Name: Kirstine Banke
Title: Manager in NewTech Data & Analytics
Company: KPMG Denmark
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Kirstine, I am 31 years old, and I have a background in Biomedical Engineering from DTU. A fun fact about me is that I have one protruding ear.
How did you imagine your career when you were around 20 years old?
When I was 20, I knew I was going to apply for Biomedical Engineering at DTU, but I had absolutely no idea what my career would look like. I was quite sure it would somehow align with my interests in medicine and technology, but it hasn’t exactly turned out that way (yet).
What does a day in your life look like in your current role?
Currently, I work as a Business Intelligence and Data Warehouse Developer. I will deep dive into the IT and data systems of companies, employing a great deal of logic, and creativity to understand, design and develop data models that support the needs of the business.
What motivates and excites you the most about your career path and the leadership position you hold?
I get to solve ‘puzzles’ – figuring out how to combine company data from various sources and systems. Additionally, I gain insights into how different companies and departments operate by examining their data and talking with the business about their data needs.
Share with us the biggest lessons you learned on your journey to where you are today.
For many years, I believed my “imposter syndrome” was limiting my career and my ability to step forward. However, looking back, it has helped me build great skills and set my own ambitions.
I understand now that it might have held me back a bit, but now (when I’m comfortable stepping forward) I’m very capable because of it. I believe we should be better at valuing the humbleness that comes with the imposter feeling because it makes us excellent learners.
Tell us about a role model who inspired you to become the leader you are today.
My great-grandmother, who has been an inspiration through the stories my mum and grandfather told me about her. She was a chemical engineer and a director of the occupational health and safety authority in Copenhagen who significantly raised awareness about workers’ safety and rights, especially for women. Her efforts in improving working conditions and her involvement in various women’s associations made her a pivotal figure in advocating for gender equality in the workplace.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, or to other young female students today, what would it be?
Don’t worry so much about whether the work you are doing is good enough. Just by raising the question, you already show that you care, and that’s better than many you will meet in the workforce.
How do you see STEM education shaping the future?
The STEM field has always shaped the future, but I believe (with a lot of hope) that with more women and diversity in general, we will see a future a little less influenced by capitalism and more driven by sustainability and social responsibility.
Why is it important for you to promote diversity and inclusion within STEM?I know many women today who, if they had chosen the path, would have excelled in the STEM field. However, we have a branding problem with many educational paths (including technical erhvervsskoler) being shaped by bias, prestige and expectations, which I hope w