In the dynamic world of technology, where innovation knows no bounds, it is essential to spotlight the exceptional women who are shaping the industry and driving progress. We had the privilege of conversing with the brilliant minds working behind the scenes at Weborama, a company at the forefront of digital advertising and data solutions.
It is important to remember that the history of computing itself has been profoundly influenced by visionary women. Over the decades, pioneers such as Ada Lovelace, who wrote the first computer program, and Grace Hopper, who contributed to the development of the first compiler, played a fundamental role in the creation and evolution of this field.
This editorial series aims to restore their nobility to them.
Following on from the first two interviews with Kristina Voit and Olga Micollier, it’s time for Narimen Kadem, Product Manager at Weborama, to talk about her experience.
Could you please introduce yourself briefly, tell us about your background, and how you arrived here?
I come from a background in business school with a focus on digital marketing, but I quickly shifted towards more technical roles, closely related to product development.
Right from the start, even during my internships, I was more inclined towards tech-oriented positions, such as assistant product manager, shaping the product vision, and others. I already knew that I wanted to move in this direction, and I was counting on this combination of marketing and tech to steer my future career. That’s how I ended up joining Weborama in 2019.
What is your role at Weborama, and what are your responsibilities?
My role as a product manager involves continually enhancing my understanding of the market and users, carrying the product vision, and collaborating with the development, quality assurance, and design teams to turn this vision into reality.
In a way, my overarching mission is to bridge the gap between the market and the developers. This allows for a thorough understanding of what is expected.
On a daily basis, I’ve had to learn how to communicate effectively with the developers to ensure all criteria are acceptable for a feature to be sound, and collaborate with the Quality Assurance team to identify and prevent any vulnerabilities in our products.
Could you share an accomplishment or project that you are particularly proud of since you joined the company?
I take particular pride in my various collaborations with multiple teams within Weborama to drive cross-team projects (NLP backend design data science and frontend). This has enabled me to become more versatile, adapt to new and sometimes complex situations.
What skills or qualities do you believe women bring to the field of technology, and how does it strengthen the team at Weborama?
For me, it’s this emotional intelligence (better communication, a natural sense of empathy, and the ease of connecting with others), the spirit of collaboration, and adaptability to change that I mentioned in the previous question that can be an asset for women in this field, in addition to operational skills.
How do you perceive the importance of diversity and the representation of women in tech, and how is this reflected at Weborama?
I believe that diversity is an excellent way to address the talent shortage in a rapidly growing industry and an opportunity for women to hold highly rewarding and equally intriguing positions, just as in other professions. Weborama actively promotes and encourages women to thrive in the tech field, and several of our key positions are held by women.
I began as an intern at Weborama, worked my way up to become a Product Owner, and now hold the role of Product Manager. Weborama provides opportunities for all of us.
What advice would you give to young women looking to pursue a career in tech, especially at Weborama?
Dare to do it! The job descriptions outlined in job offers are not the ONLY yardstick to measure your qualifications for a particular position.
“I was a Product Owner, and I’ve never coded in my life.” – Narimen Kadem
Outside of your work, are you involved in any initiatives or activities aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in tech or within Weborama?
Yes, I participated in an activity during Weborama’s 25th anniversary. We visited an underprivileged high school in Pantin and introduced them to our professions. We even engaged in the recruitment process for an intern. These kinds of initiatives make me eager to do more. If Weborama organizes more of these, I would be delighted to participate.
Can you tell us about a woman in tech who inspires you and how her journey has influenced your own career?
ANNIE EASLEY, a pharmacy graduate, but applied for a job at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and then expanded her skills to become a programmer.
Why Annie? Because her initial training (as a pharmacy graduate) did not predispose her in any way to the field of dev and yet she developed the code that led to the development of the batteries used in hybrid cars!
I can conclude this interview with the phrase: “You don’t have to be a development genius to work in tech; you just need to be yourself.”
