From a Non-Technical Background to a Hack’n’Lead Winner: Catherine Kosten’s Story of Empowerment
In the dynamic world of technology, Catherine Kosten’s transition from linguistics to the tech industry stands out as a tale of determination and resilience.
Kate is currently working as a researcher at the ZHAW and jointly pursuing a PhD at the University of Fribourg. The main focus of her research is natural language query processing for databases. She participated in the women++’s hackathon, Hack’n’Lead in 2018 and 2019. In 2019 her team’s project won the competition. But that’s not Kate’s only connection with women++: she also held a webinar “Intro of Natural Language Processing” in 2020.
But how did Hack’n’lead boost Kate’s confidence so she could find her place in the tech industry? Read on to find out.
Kate, you’re obviously a busy person. When you have some free time, what do you do?
“In my free time, I volunteer at a meetup in Zürich called Women in Machine Learning & Data Science (WiMLDS). I dedicate a decent amount of my time to help and support other women who are interested in machine learning and data science through workshops, talks and webinars.”
You used to be a Linguist. How did you end up in the tech industry?
“I did my two bachelor’s degrees in the US. I studied Fine Arts because I wanted to be a Fashion Designer. Funny, isn’t it? Also, I could already speak French, so while I was doing that, I started a Linguistics degree with a specialization in French as well. So, I ended up graduating with both degrees. It was just after the financial crisis in the US, so it was very hard to find a job, especially in arts, so I felt like I needed to start looking into other industries. Thankfully, I moved to France, did a lot of research about what I can do with my degree in Linguistics, and I found NLP (Natural Language Processing). Even though I had very little programming experience, the university accepted me, so I did my master’s degree in NLP, and that was my entrance to the tech industry.”
How did you hear about women++ and Hack’n’Lead?
“I found women++ through Meetup. When I first moved to Switzerland, even though I had a master’s degree in NLP, it was very hard for me to find a job. I couldn’t speak German, and a lot of companies were only asking for diplomas from the ETH which I didn’t have. So, I looked up meetups and attended a couple of workshops from women++. And I went to my first hackathon in 2018.”
Did Hack’n’Lead have an impact on your life?
“Careerwise, it didn’t change too much, because I already got hired by the time Hack’n’Lead started. However, being at a hackathon that’s so open to everybody, gave me a confidence boost that I didn’t have otherwise. You can feel that whatever your background is, you have a place there.”
Did seeing that many women on a hackathon give you more confidence?
“Definitely. I’ve always been working in super male-dominated environments, and it was very different to be surrounded by so many women. That was very uplifting. Now I’m back to work being the only woman in my office out of I don’t even know how many people. So, it was very comforting to know that there are other women who are working in the same space, and being part of a community of women who can relate to the same struggles that I am going through.”
Did you develop any new skills on the hackathon?
“On the hackathon, I sort of stayed with my own skills that I already had in the team, but it was interesting to see what kind of skills you need for making a great project. For example, there were people there who had completely non-technical backgrounds. It showed me how important it is to have somebody around who is into the business side of things. For example, a project manager who keeps you on time and makes sure that everybody is working on the things they’re supposed to be working on. This experience made me have a greater appreciation for the people who do all the work of keeping you focused and keeping you on track.”
Did you meet people you are still in contact with?
“I actually did the hackathon with one of my friends, and we’re still best friends. But I’m also in touch with the people who were in my group. And it was around the time when I was starting my PhD and there were people in my PhD group who also attended the hackathon, so I had already gotten to meet and know them a little bit.”
What did this experience mean to you?
“Well, because I’m coming from such a different background from other people who work in the tech industry, I used to think “do I even deserve to be here?” And I think participating in Hack’n’Lead convinced me that even if I don’t have a typical computer science background, people like me are also necessary for the tech industry. It helped me to know that I belong here too.”
Who would you recommend this hackathon to?
“I think one of the beautiful things about Hack’n’Lead is that it really is for everybody. So, I recommend it to everybody, even to people who are working in a non-tech field and now thinking about moving into the tech field. It’s a good way for them to figure out what they want to do because there are so many things you can do on a hackathon.”
In conclusion, Catherine Kosten’s journey from linguistics to the tech industry is a testament to the power of determination and finding one’s place in a male-dominated field. Through her participation in Hack’n’Lead, she not only gained a confidence boost but also discovered a supportive community of women facing similar challenges. Catherine’s story serves as an inspiration to individuals from diverse backgrounds who aspire to break into the tech industry.
With her continued involvement in promoting women’s involvement in machine learning and data science, she is making a difference too! We would like to thank Catherine Kosten for actively shaping a more inclusive and diverse future for the tech world.
Hack’n’Lead is coming back in November 2023. Check out the preparatory tech events leading up to the hackathon and register your interest to take part in the next Hack’n’Lead here.
#hacknlead #hackathon #womenplusplus #womentech #inclusiveevent
About the author:
Eszter Rosta is a Social Media & Marketing Manager at women++. She is a creative and dedicated storyteller with good organizational skills. She’s passionate about digital marketing, writing and traveling. She likes working in a team just as much as getting tasks she can work on independently. She’s gained various experiences in different roles and countries before, and it looks like she found her place in the marketing industry in Switzerland.
→ Learn more about Hack’n’Lead
→ Follow women++ on X / Twitter
→ Follow women++ on LinkedIn
→ Follow women++ on Instagram
→ Subscribe to women++ NL to stay up-to-date with our latest tech workshops and events.
