HerStories
Dina’s Story
Dr Dina Zebian went from knowing just the basics of how to turn on her computer to be an expert in biotechnology and data, with a PhD in reproductive health and nutrition, bringing together Dina’s passion for data and desire to make a difference.
South Australia
My Tech Path
Curiosity…. It all started there, it piked in my late teens and led me to pursue studies in Biotechnology and post graduate qualifications in reproductive health and nutrition.
Little did I know that the key skills I had developed were so transferable and to the tech industry!
Along my career journey, I found myself in the role of an IT analyst in government, and remember the little internal voice saying you know nothing about IT – get out while you can! I even expressed this to my boss “all I know is how to restart a computer”. He simply smiled and then laughed reassuringly and said “we can teach you tech, but what we’re looking for is someone with the willingness to learn, the curiosity and the love of a challenge. I had these in spades, and although I was still hesitant, within a few months and some training, I became a tech girl that could do more than just restart a computer. I could code, apply models and even understand complex architectural documents.
Yet what continued to unfold was what was the most remarkable thing- by merging my academic background, experience and my newly cultivated IT tech skills I found my true passion – data.
Sounds boring? Well to me it is exciting… endless…it underpins everything we do, no matter how chaotic something is, there is always an underlying pattern, particularly in our health.
For those who are not sure if tech is for them, I will say the same to you – if you are curious, love a challenge and willing to learn you may just discover your true passion in the world of tech, and no better community than HerTechPath to support you!
What would you tell your 15 year old self?
Dream big and let nothing or no-one dissuade you from YOUR dreams!
