photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: violeta marinova from art of colors
roos nilsson-ruijter
test engineer at postcode loterij
about
i’m roos and i’ve been working as a test automation engineer at the postcode lottery for a couple of years now. looking back, my interest in technology was always there. during my psychology studies, statistics was the subject i enjoyed most. the curiosity to figure out how things work has always been part of who i am. when i was younger, i didn’t consider a career in tech because i didn’t see many women in those roles. i still remember a career test in high school that suggested i should become a car mechanic. we laughed about it then, but now it makes perfect sense. if i had seen more female role models, i might have recognized my interests earlier. in my work as a test automation engineer, i use that curiosity every day, exploring how systems behave and finding ways to improve them. now i’m taking steps toward becoming a developer, and i’m excited to continue learning and growing along that path.
what advice would you give to your younger self?
i would tell my younger self not to let assumptions or stereotypes narrow your view of what’s possible. if something excites you, even if it feels unconventional, it’s worth paying attention to. looking back, the things i loved doing as a child weren’t random. they were early signs of what i’m naturally drawn to. instead of dismissing those interests, i should have trusted them. ultimately, my advice would be not to let expectations define your choices. following genuine interests often leads to work you enjoy most, even when the path feels challenging.
postcode loterij
women remain underrepresented in the tech and analytics field. almost 30% of our tech department is female, which is above average, but there is room for improvement. naturally, we strive for fifty percent. we believe diversity in teams is crucial: these teams perform better, foster more innovation, and contribute to a more inclusive culture. fortunately, we have highly enthusiastic and ambitious female tech members here at the lotteries. we believe sharing their stories will make a difference. we hope this campaign will inspire more women to pursue careers in tech, and we wholeheartedly invite them to come join our tech departments.