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20 Amazing Women Leading Europe’s Tech Revolution

20 Amazing Women Leading Europe’s Tech Revolution
The IT gender gap remains a big issue. We celebrate International Women's Day by looking at some of the amazing women leading Europe’s tech revolution

One more year, International Women’s Day prompts the public eye to focus on a problem for which a single day of reflection is never enough. The gender gap in IT remains broad reaching across industries and roles. Despite improvements, the women-to-men ratio is still lower than in other sectors. Furthermore, 44% of female IT professionals acknowledge that men climb up the career ladder at a faster pace than they do. That’s why we wanted to give a nod to some of the amazing women leading Europe’s tech revolution. 

Suffice to say a list of 20 is merely a starting point regarding women in Tech. So, stay tuned throughout this month for additional articles highlighting the many adventures of female technologists across Europe.  

Discover 20 Amazing Women Leading Europe’s Tech Revolution

Maggie Philbin – United Kingdom 

CEO TeenTech CIC 

Firstly, Maggie Philbin, a long-time science and technology reporter for the BB. Philbin is indeed a passionate technology advocate who founded and directs TeenTech CIC, a series of events aimed at helping young people and their support network understand the breadth of STEM careers and the skills needed to pursue them.  

Maja Pantic – United Kingdom 

AI Scientific Research Lead at Facebook & Professor at Imperial College London 

Secondly, an authority in artificial intelligence specialising in the machine analysis of human non-verbal behaviour and its application to human-computer, human-robot, and computer-mediated human-human interaction. Pantic also combines teaching at the Imperial College with research for Facebook London. 

Zoe Adamovicz – Germany 

Co-Founder & CEO at Neufund 

Then, a serial entrepreneur, Adamovicz has founded many successful technology companies including Neufund, a blockchain-based investment platform connecting innovators and investors to fund and launch innovative ventures. She’s also a mentor at Gaza Sky Geeks, supporting tech entrepreneurship in the area. 

Jasmine Anteunis – France 

Chief Product Officer – SAP Conversational AI and co-founder at Recast.AI (exit SAP)  

Further, Anteunis founded AI chatbot company Recast AI in 2015, bought by ERP giant SAP in 2018. Also known as the SAP Conversational AI, the tool lets businesses deploy powerful conversational interfaces with comprehensive, end-to-end bot building. 

Chantelle Bell – United Kingdom 

Co-founder at Syrona Health 

Moreover, having founded Syrona Health in 2018, Bell is a British entrepreneur who has built the digital female health platform to democratise women’s health and help women monitor their chronic gynaecological and uterine conditions.  

Sue Black – United Kingdom 

Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist, Durham University 

Dr Black is a digital skills expert, social entrepreneur and also international keynote speaker well known for her activism around social inclusion and advancing women’s role in IT. Moreover, she led the successful campaign to save Bletchley Park, the World War II code-breaking site. 

Francesca Bria – Italy 

Chairwoman/President CDP Venture Capital SGR- Fondo Nazionale Innovazione at CDP Cassa Depositi e Prestiti 

In addition, Bria is a digital rights champion leading Europe’s DECODE data sovereignty project. Moreover, she is an expert in digital cities and rights, serving as a senior adviser on these issues for the United Nations. She is also the former chief digital technology and innovation lead for the city of Barcelona.  

Margrethe Vestager – Belgium 

European Commissioner for Competition and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission 

Then, Vestager is a Danish politician serving as the European Commissioner for Competition and Executive Vice President of the commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age. She also leads Europe’s anti-trust efforts, holding the world’s biggest tech companies to account. 

Corinne Vigreux – Netherlands  

Founder, Codam College and co-founder and CMO at TomTom 

Then, we continue this list with a co-founder and chief marketing officer of GPS pioneer TomTom, Vigreux is an active campaigner for women in the workforce and better social mobility through education. Also, in 2018, she founded Codam College, an Amsterdam-based coding school with a revolutionary peer-to-peer value proposition. 

