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For International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting the voices of four incredible women at ADC. They share their experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future of women in both their industry and at ADC. Their stories remind us not only of the progress we have made within ADC, but also the work that still lies ahead.

Anja Jäger

Chief of Staff

Anja Jaeger

Can you share a little about your role and what you do at ADC?
I started at ADC as a Consultant before transitioning to Operations Lead for our Netherlands office. This year, I stepped into the role of Chief of Staff, focusing on strategic planning, cross-functional projects, and improving our operational processes as we continue to grow.

Have you faced any challenges as a woman in your field?
Absolutely. From unconscious bias to microaggressions, even being mistaken for a team assistant while developing code for medical imaging devices, being a woman in tech can be challenging. Rather than seeing these challenges as something I’ve “overcome,” I view it as an ongoing process of recognising and addressing biases while creating space for others.

What has helped me is building a strong network of women in the field and giving back through mentorship programs. Supporting the next generation of female leaders keeps me motivated to push for a more inclusive industry.

What does ADC do to support and empower women?
ADC is making efforts to improve gender representation across all levels, especially in recruitment and leadership development. Internal initiatives like our mentorship program and the upcoming relaunch of the DEI committee are key steps in fostering a more inclusive culture. Highlighting strong female role models, like our colleague Elianne Anemaat in this year’s Equals role model campaign, is another important way we’re driving change.

How do you act as a role model at ADC?
For me, being a role model isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about sharing experiences, lifting others up, and fostering a culture of openness and support. As part of ADC’s mentorship program, I focus on helping colleagues navigate their career growth while creating space for conversations that push us all to improve.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It’s both a call to action and a moment of community. While we’ve made progress, systemic barriers still exist. This day reminds us to support one another and advocate for meaningful change – something  that feels more urgent than ever given the current global climate.

Emilie Lundbye Dalsgaard

Senior Manager, Denmark

Can you share a little about your role and what you do at ADC?
I serve as Lead Data Scientist and Senior Manager at ADC’s Danish office, where I transform complex business challenges into data-driven solutions. From designing AI models to integrating them into client ecosystems, my goal is to ensure that technical innovations translate into tangible business impact. I also dedicate a significant amount of time to mentoring my teams and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

What inspired you to pursue this career path?
I’ve loved mathematics from a young age, always drawn to solving real-world problems with logic and creativity. A pivotal moment for me was realising that I could use data science to bridge the gap between theory and meaningful, real-world solutions. At ADC, I thrive on the challenge of tackling diverse projects that push me to expand my skillset.

Have you faced any challenges as a woman in your field? How did you overcome them?
Yes – at times, my expertise has been underestimated, like when I was mistaken for a tangential project manager instead of the lead developer on my own project. While frustrating, these moments have strengthened my belief in owning my worth and asserting my role confidently. I’ve learned to handle such situations with a mix of humor and assertiveness, creating a work environment where everyone’s contributions are valued.

What does ADC do to support and empower women?
ADC fosters an open-minded and inclusive culture. Our flexible work policies, professional development programs, and encouragement of diverse perspectives help create an environment where women can thrive. That said, there’s still room to improve representation, especially in leadership roles.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It’s a time to celebrate progress, but also a call to action. This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, resonates deeply with me. It’s a reminder to not just reflect on achievements but to actively drive change. For me, that means mentoring emerging talent and advocating for more opportunities for women in tech.

Sara Zandian

Consultant, Sweden

Sara Zandian

Have you faced any challenges as a woman in your field?
Personally, I haven’t faced major gender-related challenges in my role at ADC. The environment here feels naturally inclusive, and that speaks volumes about the culture my colleagues have helped create. However, I’m very aware of the structural barriers in our industry, particularly the lack of female representation in leadership. Unfortunately, this applies for ADC as well. This is an issue that affects both women and men – as diversity at all levels leads to better decision-making and a stronger work environment.

What does ADC do to support and empower women?
ADC has a culture where everyone has opportunities to grow, but I do see a need for clearer initiatives to accelerate change. Right now, leadership roles are still male-dominated, and we know how crucial representation is for inspiring the next generation. Long-term, we need more structured efforts to balance gender representation.

How have other women at ADC inspired you?
I see so many of my female colleagues as role models. Simply by being who they are – competent, driven, and dedicated – they inspire others every day. But this also goes for many of my male colleagues do, too. This isn’t just about gender, it’s about leadership through action.

To me, leadership is also about being able to create an environment where people feel safe to take up space and grow. It’s about psychological safety, building a culture of trust, transparency, and mutual respect. I believe many of my colleagues resonate with this and I do believe we have been good at fostering a workplace where everyone feels heard and valued.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
I see International Women’s Day as an important day for reflection and raising awareness, yet gender equality can’t be a once-a-year conversation. Today we see international political and corporate narratives increasingly downplaying the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Therefore, it becomes even more crucial than even for leaders to take responsibility and actively stand up for these values – every day, not just on March 8th.

Zoe van Havre

Senior Manager, The Netherlands

Zoe van Havre

Can you share a little about your role and what you do at ADC?
I help organisations validate and measure the value of their ideas. As a Senior Manager in Transport, I lead a team of 7-8 people and focus on driving experimentation at LATAM Airlines through strategy, education, data science, and engineering initiatives. The real challenge isn’t just building tools, it’s about changing company culture and democratising innovation to accelerate success.

What inspired you to pursue this career path?
I’ve always loved solving problems with tools. My background in applied mathematics and statistics led me to tech, where I saw firsthand how people’s decisions ultimately determine success. Now, I get to study that through experimentation and explore how we can create better outcomes.

What does ADC do to support and empower women?
I’ve only been at ADC for two months since the acquisition of acmetric, but I’ve already noticed how the company truly supports and empowers all its employees. ADC’s culture is one of openness and receptivity. They actively listen to my ideas, suggestions, and concerns. It’s not just a matter of saying “yes” blindly. There’s an openness to meaningful conversations, where if an idea makes sense, it gets implemented. This collaborative and empowering environment is something I haven’t always experienced in previous roles, and it’s incredibly refreshing.

How do you act as a role model at ADC or how have other women at ADC inspired you?
I don’t think being a role model means being perfect or having all the answers. I want to be relatable, showing up as my authentic self, flaws and all. I aim to lead by example through transparency and openness, sharing my experiences and supporting those around me. I hope to inspire others to do the same, embracing imperfection, pushing through challenges, and continuing to strive. While I’ve been inspired by many incredible women at ADC, I believe we all have a unique way of contributing. Leadership isn’t always about the loudest voice or the perfect image; it’s about showing up consistently, helping others, and making an impact in ways big and small.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
If we celebrate the bare minimum, that’s all we’ll ever get. Women deserve to take up space, have our voices heard, and claim everything we’ve worked for – not just today, but every day. If IWD reminds us of anything, it’s this: Don’t wait for permission. Ask for more. Expect more. Go get it.

Continue the Conversation

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we recognise the inspiring women at ADC and the importance of continued progress. Are you interested in learning more about our DEI strategy or open positions? Reach out to our team below.

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