Getting Into Tech – Real Career Paths & Practical Next Steps

Curious about tech but unsure how to get started?

You’re not alone – and you don’t need a “perfect” background to break in.

As part of Informatik Tage, TechFace in collaboration with 42 Zurich are hosting a virtual workshop designed to make entering tech feel accessible, realistic, and actionable.

Instead of generic advice, you’ll hear real career stories from women working across different tech fields, followed by an open discussion and practical guidance on where and how to take your next steps.

This session is about possibilities, not prerequisites.

Who should attend

• Students and early-career professionals
• Career switchers
• Anyone curious about working in tech
• People looking for practical, non-intimidating guidance

No technical background required.

What you’ll learn

• How different career paths into tech actually look in practice
• What helped (and what didn’t) when getting started
• How to navigate the tech ecosystem in Switzerland
• Which events, initiatives, and communities can support your journey
• Where to go next after the workshop

Agenda

• Lightning talks – career stories from 5 women in tech with diverse backgrounds
• Panel discussion on getting into tech in Switzerland
• Live Q&A
• Practical overview of events, initiatives, and communities

👉🏾 Register here for the event

Meet the speakers

🎤 Kateryna Portmann is a global business professional at ANYbotics, advancing cutting-edge robotics solutions worldwide. She is a lecturer at HWZ CAS Future Tech, where she teaches robotics and AI, bridging emerging technologies with real-world business strategy. Co-lead of Women in Robotics Switzerland, she advocates for diversity in tech. Having held global roles in Hong Kong and London, Kateryna brings deep cross-cultural expertise and shares insights on innovation, leadership, and building international careers in robotics and AI.

🎤 An expert in Governance, Risk, and Compliance, Viola Sini brings over a decade of experience in IT Audit and Cybersecurity across consulting, telecom, and logistics. Now working as a Cybersecurity Audit Expert for the Swiss government, she promotes security practices that meet business needs while creating lasting value. She believes a secure digital world is everyone’s right – and she’s on a mission to make it happen while encouraging inclusion, because cybersecurity is amazing and it’s a shame more women don’t experience its thrill and purpose.

Passionate about structure, measurable risks, and tasty pasta shared with her family, she brings rigor with a human touch to everything she does.

🎤 Dr. Catherine Kosten is Head of AI and Legal Tech Innovation at Homburger, where she develops and applies AI in the legal practice. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Fribourg, focusing on generative AI and knowledge graphs to improve reliability in complex question answering systems. In her bachelor’s degree she studied fine arts and linguistics, before pivoting to natural language processing during her master’s studies.

🎤 Cristina Bucher is building 42 Zurich, a free and project-based tech school for adults who want to enter or transition into digital careers. She previously led innovation projects at Swisscom, including initiatives in Internet of Things and 5G. Cristina holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Zurich and an MAS in Computer and Information Sciences from ZHAW. Her mission is to strengthen Switzerland’s digital future by making high-quality tech education free and open to all.

🎤 Javiera Guedes is an AI Enablement Lead at UBS, where she delivers high-quality AI solutions to the non-financial risk area of the bank. She is also the Founder of Elevate Tech, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing AI and STEM education and empowering women in technology. Before working in industry, Javiera was an astrophysicist. She obtained double bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Astrophysics at UC Berkeley and a PhD in Computational Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, followed by a postdoc at ETH. She was awarded prestigious Hubble and Einstein Fellowships for her contributions to planet formation, black hole dynamics, and galaxy evolution.

About the organisers

TechFace partners with forward-thinking companies to future-proof their growth. We deliver tailored solutions and expert guidance to build inclusive, diverse, and resilient tech teams. By creating environments where diversity fuels innovation, we help businesses achieve sustainable success and stay ahead of the curve.

At the same time, we support the talent behind those teams. We provide access to the latest tools, emerging technologies, and industry insights to help tech professionals grow with confidence and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape. By fostering a community built on learning, connection, and shared ambition, we help individuals build resilient, future-ready careers – strengthening the very teams that power tomorrow’s most innovative companies.