Kinga Stanislawska – United Kingdom 

Co-founder and Managing Partner at Experior Venture Fund 

Last but not least, Stanislawska is the co-founder of the Polish venture capital fund Experior Venture Fund, Europe’s first VC founded exclusively by women. She is also the founder of the European Women in VC community, which comprises nearly 250 senior VC professionals from over 20 European countries. 

Betül Susamis Unaran – Switzerland 

Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, Executive Board Member at Zur Rose Group 

Unaran leads the digital efforts of the Zur Rose Group, Europe’s biggest eCommerce player in the healthcare space. She is driven by her mission to make a difference in people’s lives through data and digital initiatives that transform the lives of patients. 

Raffaela Rein – Germany   

Founder of WildWildVentures and CareerFoundry 

Raffaela Rein is a German start-up entrepreneur who founded venture lab WildWildVentures and CareerFoundry, a leading school focusing on careers in the digital economy. She also sits at the board of the German Start-Ups Association. 

Luz Rello – Spain 

Founder of Change Dyslexia and Accessibility Consultant at Apple 

The first Spanish person to receive the European Young Researchers’ award, Luz Rello is founder and CEO of Change Dyslexia, an organisation helping screen and treat dyslexia through a research-based platform. She is also an accessibility consultant for Apple. 

Colette Ballou – United Kingdom 

Investor at Ballou Capital and Chairman at Ballou 

Named one of Europe’s Most Influential Women in the Start-up & VC Space by EU Start-ups, Colette Ballou is a serial investor and frequent speaker on the topic of angel investing. Her successful communications and strategy agency, Ballou, allowed her to invest in an impressive range of start-ups. 

Karen Boers – Belgium  

Co-founder at BeCode, BeCentral and Boers & Peusens 

Boers is a passionate social entrepreneur who has founded and established a series of projects focusing on empowering others and help them achieve their dreams and goals. These include BeCode, a coding school centred on re-skilling talents into web development and other in-demand IT careers.  

Moojan Asghari – France 

Founder & CEO at Thousand Eyes On Me and co-founder of Women in AI 

Asghari founded the personal branding and development platform Thousand Eyes On Me to help women and minorities unleash their full potential and move up the career ladder. She is also the co-founder of Women in AI, a global network of female artificial intelligence experts. 

Lauren Kisser – United Kingdom 

Director, Alexa AI – Knowledge International at Amazon 

Formerly the director of engineering at Amazon Web Services, AWS S3, Lauren Kisser is now the Director of the company’s Alexa AI – Knowledge International. She is a self-described STEMinista and diversity champion who sees gender diversity as the key to power tech innovation. 

Nell Watson – United Kingdom 

AI Ethics expert at IEEE Standards Association, Singularity University 

Watson is an interdisciplinary researcher in emerging technologies including machine vision and AI. She focuses on AI ethics, working with the IEEE Standards Association and the Atlantic Council, among others. She is also AI Faculty at Singularity University and chairs various prosocial organisations. 

Mary-Jo de Leeuw – Netherlands 

Director Cybersecurity Advocacy EMEA at (ISC)² 

Mrs De Leeuw is a career cybersecurity consultant and serial entrepreneur whose work and affiliations include serving as the director of cybersecurity advocacy for EMEA at training and certifications organisation (ISC)².  

Sonja Betschart – Switzerland 

Co-Founder and Chief Entrepreneurship Officer at WeRobotics 

Betschart is a “tech for good” entrepreneur focused on using emerging technologies to empower and people, businesses and communities. She co-founded and leads WeRobotics, a non-profit organisation committed to solving local problems through robotics.  

Want to read more about women in Tech ? Discover our article: Women in Tech: Women Must Claim Their Spot in the IT World

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Weekly IT News: Bitcoin Hunger For Power

Weekly IT News: Bitcoin's Hunger For Power
A look at the week in tech and IT news. Bitcoin hunger for power, robot farmers, and a new EU regulation for the repair of electronics.

A look at the week in tech and IT news. Bitcoin hunger for power, robot farmers, and a new EU regulation for the repair of electronics.

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Bitcoin – Crypto-pollution

Bitcoin’s latest price surge and growing institutional support have put the cryptocurrency back in the public eye and attracted scrutiny around the amount of power it needs to function. 

