Digital Days: “Technology has to be fun”

The software specialist Dynatrace employs more than 1,100 people in Austria: “And we want to continue to grow strongly”says Sok-Kheng Taing. The now 48-year-old native of Cambodia came to Austria when she was six. In 2005 she founded Dynatrace with Hubert Gerstmayr and Bernd Greifeneder, and today she is responsible for strengthening the company’s location. The business economist will talk about her special focus – international attractiveness and the promotion of young talent – ​​at the Digital Days and provide insights during a fireside chat.

“The focus when searching for highly qualified IT experts is, among other things, diversity and inclusion”she says: If a team is diverse, for example in terms of gender, age, expertise and origin, it is more innovative: “This is part of our corporate culture.” It is important to get children excited about MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology): “There are many very good initiatives here. But we see that these usually start too late”says Sok-Kheng Taing, who has two daughters herself.

Competition for the best minds

It’s about breaking down barriers in elementary education. For this reason, Dynatrace also has its own MINT researcher: “Children should get to know these topics in a playful way; technology must above all be fun.” She also learned early on that education is the most important thing because no one can take it away from you.

30 percent of the employees employed in Austria have international roots, and this should increase to 40 to 50 percent in the coming years: “It is a labor market and competition for the best minds is fierce. But we try very hard to create good conditions, such as offering free German courses, providing support when moving to Austria and also working closely with the authorities. Because employees often come here with their families and don’t yet know the culture.” Austria scores points with international employees as a beautiful and safe country.

Tickets for the OÖNachrichten Digital Days on September 27th and 28th in Linz and further information about the event can be found at www.nachrichten.at. With the OÖNcard you get a 25 percent discount: enter promo code OOENCARD_DD23 and save.