07 Mar Breaking Barriers: Women Leading in Tech at Codam
On Thursday, 7 March, we hosted an engaging event as part of International Women’s Day celebrations, bringing together four of the Netherlands’ most influential female tech leaders for an inspiring panel discussion. The event, titled “Breaking Barriers: Women Leading in Tech,” created a platform for honest conversations about challenges, innovations, and advice for women in the technology sector, with moments of genuine connection.
Diverse Journeys in Tech Leadership
Our distinguished panel featured an impressive lineup of tech executives:
- Artie Debidien, Founder of FRWRD and former Chief Information Officer at KPN
- Anka Gajentaan, Managing Director at Randstad Digital
- Dragana Mijatovic, Managing Partner at Eraneos
- Corinne Vigreux, Co-founder and CMO of TomTom, and Founder of Codam
These accomplished leaders shared their personal journeys in the tech industry, offering valuable insights. What became beautifully clear throughout the evening was that there is no single template for success – each woman had carved her own unique path to leadership.
Finding Freedom and Strength in Different Ways
Corinne Vigreux offered thoughtful advice on personal autonomy, encouraging attendees to “mute yourself from other people’s opinions.” She emphasized that while feedback from trusted connections like friends, close colleagues, and family members is valuable, trying to please everyone – especially in today’s often challenging social media environment – won’t be helpful.
“Equality starts with how you perceive yourself,” Vigreux noted with warmth. “Don’t fall for the mind trap that because of your gender you will be perceived differently. Let go of those thoughts that can hold you back.” Her message of self-liberation resonated with many in the audience, who recognized how self-imposed limitations can sometimes be the hardest barriers to overcome.
Artie Debidien shared a different perspective on personal growth, suggesting that insecurities can actually become a driving force for improvement. With a touch of humor, she mentioned, “There’s a reason why McKinsey only hires insecure people – they always strive to be better.” Debidien explained how she transformed her own insecurities into motivation throughout her career, continually pushing herself to develop new skills and take on new challenges.
Let go of those thoughts that can hold you back.
Embracing Individual Strengths
The diversity of approaches among these successful leaders was further highlighted by Anka Gajentaan, who described leveraging her mathematical and analytical aptitude to demonstrate competence in challenging environments. Her methodical approach to breaking down complex problems into manageable components and using data to support her positions had served her well throughout her career.
With a smile, Anka revealed an unexpected source of inspiration: her role model is Pippi Longstocking – the fictional character who fearlessly embraces new challenges without reservations. “She just did it,” Anka explained, emphasizing the power of stepping forward with confidence.
Dragana Mijatovic shared a pivotal moment in her career that emphasized the importance of recognizing and valuing one’s unique strengths. She described a time when she nearly quit her job, feeling inadequate compared to a colleague named Frank who excelled at detailed, organized project management.
“My manager asked me what my strengths were,” Dragana recalled, “and I explained that I was better equipped at strategic thinking and developing visions. He then asked me: ‘So why would you like to be like Frank?'” This question proved revelatory, helping Dragana understand that her different approach wasn’t a weakness but a valuable complement to her team. “That’s when I realized that diversity in a team is powerful – we need different types of thinkers and leaders.”
Multiple Paths to Success
One particularly meaningful moment came during the Q&A session when an audience member asked if someone without strong mathematical abilities could still have a successful tech career. The question seemed to resonate with many in the room.
Anka responded thoughtfully, explaining that companies and teams desperately need diversity of thought and skill sets. “If you have greater people skills or are more creative, those strengths are much needed in the tech world,” she assured. Artie nodded in agreement, adding a warm encouragement: “You’ll be alright. You’ll bring other qualities that will enrich team dynamics.”
This exchange captured the evening’s overarching message: the tech industry benefits from different perspectives, skills, and approaches. There isn’t just one type of person who belongs in technology or one defined path to success.
Leading tech ladies generously share their insights at Codam
Practical Takeaways
Throughout the evening, the panellists offered practical advice that reflected their diverse approaches:
- Know yourself and your strengths – Understanding what you uniquely bring to the table is essential for finding your place in the industry.
- Find supportive mentors – As Dragana’s story illustrated, having someone who sees your potential and helps you recognize it can be transformative.
- Build confidence your way – Whether through technical expertise like Anka, transforming insecurities into drive like Artie, or liberating yourself from others’ opinions like Corinne, finding your path to confidence is crucial.
- Embrace diversity in teams – Recognizing that different skills and perspectives strengthen outcomes helps create more inclusive and innovative environments.
Looking Forward
As Codam continues its mission to train the next generation of tech talent, events like “Breaking Barriers” play a crucial role in highlighting the many different paths to success in the industry. By showcasing diverse leaders with varied approaches, strengths, and stories, these discussions help create a more inclusive vision of who belongs in tech.
The message was clear: there is no single template for success in the technology industry. What matters is recognizing your unique strengths, finding environments that value them, and having the courage to forge your own path – however unconventional it might be.
These four remarkable women have not just navigated the tech landscape – they’ve fundamentally reshaped it. Through their leadership, innovation, and willingness to challenge the status quo, they’ve opened doors that were once firmly closed. Their achievements prove beyond doubt that women can and do make meaningful, essential contributions to technology and innovation.
Thanks to pioneers like Anka, Artie, Dragana, and Corinne, the future for women in tech looks increasingly bright. Each barrier they’ve broken creates more opportunities for the next generation of female tech leaders to thrive. Their stories remind us that diversity in tech isn’t just about representation – it’s about enriching the industry with different perspectives, approaches, and solutions that might otherwise never exist.