Bitcoin works thanks to a mechanism called proof-of-work, by which a globally distributed network of computers competes to solve a complex cryptographic problem every 10 minutes. The process is estimated to use as much electricity as Norway or Argentina do in a year. That’s 2.5 times as much energy as Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Google need every year — combined. 

The impact could be reduced if a greater part of this power came from renewable resources, only 39% of it does today. But that’s no solution. Proof-of-work is still a terrible waste of electricity. Alternative transaction validation methods like the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism used by other coins, will need to be adopted to ensure the long-term viability of the ecosystem.

The Guardian

Of robots and cows

Farmers and robots are not necessarily two concepts one would put together. Yet these unlikely companions are quickly becoming inseparable sidekicks. 

It makes sense, though. Both automation and agriculture share a common goal when it comes to optimising processes and maximising output. All over the world, technologists and food producers are coming with new and imaginative ways of helping plants grow faster and be more nutritious, but also of improving the quality of life of cattle. 

The next time you see cows grazing on a field, pay attention to their ear tags. Chances are they are hiding a GPS tracker with advanced biometric capabilities that let farmers monitor the animals’ health and anticipate when they will need anything. And watch out for little wheeled robots inspecting the fields. They are small and it’s easy to trip over them.

BBC

The right to repair

Finally, a new EU regulation came into effect on Monday. 

The European Right to Repair, by which manufacturers of electronic equipment must ensure their products can be repaired and last for up to 10 years, is aimed at tackling one of the main problems of technological progress and consumerism: waste. 

However, environmental campaigners are not satisfied. And with reason. The rule currently only applies to products like refrigerators and other appliances. Consumer electronics like laptops and mobile phones are not factored in. 

Individual countries like France are already going one step further, passing regulations to require companies like Apple to accompany their devices with repairability scores. The EU is likely to follow suit in future revisions of the initiative. 

TechRepublic

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The Most Popular IT Certifications

The Most Popular IT Certifications
Continuing education is key to your professional development as a technology expert. But what are the most popular IT certifications amongst employers?

Embracing continuing education is key to your professional development as a technology expert. And beyond what you can learn on your own or through experience, official certifications are a great way to validate your newly gained expertise in front of the industry. But what are the most popular IT certifications amongst employers? 

Given how fast new technical roles are being created and traditional ones are branching out. This can be a quite daunting question to answer. In fact, as any seasoned IT specialist will tell you, there is no simple, straight answer to this problem. It all depends on what you need the certification for.  

Here are some pointers to help you navigate the increasingly complex certifications ecosystem.  

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General-purpose certifications 

Often regarded as the first step towards pursuing a career in technology, general-purpose certifications are amongst the most popular IT certifications. From networking to repairs or system configuration; they touch on a broad variety of topics without getting into much depth in any of them. Not surprisingly they are frequently compared to a driving license. These certifications, such as CompTIA’s A+, are an effective way to learn the fundamentals of computing and establish a solid foundation for your career.  

But they can also be helpful for more seasoned professionals who want to transition from a functional role to a more technical one. The growing need for Agile and Scrum methodologies, which tend to encompass a more generalist set of skills. Is another example of how general-purpose diplomas can help advance your career.  

Role-specific certifications 

However, as it happens with most things in our society; the most popular IT certificates tend to favour specialisation rather than a holistic approach. Role-based educational programs have gained so much popularity in recent years. That industry giants like Microsoft have rebuilt their entire training catalogues to accommodate the various career paths within their ecosystem.  

Specialised certifications are most often divided by level of experience. That makes them a great resource for specialists seeking to advance their career from the associate-level to other; more senior positions within their speciality. 

The most in-demand specialist certifications 

☁️Cloud and security badges

Some of the fastest-growing role-based certifications are those that have to do with the cloud. Digital transformation is accentuating the talent gap for cloud skills, and official certifications can help bridge it. The most popular certifications within this ecosystem include the AWS Certified Solutions Architect diploma and the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect badge. 

