Having enjoyed a highly successful career spanning 30+ years in the technology sector and as a leading figure helping organizations bridge the gap to success in the metaverse, Gaby K. Slezák is well positioned to deliver key insights on the future trajectory of the tech industry and on how greater gender balance can be achieved across the STEM field.
The Start of a Career in Tech
However, like many of the women featured as part the #AiAllies from Teneo.ai project, Gaby did not have a clear path into the technology industry when she was starting out in the early part of her life.
“I studied economics at university but after a year and a half, it was obvious that everything was just about money.” She said.
“I was always very creative and didn’t want to commit to a career where I was just looking at numbers and data sheets. During my studies, I actually made money by painting advertising on the outside of stores and designing posters on a computer, which I enjoyed more!”
With a clear sense of direction already forming, it was the introduction of technology that helped to convince Gaby of the best path forward.
“My boyfriend at the time bought a computer but he never used it, so I decided to see what you could do with it. I found that I could do graphics design with it and still have fun after doing that for 10 hours. If I could do that and make money, that would be a smart move. I quit my economic studies and trained to be a computer graphics designer instead.”
At the time, computer graphic designers were still hard to find, meaning Gaby had found a valuable niche.
“I specialized in 3D design and quickly found a position with the leading multimedia company in Germany, Pixelpark. Even though I had an unfinished degree that didn’t stop me from having a successful career. I was always good at finding solutions and even though I cannot code and don’t even consider myself to be a huge ‘tekkie’ I have still been able to enjoy this industry. I just wanted to help build the future that science-fiction authors wrote about.”
The Curiosity Spark
Like every other person to have featured in the AiAllies project, Gaby K. Slezák highlights her strong curiosity as the reason for her progression.
“I took on some additional learning and training opportunities that were offered as I was always interested in finding solutions and using innovative technology to make things work, just through learning a lot of new skills, I was offered the role of Innovation Director.”
In her new role, Gaby helped Pixelpark transition. It went from a multimedia agency to one of Germany’s first internet agencies in 1994. She then left the company in ’96 to start her own venture as a freelance consultant.
Over the next 26 years, Gaby collaborated with some of the world’s largest publishing companies and innovation labs. She consistently worked to drive significant digital transformation.
Recently, she co-founded Unyted. It’s a startup that’s building an open metaverse platform. This platform guides companies exploring key opportunities in the metaverse.
To delve deeper into the impact of the metaverse on various industries and the central role of Conversational AI, check out a dedicated feature. It’s created with insights from Gaby K. Slezák herself.
Helping to Create a Balanced World
Despite her rapid ascent in the tech world, Gaby faced numerous challenges. She strove to establish her name and prove that women could lead an industry that was once almost entirely male-dominated.
“I worked with clients like IBM and T-Online, which had workforces completely dominated by men,” she recalls. “At the time, I remember being asked several times if I was a secretary or an intern in those meetings! Furthermore, I also recall how my CEO was continuously asked tech questions when I was with him during meetings. He would be clueless, and I would answer each question. Yet, even after 4 or 5 times, the questions were still directed to the CEO. It took a while for men to adjust to this.”
“I didn’t let that get to me though, I thought that it was their problem more than mine.”
“Over time, I realized that men communicated differently, and somehow I had learned to speak their language, but other women didn’t. It’s like having to learn a foreign language. Also, whenever something went wrong in a project, the reason was never the technology, but rather communication – or the lack thereof. As a result, I also spent time working to become a communication trainer and coach.”
Beyond Her Tech Career
In addition to her efforts to become a professional trainer, Gaby also pursued psychology studies. She did this while working full-time. This provided a range of learnings she could apply in her professional life. But that wasn’t all. Gaby returned to university in her 40s, all while caring for her young child.
“I prioritized learning things that didn’t come naturally to me because I knew that is what would be the most beneficial. I was lucky to be able to mix campus and online learning while pursuing my master degree. Just because something doesn’t come naturally, doesn’t mean you can’t learn!”
“My advice for women in the tech industry is to connect with other women in the same sector. There are wonderful networks and global think tanks with regional chapters where you find a lot of support, opportunities and like-minded souls for professional exchange, mentorship and much more.”
To connect with Gaby via LinkedIn, click here.
And to join the groups she champions, join the AllStarsWomen NFT Club or Women in AI.