photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: leen ahmed from art of colors
miruna anăstăsoaie, ph.d.(she/her)
vp digital & platforms at kpn
about
i am a scientist, drawn to forests and mountains, to art and literature, and to ways of thinking that allow different, strong perspectives. i was born in romania and have lived across continents, countries, and political systems. i studied the sun and particle physics, then moved into technology and telecom. where and when i grew up, women in science were part of the norm. only later, in the netherlands, did i encounter environments where leadership and technology narrowed into fewer, mostly male images. i am raising a son and a daughter, and i see how early the differences take shape. learning to live with contradiction and change taught me how to work with complexity, and how to lead within it. i bring this perspective to the people around me.
i want young women to know that…
i want young women to know this: you shape the world more than it shapes you. it won’t always feel easy. your value isn’t defined by how you look, dress, or smile, but by your mind, your heart, and the impact you choose to make. if you study technology, don’t see yourself as exceptional for being a woman; see yourself as capable because you have something meaningful to offer. you may be told to be quieter or less emotional. don’t shrink. feminine and masculine qualities can coexist as strengths. seek voices that feel true to you, then shape your own.
kpn
at kpn, we believe it’s important to join this campaign because visibility helps broaden what people see as possible. when people see diverse ways of leading, working, and growing, they can imagine themselves there, too. we work every day to create an inclusive and safe work environment with balanced teams where people collaborate as equals and where individual talents are recognized and fully used. we see diversity as a strength and actively celebrate our differences. through this campaign, we show that kpn, and the tech sector, are places where women can grow, thrive, and build successful careers without having to fit a single profile.