Virtually the same thing is happening with security certifications. The sweet spot lies where the two fields meet. Getting certified in cloud security is certainly a winning proposition when it comes to employability and salary expectations.  

🛠️ERP and CRM training

Another area in which role-centric certifications tend to deliver a solid return on investment is that of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) software. With even more adoption than cloud, most medium-to-large-sized businesses today employ these systems to coordinate operations across departments and keep track of clients and sales.  

Whether it is in finance or supply chain management, companies need experts who can set up the environment and maintain it. Getting SAP certified, for example, will open the doors for you to thousands of lucrative and exciting career opportunities.  

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IT Consultants Job application advice

IT Pros: How to Prepare for Technical Interviews

IT Pros: How to Prepare for Technical Interviews
A bit of common sense and some broad-reaching advice will help you prepare for technical interviews if you are an IT professional

One of the most common questions that get floated around online discussion groups about IT careers is how to prepare for technical interviews. These are a natural step for positions that require a very specific set of skills. And for which “faking it until you make it” is simply not an option.  

What kind of coding challenge should you prepare for when applying for a junior React.js developer position? What sort of test will you need to pass if you want to become a cloud architect at an industry-leading business?  

Well, sorry to disappoint, but there are almost as many answers to these questions as technical positions and companies exist out there. Each technological niche and practice will require you to focus on a different interview prep strategy.  

Yet there is no need to panic. A bit of common sense and some broad-reaching advice can go a long way.  

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Prepare for technical interviews: Do some basic research 

There is just so much that you can find online these days. Visit the aforementioned Internet forums and look for what recruiters and other experts in your line of work have to way. Chances are someone has already asked something pretty similar to your question.  

Review sites like Glassdoor often provide past interview questions and will give you a feel for what you are about to face. Dedicated LinkedIn groups are also a great source of insider information.  

Finally, do not hesitate to reach out to experts themselves. Whether it is a recruitment specialist or a Twitter back-end development star; they will more often than not be more than happy to point you to the best way forward. 

Educate yourself 

Now that you know what you need, go get it. As an IT professional, you are already probably used to the idea of continuing education. Identify what online courses, series of YouTube videos, or coding sites you should follow.  

Get an official certification if it makes sense for that specific application. Even if you don’t end up getting the job, you will be able to list it on your CV. But you will also be able to make the certificate count towards your eligibility for that specific application. So you will have a higher probability of getting the job.  

Practice and practice again 

No secret recipes here. Prepare for the technical interviews by going through a homemade practice test, correct it, learn from it. And repeat the process. If you have a friend or acquaintance that can help you review it, then now is the time to call them. It is also time to open yourself up to constructive criticism.  

Also, when the moment of truth comes, approach every real technical interview as an opportunity to practice and get better. That will take some pressure off of your shoulders and let you focus on the problem-solving you are so good at.  

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Weekly News: What Devs Hate Most

Weekly News: What Devs Hate Most
A look at the week in tech news with Mission Control Center. Coding, debugging, .NET skills, database, DevOps and what devs hate most.

A look at the week in tech news with Mission Control Center. Coding, debugging, .NET skills, database, DevOps and what devs hate most.

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I’d rather go to the dentist, tbh – what devs hate most

What do you enjoy doing the most on a daily basis? How about spending a whole afternoon paying your bills? 

Well, not entirely surprisingly. Over a quarter of developers (26%) would prefer doing exactly that; instead of devoting the same amount of time to identifying and fixing code bugs. And that’s not all. Over a fifth of coders (21%) would rather pay a visit to the dentist than debug a section of code. All according to a new survey by software firm Rollbar.

Existing error monitoring methods are far from perfect and often fail to detect vital errors. That results in a third of all software developers having to spend up to 10 hours a week manually fixing bugs; instead of producing new code. And that’s only so that some Internet crusader can kindly let you know you’ve missed a critical flaw just after releasing the product. 

As with many things tech, automation has a vital role in helping developers address this issue. Next-generation, AI-powered debugging tools are bound to become the programmer’s best friend.

