International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity and advancing women’s rights worldwide. The day has been observed for well over a century, with the first gathering held in 1911.
In 2024, the campaign theme is “Inspire Inclusion.”
“When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. Collectively, let’s forge a more inclusive world for women.”
https://www.internationalwomensday.com/theme
An Interview with One of Our Founders
To recognize this day, we sat down with Lina Andersson, one of the founders of BI Nordic.
Q1: What made you pick the career that you chose? Why did you pick the position you did?
When you are young, it’s difficult to pick an area of study. I remember a discussion with a friend who recommended studying a field in Science and Technology. In five memorable years, I completed studying at the Technical University of Luleå. The opportunity to study with several strong women and having that support and exposure to those women had a strong impact on my career. Together we studied in a field that was primarily dominated by men.
I didn’t foresee running my own company in those years, but being a founder of BI Nordic is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I encourage anyone interested in founding a company to follow that path. It’s been a challenging but positive experience and has taught me many life lessons. Those lessons include understanding more about myself and other people. In BI Nordic and the work we do in business intelligence, the need to understand not only the small details but also the bigger strategic vision has given me an invaluable perspective. Founding a company, especially in the beginning can also mean learning how to wear many different hats, and I’ve learned a lot about finance, human resources, and customer satisfaction. It’s tough and challenging for sure, but also a lot of fun. I love my job!
Q2: What are some career milestones or achievements that you are proud of from your professional journey?
We’ve discussed some of this but taking the step from being an employee to running my own successful company is what I am most proud of when it comes to my achievements. It’s empowering to see the impact of your work.
Q3: What are some activities that you enjoy doing outside of work? What makes you enjoy those activities?
When I’m not working, I love to travel or read a great book. Personally, I believe that books are a good way to travel, both to new places and back in time. Sports also play a big part in my life. Exercising helps me stay healthy and reduces stress, and as a mother of two, I spend many weekends watching my kids play soccer or floorball. In Sweden, we believe in work/life balance, and spending time with friends and family is very enjoyable to me.
Q4: Who is a woman of history who inspires you? Why?
I would say that any woman who stands up for what she believes is an inspiration. A woman, famous or otherwise, who dares to go her own way, and fulfill her dreams regardless of other opinions, is someone I admire. Women like Rosa Parks, Queen Elisabeth II of UK, Florence Nightingale, and Astrid Lindgren are all women who have been role models.
Within my industry, the most memorable is Ada Lovelace, the first data programmer. Sometimes history does not shine a light on those female inventors or pioneers. As we all forward into the future of data and especially, AI we should continue to encourage more inclusivity and recognize achievements made by women.
Q5: What is your favorite thing about data analytics? Why do you enjoy this industry?
Data is a “big” word. Today, data is everywhere, not only on your phone, but your watch, your car, your appliances, and any machines that surround us. They are all collecting data. This means that companies today own a lot of data, and not all of them know how to take care of this vital resource. We help them clean and process it so they can understand and use it for better insights. It’s a delight to follow a customer on this journey, turning their data into valuable information for future conclusions and decisions.
Recognizing Women Around the World
Please join us all by recognizing the women in your own company. Companies that are diverse and more inclusive have more innovation and productivity. As we move forward into the future, we hope to see more women in data analytics!
