photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: cheayenna pesulima from art of colors
marijke frantsen
manager of data science and analytics at vinted
about
i’m a manager of data science and analytics at vinted, with an academic background in neuroscience and over a decade of hands-on experience in data science and analytics. curiosity is my compass. my day feels complete if i’ve learned something new. while my early career focused on my own growth, leadership taught me something unexpected: how powerful it is to trust people and watch them exceed their own expectations. i don’t aim to fit a mould or follow the status quo. i aim to create space for others to do the same.
why do you think it is important that role models need to be visible?
i don’t think role models need to be perfect or even intentional. visibility matters because it expands what feels possible. seeing people succeed without fitting a single mould makes it easier to imagine your own path, especially in environments where you might feel underestimated. visible role models quietly challenge assumptions about who belongs and how leadership looks. they don’t offer a template to copy, but permission to think independently, trust your own judgement, and believe that impact can come from patience, curiosity, and substance – not from being the loudest voice in the room.
vinted
addressing gender balance is an opportunity to create positive ripple effects. for vinted, it starts with encouraging young girls to choose tech, amplifying the voices of women, and empowering our own to lead and drive innovation. we understand the role awareness plays in the rethinking and innovation of the tech industry, and want to build our team with top talent that represents everyone while being an example to future generations. closing the gender gap in tech requires ecosystem-wide collaboration, and this campaign is one step in that direction!