Tech Republic / Harvard Business Review

The top-paying .NET skills

A new badge of reports by various tech industry actors has prompted Visual Studio Magazine to comb through the data to reveal the top-paying .NET and Microsoft-centric skills of the moment. 

Visual Basic occupies the fifth position in the list of top 10 programming languages of 2021, with C# being number 8.

Microsoft’s take on the SQL standard, Transact-SQL, is the top Microsoft-focused programming skill, with TypeScript, the company’s open-source take on JavaScript following next. 

When it comes to certifications, the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) badge is the second-most popular certification, right behind CompTIA’s A+. 

Visual Studio Magazine

The state of database DevOps

In today’s rapidly moving software development space, implementing a solid DevOps strategy has become a must for any team aspiring to be at the industry’s forefront. 

Automating and streamlining processes throughout the software life cycle permits greater agility in developing the product and ensures higher levels of quality. But that’s not the only area in which Agile and CI/CD philosophies can help. 

With 70% of companies using more than one database in their stack thanks to cloud hybridisation, automating database changes and deployments is attracting growing attention.

51% of businesses are already using some level of automation in their database deployments. These are lower adoption numbers compared to DevOps in software development, but a majority of companies plan on stepping up their continuous delivery efforts in the coming months.

DevOps.com

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IT Careers: The Importance of Continuing IT Education

IT Careers: The Importance of Continuing IT Education
Continuing IT education is everything, and you should keep that in mind throughout your entire professional career to make the most of it

IT experts know this well; no matter how unattainable a technology or problem can seem at first glance; things look much prettier once you are out of the woods and the project is over. And that is because one thing has changed: you. Now you have the experience, the knowledge. You have learnt something. Continuing IT education is everything, and it should keep on being exactly that for your entire life. 

Especially in the world of technology, where the difference between the good and the great often comes down to the ability to adapt to the ever-changing nature of information systems. But do not forget you can learn many other non-IT-related topics that will also help you a great deal throughout your career.   

Continuing IT education: Skills obsolescence 

Renew or die is a motto that can be applied to many things in this world. IT careers are no exception. One unfortunate side effect of digital transformation is the rapid rate at which the value of one’s current skills declines.  

One day, your resume has everything top employers seem to be looking for on it, the next, you are scrolling through Internet forums trying to figure out what language or framework you should master in order to get that promotion you feel you deserve. Whether it is Python, Docker or cloud security skills, keeping an eye on the top tech skills of the moment is a bullet-proof plan against skills obsolescence.    

>> The Top IT Skills to Master

Motivation 

But an on-going approach to education has other benefits too. Countering the tedious effects of devoting too much of one’s time to a single activity or line of focus is one of them. We have all experienced that imaginary brick wall that rises in between us and our goals when we have been doing the same thing for too long.  

Forcing yourself to step out of your comfort zone and learn something new will solve that problem. It will give you an energy boost and a renewed sense of purpose. Do not ever underestimate what a properly motivated mind can achieve.   

Becoming a better professional  

Thirdly, educating yourself can have a very positive effect on your current performance and capabilities. Whether it is something directly related to your line of work or something as detached as Middle Eastern history, there is always room to connect what you learn to your present endeavours.  

Serendipity, or finding value in things you were not originally looking for, is a marvellous phenomenon. Capitalise on it to connect the dots and bring new perspectives into your everyday activity. Become a better professional by becoming a more knowledgeable person. 

Continuing IT education: Mentoring 

Finally, a life-long educational spirit will also make you, incidentally, a better teacher. The more you understand what someone learning something new needs of in terms of direction and resources, the better mentor and manager you will become. The best teachers tend to be great students.  

That’s not to say you will naturally develop excellent teaching abilities without no effort on your part. Mastery requires experience. But you will, however, develop a certain sensibility and empathy that will make you a much more effective communicator and educator. 

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IT Infrastructure Job Descriptions

Linux Systems Engineer : Job Description

Linux Systems Engineer
A look at the role of the Linux Systems Engineer and how to become one. Top skills, education and an overview of this increasingly popular function.

Use our template to create a compelling and comprehensive Linux Systems Engineer job description to attract top talent.

