Leading with empathy: Natalia Serre's journey in Digital Solutions
“I’m drawn to complex, logical problems, but I also have the urge to understand and help people, so a technical job really allows me to do both,”
From passion to profession
Natalia didn't plan to dive into the field of technology, but her love for solving complex puzzles and challenges drew her towards a degree in industrial, and later nuclear, engineering. It was at the start of her career, when she immersed herself in the technical details of the products she managed, that her passion for the field was sparked. Today, she highlights how technology enables people to overcome obstacles and supports better decision-making.
“I taught myself how to do some basic coding and scripting, not because it was something I was required to do, but because I was interested in it and knew it would make my job easier,” Natalia says. This led her from being a technical expert on a product, to managing the product team, and later leading complex stakeholder relations.
A citizen of the world, having grown up in Argentina and pursued studies in France, Germany became her permanent residence over the past decade. “I think Berlin is wonderful, complete with all its colors and shades of grey,” Natalia shares.
For the last two years, she has managed her team at Yara in Berlin while working remotely. When presented with the opportunity to become a Program Manager at Yara, she eagerly embraced yet another challenge. “The challenge-hungry part of me got really awakened by the opportunity,” Natalia expresses.
Empowering female leaders
In the early stages of her career, Natalia believed that being a woman shouldn’t affect her professional development However, she soon saw how societal norms can limit women's opportunities and perceptions of themselves. “I must admit, I also carry the burden of my own context, and have it as a daily exercise to remind myself that I’m held to the same set of standards as everyone else,” she shares.
One of the reasons Natalia joined Yara was to find a work environment free from such limitations and, according to her, Yara has met these expectations. As a leader in Yara, she enrolled in the company’s leadership program ‘Leading for Growth’ designed to equip leaders with the skills, attitudes, and knowledge necessary to transform the business.
"Yara's leadership program has been a really useful toolbox as a young leader in technology. It provided me with a platform to access insightful content, learn from industry-leading experts, and connect with a diverse leadership community,"
Reflecting over her career path so far, Natalia stresses the importance of empowering and motivating younger colleagues, females and males- to break free from contexts limiting their growth. “Trust yourself and challenge the pre-defined notions. Also know that you do not need to have all the answers; no one does,” she concludes.
