“I won't be serving you a feminist manifesto. I have never felt vulnerable”

A whole new world

Sabina Mandsberg is one of two women in the Quantitative Solutions team, which has 14 members. It has been that way since the 38-year-old Romanian came to Denmark 17 years ago.

In Romania, she studied economics and computer science. It was an eye-opener to her once she discovered mathematics and later the world of coding.

“Finally, something made sense. I didn't understand the assignments we were given in school about writers and literature. It didn't make sense at all to me as a child, but mathematics was completely clear to me. And coding is like a language on top of that,” she says, leaning forward slightly before adding:

“It was as if coding finally gave me a voice that allowed me to express myself.”

Where are the women?

But she doesn't necessarily share her love of coding with that many women. As a matter of fact, men have always outnumbered women, both in her studies and at the workplaces she worked at after that.

“It's basically because women don't apply for the programmes that recruiters turn to when filling these positions,” she explains, emphasising that she doesn't consider this a problem.

“I’ve never experienced not being recognised because I’m a woman. For me, it's just a huge advantage that I can do my job and develop my professional skills,” she comments, pointing to Nykredit’s ‘Pledge to our staff’, which is part of its business concept.

“It goes: 'We will prioritise development and opportunities for people who will and can make a difference', and that’s the crux of the matter: whether people will and can – not the gender they have,” she points out. Sabina Mandsberg has worked at Nykredit for all the 17 years she has lived in Denmark. She has experienced nothing but a respectful and inclusive tone of communication in the workplace.

The conversations they have at lunch are about children, family life and holidays, and, in particular, technology – a subject in which Sabina is well-versed.

A good balance

Sabina Mandsberg's work means a lot to her in general, as does her family. She has never experienced it as a problem making the two work together.

“My work-life balance is good. Especially now that the children are older and more independent. But I do think it’s our own responsibility to make a good work-life balance for ourselves. You need to be honest about what makes you happy. For me, it's my job, but of course there must also be room for family life,” she says.