Unlike Windows or macOS, Linux is an open-source operating system that is free and accessible to all. That is, any user can run, modify, and share Linux code. Its open-source nature is a big advantage over traditional operating systems which are locked down, proprietary, and unmodifiable. Linux also has the advantage of being more secure and having fewer security holes than traditional systems.

More and more, large companies are using computers running Linux. Accordingly, the Linux System Engineer function is on the rise. The Linux System Engineer is an essential link within companies that ensures the proper functioning of a Linux network. The engineer helps coordinate the IT team, optimises network operations and ensures communication between the various information systems.

Also explore the role of the Android Developer

What is the role of the Linux Systems Engineer?

The missions revolve around two main areas:

“Build” project activities

The Linux Systems Engineer is primarily in charge of what are called project or “build” activities. That is to say everything related to technical advice, expertise and innovation. The role is to advise CIOs on the use and configuration of technical solutions in Linux.

This professional is also responsible for supporting the implementation of new solutions under this operating system. They also contribute to the technical validation phase and must implement means to guarantee the high quality and availability of the service. This professional must also keep an eye on all new developments regarding Linux to optimise system resources and continuously improve the operating system.

“Run” production activities

The Linux System Engineer is also responsible for intervening in production activities, which is called the “run”. That is to say the maintenance of the operating system, administrating it and maintaining it operational. The engineer must ensure that the entire system is functional and usable. They must also take care of the day-to-day administration as well as measure and optimise system performance. But they also provide preventive, corrective and evolutionary maintenance of the Linux systems of the company. To finish, they are responsible for managing incidents by ensuring the diagnosis and repair of any malfunctions. The Linux Systems Engineer is also responsible for testing the system, ensuring its security and reliability, and managing the user support side of things.

Linux Systems E can specialise in either project activities or in production activities. But, generally, these professionals work in both types of activities. A good Linux Systems engineer will be able to work on both project and production activities.

Also read the IT Infrastructure best practices

Required skills

Very good technical mastery

The Linux Systems Engineer should have very good knowledge of the Linux operating system and expertise in technical infrastructure software. They must have an in-depth knowledge of Linux system layers as well as a good knowledge of Linux installation processes. They must also often master programming languages, including Python, and also know Scripting (Patch or PowerShell). The Linux Systems Engineer should also have good knowledge of databases and security standards.

Solid professional skills

The Linux Systems Engineer must be rigorous, organised and methodical, as their missions require compliance with quality processes and rules. They must have great capacity for anticipation, initiative, technical curiosity and adaptability to ensure effective technical monitoring and adapt quickly to new technological developments. It is also important that this professional has good analytical skills, resistance to stress and reactivity. So they can deal with breakdowns or technical incidents. They also need to be versatile and have good interpersonal skills to maintain good relationships with other stakeholders.

Salary of the Linux Systems Engineer

The average daily rate a Linux Systems Engineer ranges between €200 and €600. Their median salary sits between 30K and 60K per year.

Training of the Linux Systems Engineer

To become a Linux Systems Engineer a university-level degree is required. That is to say, you generally need to have an engineering degree or a master’s degree specializing in computer science.

Several universities offer specialisations in operating systems. Engineering schools often offer specialties at the end of the course or have specialized courses. You can also take a Masters in computer science specialising in networks and systems ; or an engineering degree specialising in computer science.

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Weekly News: One Algorithm to Save the World

Weekly News: One Algorithm to Save the World
Software development has been accelarated by the pandemic, and that's great news for technologists. Weekly news about one algorithm to save the world.

Software development has been accelarated by the pandemic, and that’s great news for technologists. Weekly news and one algorithm to save the world.

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Preparing for the next time around with an algorithm

So, was it a pangolin or not? 

At this point, the scientific community can more or less confidently say that the coronavirus that is wrecking havoc across the globe came originally from bats. But they are not so sure about which animal acted as the intermediary host.  

Identifying animal species that might become the source of the next pandemic is one of the main pillars of our strategy to future-proof our public health. It is, however, not an easy task, as the potential lines of investigation are just too many and new virus strains can be quite unpredictable. Well, it turns out AI can help with that too. 

