT for 7 years.
During an internal reorganisation, I was offered a position in the IT team. As I had no initial IT training, the company offered to train me to help me make the switch. They saw a key skill in me: My knowledge of the company and the business. I accepted the challenge and the transition went smoothly. My current role consists in helping the operational teams to solve functional problems and acting as a link between them and the developers.
My work involves a lot of collaboration and varied projects. The diversity of the projects and the flexibility of the work make the environment dynamic and enjoyable. The balance between professional and personal life is well managed, contrary to the sometimes cold image of the financial sector.
An open mind is crucial. IT also involves interacting with customers, managing time and teams. Essential skills include reliability, a sense of responsibility and an attitude of constant curiosity. You also need to be able to put yourself in the user’s shoes to create useful and understandable solutions.
I would ask her why she thinks that. Computer science is often misunderstood. It is not just about coding alone in front of a screen. I would advise her to do an internship to discover the diversity and opportunities of the field. Personally, I wasn’t attracted to IT at first, but I discovered that there is a huge diversity of roles and personalities in this sector. It is important to be open-minded, to try out new things and to have confidence in yourself.
The women here are extremely competent, just like their male colleagues. There is no difference in ability between men and women. It is a question of open-mindedness and passion.
Working with a majority of men can be intimidating, but it is more a question of character than gender. An extrovert will easily approach men and women without distinction. Perhaps what is special about IT is that you have to know how to work with colleagues who are introverts and approach them in a direct and effective way. Once the relationship has been established, the work becomes more fluid.
No, no-one has ever said that to me, but I have sometimes thought it was true because of stereotypes. These ideas are wrong: IT is a field open to everyone. If you want to go for it, go for it and don’t let anyone discourage you. As women, we have to dare and not put up any barriers.
Yes, I get up with a smile on my face every morning. Personal development training has helped me realise how much I enjoy my work. It is important to acknowledge your successes and constantly strive to improve yourself, while balancing intense and calm moments.
