Women's interest in technology appears to be increasing.
In my field, there are far more men than women, but I feel there is equality in terms of pay, working conditions and career progression. There is a strong emphasis on equality and equal pay for men and women for comparable work.
Active listening, respect and well-being at work
Helga Stefánsdóttir, Hildur Sigþórsdóttir and Jenný Dagbjört Gunnarsdóttir all have the common bond of being dynamic and ambitious managers and representatives for the City of Hafnarfjörður in the fields of environmental and planning, finance, childcare and education. Helga and Jenný have worked for the municipality for many years and possess a vast amount of experience and knowledge, whereas Hildur is a new and young manager who brings a breath of fresh air and sees opportunities for improvement and growth at every turn, not least in the field of digital development. An interview with them appeared in a special edition of the Fréttablaðið about women in business on Wednesday, 26 January, which was published in collaboration with FKA – the Association of Women in Business.
Interview with Jennýju Dagbjörtu Gunnarsdóttur
Interview with Hildur Sigþórsdóttir
Women's interest in technology appears to be increasing.
„There are far more men than women in my field, but I feel there is equality here when it comes to pay, working conditions and career progression. There is a strong emphasis on equality and equal pay for comparable work.“ says Helga Stefánsdóttir, director of the Environment and Planning Department of the City of Hafnarfjörður. „The gender balance is gradually levelling out as more and more varied services have been brought under the remit, and women's interest in tech fields also seems to be growing. At one point, I was the only woman in a group of about 40, but that has changed a great deal over the years.“ Helga, an engineer and urban planner by training, talks about more women going into technical fields of study than before, and that one's choice of study or career should not be influenced by gender or environment.
Started out in inspections for the building control officer, but is now the Director of Operations.
Helga started working for the council 25 years ago in the building control department, but is now the deputy director and director of operations for the council. „Our department currently has around 50 staff, and is responsible for all the council's physical works and operations, whether that's roads, buildings or open spaces.“ says Helga, who is well acquainted with all the development taking place in Hafnarfjörður these days, both in new neighbourhoods and in urban densification. Helga is also involved in the municipality's planning matters and other exciting projects that affect the entire community. „We handle several billion a year in connection with these projects. The working days can be quite long, the pressure intense, and the decisions major, with consequential knock-on effects. I am very organised by nature, logical, and I want all my staff to enjoy their projects. That's the best way to get things done. My team is strong, the division of labour is clear, the morale is high, and it's always a pleasure to come to work.“