A group of British researchers have built a computer algorithm that allows them to predict which animals are most susceptible to new coronavirus infections. The results of the algorithm were somewhat alarming, as many more mammals were identified as potential hosts when compared to previous studies based on screenings.

But hey — information is power. Better to know where to look for the next time around. 

BBC

How to develop software remotely

Software development has been accelarated by the pandemic, and that’s great news for technologists. But IT leaders have to juggle the rise in demand with other, more uncomfortable consequences of Covid-19. 

Not considered essential employees for the most part, software developers are largely working from home these days. As it is happening with other locked-down professional; coders and integrators are dealing with challenging situations, having to coordinate family duties with work assignments and falling victim to the isolation and the lack of direct contact. 

This of course, impacts overall team performance. Which is why development team leaders are coming up with new ways to work and support their teams. While there is no single best approach to the problem; a few common patterns emerge when interviewing some of these managers. 

These include greater, more frequent communication between team members. But also visibility over the current status of projects via collaboration tools like Slack and a profound revision of existing workflows. Fostering socialising among peers is also key.

Computer Weekly

The low-code explosion

According to a new forecast by Gartner, the need for more agile and decentralised software development brought about by the pandemic will continue to boost low-code adoption in the coming months.

Low-code platforms let non-IT experts develop solutions without requiring hardcore coding and technical skills. Something which, of course, is very advantageous in a time of rapid digital transformation and overclocked IT departments. 

Gartner estimates that 41% of all employees outside IT; the so-called business technologists; are customising or building digital solutions to accelerate their projects and integrate workflows. 

The firm predicts that half of all the demand for low-code applications will come from business users by the end of 2025. 

Information Age

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Tech Magazine TOP 10 experts' articles

The Top 10 Belgian Cloud Pros to Follow on Twitter

The Top 10 Belgian Cloud Pros to Follow on Twitter
From industry insiders to technology evangelists, all of them are worth your attention. Top 10 Belgian Cloud Pros that you should follow on Twitter.

Are you Belgian and into cloud? Looking to relocate to Belgium to pursue a career in cloud computing? These are the experts you should be following on Twitter. From industry insiders to technology evangelists, all of them are worth your attention. Top 10 Belgian Cloud Pros to Follow on Twitter.

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Top 20 – Belgian Cloud Pros to Follow on Twitter

Christian Verstraete 

@christianve 

Now happily retired, Christian is a cloud expert and advocate with over 35 years of experience working at tech behemoths like HPE, where he served as the chief technologist of the firm’s cloud advisory services. He is an avid tweeter and blogger and regularly shares news and analysis about the global cloud industry.  

Jan Tielens  

@jantielens 

Jan is a senior program manager at Microsoft, where he helps the company’s customers and partners design and develop their cloud ecosystems, with a focus on IoT, machine learning and cognitive services. He has been a Microsoft MVP for many years, conducting training and speaking at industry events across the world. 

Sam Vanhoutte 

@SamVanhoutte 

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Codit, an Azure-focused integrated solutions company, Sam is a Microsoft Azure MVP and frequently speaks on the topics of AI, IoT, Integration and API management. Highly experienced in IoT and cloud-based solutions, Sam posts regularly about these industries. 

Frederik Denkens 

@fdenkens 

Frederik is a business development and cloud expert who, back in 2001, founded Skyscrapers, a company looking to accelerate SaaS development with a combination of AWS, Cloud Native, DevOps, and Kubernetes. He shares his insight and expertise in these areas through his company’s blog. 

Wim Matthyssen 

@wmatthyssen 

Wim is a cloud architect with over a decade worth of experience working with Microsoft’s infrastructure technologies. He works for cloud services provider Synergics, where he focuses on designing Azure hybrid solutions. A true Microsoft cloud advocate, Wim is a Microsoft MVP and founding board member of the MC2MC Microsoft cloud community and writes regularly about hybrid cloud on his blog.  

