photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: julia koenders from art of colors
charlotte chippendale
software engineering manager at proto labs, inc.
about
my journey working in tech started as i’ve always had a love for mathematics. in my mathematics degree, i saw firsthand how useful computer science is, as i needed to visualise mathematical models depicting how tumour growths manipulate their surrounding cells. afterwards, i taught myself how to code, and proceeded to land a job in the coding world. this led to me completing a masters in computer science to further my knowledge. i’ve now been in my career for nearly 15 years and have grown into a leadership position, where i help others follow their journey into tech and leadership.
why do you think it is important that role models need to be visible?
i work in a male dominated field, where i have primarily been the only woman in my team. therefore, i think it is important to demonstrate to other women, and children, that there are endless possibilities for all to be able to achieve their dreams, and to show those dreams may encompass options they may not have previously considered. visibility amongst young people is especially important as it is then that it can help spark interest and curiosity in a wide range of fields.