EPISODE 12: Diversity & Inclusion Q&A with Mina Boström Nakicenovic, CTO

EPISODE 12: This month, I had an incredibly insightful and enjoyable discussion with Mina Boström Nakicenovic, CTO. (Part 1)

Mina is a passionate technology leader with 20+ years of experience in software development. She is the Chief Technology Office at Paradox Interactive. Mina has created unique perspectives stemming from her long experience on how software architecture, strategy and leadership intersect and how to leverage them for innovation and competitive advantage. Since Mina has a genuine interest in technology and business leadership, a curiosity to learn new perspectives and a need to share knowledge and ideas with the others, she became a regular conference speaker and an active contributor to agile communities.

Check out our full video interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm52J5Qvl5E

In our Q&A, Mina share’s fantastic insights on:

🌟 Leadership: We dive into the “The Leadership Pipeline”, Mina’s journey, adapting to the context switch and taking a helicopter pilot approach. Mina highlights the vital characteristics that make a great leader and the importance of self-reflection before taking that next step in your career.

🌟 Public Speaking: Tactics to help you prepare your presentations, find your flow and calm your nerves before hitting the stage ‘Perfect planning prevents poor performance.”

🌟 Attending Conferences and Networking has helped shape Mina to be who she is today! We explore her step-by-step guide on how you can find the courage to approach new people, engage in conversations and network, enabling you to take your career to the next level.

🌟 Hiring Manager’s Perspective: Mina share’s her tips on how you can make your profile stand out in a crowded job market, what specifically catches her attention on CVs, how you can prepare best for interviews and the importance of showcasing your problem-solving abilities, ambition and grit.

🌟 Work-life Balance: Mina’s personal experiences around balancing family, home and work life along with her practical advice on how you can apply total leadership and take a solution-oriented approach to manage your productivity.

🌟 As former athletes Mina (Swimmer), myself (Footballer) we discuss how competitive sports positively impacted our character, discipline and helped to develop the grit that we are able to transfer to work and any situation in life.

& so much more!

PART 2:

Mina share's powerful insights on:

🌟 The Benefits of D&I in the Workplace: Mina shares examples where diversity has positively affected her work/family life. We also explore the Medici Effect, how diversity from all perspectives invokes creativity, ‘intersectional innovation’ and great inventions such as Hedy Lamarr (actress) co-inventing frequency-hopping.

🌟 Breaking Down the Stereotypes: Of how a programmer and a career in tech should look, along with the importance of fighting our preconceived ideas of environments and industries. “Do not hold back, try it first to see how it is, what is the worst that could happen?”

🌟 Juggling a Family and Career: Mina demystify's the negative myths around maternity/paternity leave and gives a positive outlook and reassurance on the often discussed concern “Will my career end if I decide to start a family?”

🌟 Choosing a Career in Tech: Mina shares the BEST things about working in tech, along with some sound advice for anyone trying to break into the industry.

🌟 Initiatives Supporting D&I: Agile Lean Europe community (ALE), LeanInAgile (LIA), Games By Her, Women in Tech Sweden (WIT).

& so much more!

Check out the full PART 2 video interview here: https://youtu.be/tC2glqSgz0M

Who’s story would you like to hear from next? What questions do you have for women in the tech or advocates of diversity and inclusion? If you would like to get involved in this initiative, I would love to hear from you! Please contact me on LinkedIn 💌

By Ellie King - Principal Talent Partner - Data / AI - Nordics