Peter De Tender 

@pdtit 

Peter is part of the company’s Azure Technical Trainer team. A Microsoft MVP and certified trainer, he is devoted to teaching partners and customers the ways of Azure – from guidance on how to deploy and manage workloads to helping other experts get Azure certified. He is also a coveted public speaker and shares his knowledge via his blog.      

Karel De Winter 

@kareldewinter 

This cloud solutions architect at managed cloud services provider DexMach is a devoted Azure expert and advocate. Whether it is on Twitter, on his blog, or at an industry event, Karel is passionate about helping the Azure community grow, constantly sharing news and educational resources about the platform. 

Glenn Colpaert 

@GlennColpaert 

Glenn is CTO and founder of Zure Belgium, where he helps clients design, deploy and maintain scalable Azure PaaS solutions. A Microsoft MVP and certified trainer, he is an active member of the Belgian Azure user group AZUG, as well as a frequent speaker at industry events.  

Geert Baeke 

@GeertBaeke 

Geert is a cloud architect and Microsoft incubator at De Cronos Groep. There he helps kick-start new initiatives based on the Microsoft tech stack and designs cloud-native solutions on the Azure platform. A frequent speaker at industry events, Geert regularly shares his Azure expertise through his blog and YouTube channel. 

Wesley Backelant 

@WesleyBackelant 

A Microsoft insider, Wesley is a cloud solutions architect focused on ensuring that the company’s customers are successful with their data and advanced analytics projects. In particular, Wesley is an expert in working with the various components of the Azure AI platform. He is a frequent speaker at numerous community event and regularly shares Azure news and tips. 

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Open source gold

Focusing on open source software solutions could save the European Union billions of euros a year. That’s according to a new report conducted by OpenForum Europe (OFE) under the European Commission’s direction, which concluded that a mere increase of 10% in open source production could increase the EU’s GDP by nearly €100bn.

The study estimated that in 2018 alone there were over 260,000 open source contributors in the EU. The volume of code they produced amounted to the full-time work of 16,000 developers, generating between 65 and 95 billion euros in value.  

The reveal comes as another study by IBM and O´Reilly suggests 94% of developers and technology managers prioritise open source skills over proprietary technology. Expertise in open-source tech like Linux and Kubernetes is almost twice (64.6%) as popular as skills tied to specific platforms like AWS or Azure. 

All thanks to the rise of the hybrid cloud, which requires a unified, flexible IT infrastructure and is expected to grow by 47% in the next three years. 

ITProPortal / TechRadar

Filling the AI skills gap

Artificial intelligence could change all our lives for the better, freeing us from repetitive tasks and allowing us to enjoy more free time and devote our energy to higher-level activities. That is, of course, if governments and business leaders around the world are able to promote the re-skilling of the workforce and bridge the already problematic talent gap.

That was the conclusion of a panel of European institutional experts at The Economist´s recent Innovation@Work summit, which acknowledged AI must be regulated to ensure it is an assistance to people’s lives rather than a hindrance. Ensuring data quality is key, while nations need to set up technology training efforts that produce the talent companies need. 

AI is one of the areas of IT where the talent gap is more apparent, especially as the technology keeps evolving at breakneck speed. Companies are a bit clueless regarding AI skills themselves. According to Gartner, 53% of business leaders believe the inability to identify skilled expertise is the number one impediment to workforce transformation. 

Diginomica

Also discover our article: How AI will allow recruiters to focus on people

Big tech goes green

One of the biggest critiques that can be made about big tech companies, besides their near economic monopoly is the carbon footprint they produce. Server farms and data centres, mining of the precious resources need to build hardware, emissions tied to the distribution of products. You name it. 

It is no surprise then that companies like Amazon, Google and Microsoft have made in recent years a pledge to reduce their impact on the environment and established ambitious goals for the near future. A move that has become all the more necessary considering mounting regulatory scrutiny by the US and EU governments.  

The solution? Investing in clean energy. 

According to an analysis by Bloomberg and the Financial Times, technology groups are the world’s biggest corporate buyers of green energy. From solar to wind farms, their clean-energy projects expand all across the globe, providing a growing portion of all their energy needs. 

Financial Times

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