In the words of Daryna Stepchenkova: “I am inspired by the girls who have already made their mark in IT”

Promoting gender equality within the IT industry is crucial to building a better digital world. In Ukraine, IT companies are actively working towards breaking down gender stereotypes and promoting equality. They are dedicated to developing a culture of diversity and inclusion in the IT environment.

Daryna Stepchenkova is a 27-year-old delivery manager from Kyiv who works at Intellias. Intellias is a global company with Ukrainian roots that has been operating in the IT industry for more than 20 years. Starting in 2021, Intellias consistently implements all Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) throughout its initiatives.

"I thoroughly enjoy serving as a liaison between technical experts and customers. I relish interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and find it fascinating to engage in conversations with my technical colleagues who possess in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). On the other hand, I also take pleasure in communicating with customers who have straightforward requests like setting the preferred color of a button and ensuring it functions properly."

Daryna started her career in IT at 18 with no prior experience or technical expertise. She is now involved in internal initiatives at Intellias, including developing the products and projects for the company.

“My role involves coordinating the implementation of various initiatives. This includes setting tasks, ensuring their completion, managing the team's work, determining the technologies to be used, evaluating the product's ability to meet customer expectations, presenting demos, monitoring deadlines and budgets, and ensuring that the final product fulfills the needs of our customers. In my case, the customers are internal departments of Intellias. Some of the projects I am currently working on involve incorporating AI.

I have been working with AI for about a year now since ChatGPT caused a sensation on the internet. AI has become an essential tool for me in various tasks, such as improving communication in business. Nowadays, ChatGPT is also being used in coding, including identifying the best function to use. Many international companies are developing impressive artificial intelligence that will undoubtedly enhance our lives. One such AI is Copilot, released by Microsoft, which can integrate with the company's infrastructure and understand all the policies, including security policies. Copilot is my personal favorite because it can listen to meetings and summarize them, understand the Ukrainian language, and distinguish the most critical information while providing what might have been missed.

As a user, I believe that AI can help me perform my job more efficiently. However, it's important to understand that AI operates based on specific rules and learns from the information it receives. Currently, my colleagues and I are working on teaching AI how to write stories – a fascinating and creative endeavor. Nonetheless, it is important to note that AI is not meant to replace any technical professions entirely. Rather, it serves as an auxiliary tool.

World leaders who are involved in the development of AI technology prioritize the monitoring of data quality to ensure its diversity. A well-trained AI system can help eliminate barriers and promote equality. It can analyze a company and offer relevant advice on improving equal rights and opportunities for women and men. Additionally, AI can take into account various factors, such as ethnicity and psychology, to adapt its communication style and even provide comprehensive explanations to individuals.

I am grateful that I haven't faced any gender bias from AI yet. However, I am aware that such biases can occur as AI learns from the data it is trained on. AI is only as good as the data it receives, and if it is trained on biased data, it will replicate that bias. For instance, if an AI system is trained with data that suggests only men are suitable for a particular job because men have traditionally applied for that position and performed well, it will continue to perpetuate that bias.

The development of AI has been outpacing the global regulatory and legal system for several years. Therefore, an AI regulation must be established to protect personal data and ethnic norms and ensure transparency and responsibility in algorithms. It is important to teach algorithms what data to use and what not to use. Although AI is a useful tool in many industries, society is concerned about the potential risks associated with it. As someone who works with AI, I often receive questions about AI taking over the world. We still have a lot of work ahead of us to dispel these myths.

I have been involved in activities aimed at encouraging girls to pursue careers in IT. However, I have noticed that the stereotype of IT being a male-dominated field still exists. Some prejudices suggest that women in IT are treated differently, especially by male colleagues. This is an absolute myth. Currently, many women are working in technical professions such as testers, developers, and engineers. Another issue that concerns me is the lack of support and representation of women in IT public activities. I actively motivate female colleagues to attend meetings, engage in dialogues, communicate, and share their experiences. They need to know that many women in the field are ready to support and help each other. Recently, our company organized a conference for women in IT that addressed these issues.

For the IT industry to thrive, it requires a diverse range of specialists, along with fresh ideas and an understanding of new approaches. By bringing in new perspectives, we can gain a better understanding of the market. I strongly believe that more women should consider pursuing careers in IT, as their unique insights and ideas can greatly contribute to the industry's growth and success.

I spent a long time thinking about the message for Girls in ICT Day. I decided to use AI to help me formulate it so that I could share my thoughts and experiences in the best way possible.

Girls, we are a part of a pioneering movement that is transforming our future. The IT industry is rapidly growing, and we are a part of it. Let today be a reminder of your strength and the unique contribution you make or will make to the IT industry. Remember that your possibilities are endless, and don't let stereotypes hold you back. Your achievements are an inspiration to the next generation of girls in IT, as well as the girls currently working in the industry. I am inspired by other girls who have already made their mark in IT.

This article is prepared within the UN Women’s project “Transformative approaches to achieving gender equality in Ukraine” with financial support from Sweden, and in cooperation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.