September 24, 2024
As a senior manager at valantic in Stuttgart, Hannah Abelein makes technology comprehensible and finds solutions for her customers. The focus here is on generative AI, the “power machine” of Hannah’s dreams ever since her time at university. Your advice to all women who want to make their way into IT: “Make it your way and let vally help.”
I have always been interested in technology. After high school I studied computer science because I wanted to do something with people. I still can’t explain the logic of this to myself. After three weeks of computer science studies, I realized that I was in completely the wrong place. I just cried, in terms of content. But the people were all so nice that I just couldn’t leave. So, I kept on going. Thanks to a year abroad in Sydney, I was also able to connect my studies to business. I like to explain technology, make it understandable, and find solutions. But I still cannot program well even though I have a doctorate in computer science. I fell into consulting through my first job at a strategic consulting company. And I really like what I do!
My sister had been in Sydney two years earlier. I visited her and fell a little in love with Australia. Many little sisters want to do what their big sisters do. But it was also clear to me that I wanted to study in an English-speaking country, but not in the USA. There was a direct exchange with the University of Karlsruhe and Australia was just perfect. I then traveled almost all over the continent, including New Zealand and Japan. I have still have regular phone dates with my best friend there!
I think technology is incredibly useful because it ensures fairness and information equality. And that is one of the most important criteria for my second passion, namely social concerns. With my favorite topic, GenAI, this is becoming even clearer now. If this technology develops right and it is available at a very reasonable price, everyone can learn!
Technology is always made by people and therefore always brings with it a certain danger. Generative AI is in principle a statistical model. When I feed it data that is by definition always from the past, it means that I just take all the mistakes or problems of the past with me. The response of artificial intelligence is only a suggestion; it’s an 80% solution. The danger is that you will not examine things yourself and perform the usual quality controls. But the technology is there and is being used. The best that we can do here is to say that many people are using it with good intentions. Personally, I always wanted the “power machine” because I knew what was possible. When our digital co-worker VALLY was launched last year, I celebrated without end!
I often use the voice function with my daughter. Her last question was: “Mom, how do you make glass?” – I myself am sometimes briefly overwhelmed. Then I turn on the voice function, let my daughter ask the question, and add “explain it to a four-year-old.” My daughter loves it. You can then ask questions and the GenAI answers. I find this incredibly valuable and can no longer imagine my private and business lives without it.
I don’t think you stop thinking, but you can do things faster with GenAI. Nowadays, no one criticizes you for this or says: “Why don’t you use the dictionary or go to the library instead of googling it?” For me, technology is an incredible speed factor, but you can’t take everything at face value. Many people expect AI to always be right. You are disappointed if it is not so, without understanding how it actually works.
I have found a nice model for myself; I work 50% (part-time). That way, I can balance everything ideally. Of course, I also have a strong support network; that is very helpful. I work for 2.5 days and therefore have three afternoons for my daughter. For me, this is the perfect combination of “I can be a really good consultant” and “I can be a really good mom,” but I can also be myself.
Of course, you have to pay attention to a few things and make sure people understand which days you work again and again. But people generally respect this. Many colleagues at my level have two or three projects, so they are devoting only 50% of their time to each project. In other words, they actually have exactly the same challenges. Of course, this doesn’t work for every project, because not all customers want just 50%. I always try to have at least one other person on the project who is there on the other days. This ensures quality and reliability. I also find it exciting that more and more customers no longer want full-time consultants. Part-time work always depends on what you make of it. Because then it will all work out.
I always say, “you pay half a salary and get a whole brain.” For me, working is like playing is for children – I just enjoy it. I can’t remember a time recently when I didn’t want to work. Of course, I also have variety, and I am much more flexible. For example, if I notice that I am not making any progress, I can catch up on the hours at a different time. That’s not so easy with a full-time job. I think your output for part-time work is by definition higher. I see the part-time model as an advantage, not just a worse alternative. For me, the consulting industry is the perfect environment for working part-time and being a mother.
Just do it. The people you meet are incredibly nice and the environment is honest. As a woman, I believe, you are received more positively and, compared to other industries, you are better able to assert yourself. I particularly appreciate this: You can actually do high-quality IT work almost anywhere, from home or from anywhere in the world.
“Make it your way and let vally help.”
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