Celebrating the International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, the Norwegian tech networks ODA and Abelia have crowned Norway’s 50 most successful tech women.

Among them, we can find our very own Director of Business Development and Business Area Manager of Energy Markets & City, Tina Marie Skagen.

I was stunned when I received the phone call, because I never thought I stood a chance

exclaims Skagen – smiling

Two for two

Last year, eSmart Systems’ Elisabeth Brevik Karlsen was on the list of Norway’s most successful IT women, which means eSmart Systems has made the prestigious list twice in two years.

Abelia and ODA widened their search this year and have looked for outstanding women in the entire tech industry. The 50 recognized women are divided into three categories; leaders, entrepreneurs and technical managers.

Skagen has been recognized as one of the country’s most thriving technical managers. And even though she did not believe it at first, she admits it means a lot to her:

Of course, I am happy and proud. It is cool to be a part of putting eSmart Systems on the Norwegian technology map

Read also: Tina featured in the Norwegian newspaper, Fredriksstad Blad.

Finds unknown talents

The jury consisted of six competent and diverse business leaders, chairmen and researchers, and the criteria for making the list were as follows:

• All candidates must work in businesses which create value, not in the public sector
• All candidates must work with tasks which create value, like sales and/or production

Every candidate has been nominated anonymously and it has been open to anyone to nominate candidates since the beginning of January.

“The goal of the competition is to make all the female talents within technology more visible, and so the jury’s goal has been to find candidates that are relatively unknown to most people”, explains Kristine Hofer Næss, chairman of ODA.

Strong decision-maker

Skagen’s work at eSmart Systems have varied during her three years at the company, and now she is in charge of the business area Energy Markets & City.

Her days consist of coordinating sales and deliveries, shaping the products, meeting with customers, talking to people and her creating a good environment within her team.

“But I think perhaps my most important job is making difficult decisions and making sure we always move forward”, notes Skagen.

Making a difference

When asked why she believes she has been chosen as one of the top 50 tech women in the country, Skagen emphasizes that such a recognition would never be possible without having great colleagues.

“First of all, I work in a company that has made an impact – both nationally and internationally. Second, someone has been kind enough to nominate me. And lastly, I hope it is because I have contributed to making a difference while working here, she humbly proposes.

About Tina Skagen

Tina holds a M.Sc. in Strategy and Management from Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration. In 2008, she completed the Norwegian Entrepreneurship Program in Boston as a part of her master’s degree. In 2015, she participated in the program Innovation Management in a Global Business Perspective at the Norwegian Business School. Over the past years, Tina has held positions as Business Controller and Project Manager at different Norwegian corporations.