Nadine Capelle, Staff Solutions Architect, Confluent shares how true change happens when awareness translates into sustained, meaningful actions
What are your views on this year’s IWD 2025 theme “Accelerate Action”, how can we truly achieve diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
Nadine Capelle: Significant progress has been made in gender equality over the past decades, yet recent developments in big tech firms, where calls to “man up” the workplace have surfaced, highlight just how much work remains.
Impact doesn’t come from awareness alone. While International Women’s Day (IWD) brings important conversations to the forefront, true change happens when awareness translates into sustained, meaningful actions.
In the workplace, achieving diversity and inclusion requires more than just hiring diverse employees. It demands an intentional, long-term strategy. Real inclusivity is built through a culture that values talent and merit, supported by structured training programs that help employees and, more importantly, managers recognize and mitigate bias in hiring and promotions.
Can you share your journey into the tech world and what inspired you to pursue this, where did it all start?
Nadine Capelle: As a child, I was drawn to science and math, making a scientific curriculum an obvious choice for me. However, when it came time to choose my university major —computer and network engineering— I now recognize that my decision was fueled not only by my passion but also by a desire to challenge gender biases in a field traditionally dominated by men.
Who would you consider your role model, someone who constantly inspires you? (Does not really have to be from the professional world only, can be someone at home too)
Nadine Capelle: A bit of a cliche, my mother was and still is my role model, and my go to person for both personal and professional advice. She managed to juggle a full time job while taking care of our family, never letting either responsibility take a backseat.
When she was younger, she had to put her Ph.D. dreams on hold, not for lack of talent or ambition, but simply because she was a woman. But instead of letting that define her, she turned it into a driving force, making sure I had every opportunity to chase my dreams without limits.
Her resilience and dedication have surely shaped the way I approach challenges in life.
Rapid Fire (Let’s get to know you more)
- Dinner with a famous personality, who would it be? Greta Thunberg
- One skill you wish you could learn instantly? Multilingual proficiency in Chinese, Hindi and Russian (does it count for one? :))
- Android or Apple? 😃 Apple!
- WhatsApp or Telegram? WhatsApp
- Phone call or text message/email? Text messages/emails
- Beaches or Mountains? Beaches
- Coffee or Tea? Coffee
- Early Bird or Night owl? Early bird without any doubt
- Books or Movies? Books
- Winter or Summer? Summer
- Online shopping or in-store shopping? Both!
What advice would you give to women starting off their careers, aspiring to enter the tech/business field?
Nadine Capelle: The biggest advice is to believe in yourself! While the technology field remains male-dominated in many areas, it offers both exciting opportunities and unique challenges for women
Success comes from confidence, resilience, and continuous growth. Be bold, take up space, and own your expertise, your voice and contributions matter. And above all, never stop learning. In an industry that evolves rapidly, staying curious and adaptable is key to breaking barriers and shaping the future of technology.
