1
School foundation
Matura
Built the foundation for the next education step.
Kept multiple future paths open before choosing a commercial direction.
Career path
Daniela Hager
From waitress and business administration to cloud operations leadership.
Basel-Land - 29 years old
Founder WIT{CH} / Team Lead Cloud Systems Operations
Daniela's path shows how people skills, HR digitalisation, application support, project management, and curiosity can build a bridge into IT and Tech. Her story is especially relevant for women who do not come from a traditional technical background but are drawn to systems, people, operations, and cloud work.
CloudProject managementLeadershipCareer changeBusiness backgroundOperationsHR or Human ResourcesCommunicationApprenticeshipFounderStartupBasel
Download printable PDFTimeline
The steps that shaped this path.
2
First people skills
Waitress and shop assistant
Stayed calm under pressure.
Solved problems quickly.
Communicated clearly with different mentalities.
3
Commercial foundation
Business Administration EFZ, Profile E
Built a structured business background.
Learned to work across administration, communication, and coordination.
4
Digitalisation as an entry point
HR Project Coordinator
Developed project management skills.
Worked on digitalisation and conceptualisation.
Gained application support experience and operational IT awareness.
5
HR and IT responsibility
Legal assistant
Became responsible for HR and IT topics.
Built awareness for legal aspects and operational systems.
6
Understanding operational IT
Application support
Supported users and applications in daily operations.
Learned how IT systems behave in real business contexts.
Strengthened the bridge between people, processes, and technology.
7
Formalising the IT and Tech path
BSc International IT Management
Added academic structure to practical IT experience.
Connected business, people, and technology through a broader IT management lens.
8
Stepping into cloud projects
Project Manager / Business Consultant
Took on more responsibility in technical projects.
Built conflict-resolution skills.
Started understanding IT systems on a deeper level.
9
Leadership in cloud operations
Team Lead
Grew into people management and leadership.
Strengthened understanding of finances, delivery, and cloud operations.
10
Building visibility and community
Founder WIT{CH}
Started gaining first experience in self-employment and startup work.
Created a platform around women, mentorship, community, and IT and Tech careers in Switzerland.
Get to know
Questions behind the path.
Did you always see yourself in tech?
Never in my life. I thought I would become a teacher or something similar. It was a huge surprise when, after finishing my apprenticeship in 2020 during Covid, I got into HR digitalisation and found my passion for the bridge between people and technology.
How did you feel entering this field?
I was afraid of it. I thought there would be much more maths involved. It turned out to be more about logic, understanding systems, asking questions, and learning step by step.
What surprised you about IT and Tech?
Technology evolves every day, and it can feel hard to keep up. The upside is that it never gets boring. There is always a new question, a new system, and a new thing to understand.
What was a turning point in your career?
After finishing my apprenticeship in business administration, I struggled to find a job during Covid. I wanted to become an HR coordinator but did not get the role. A senior manager saw potential in me and kept me on a temporary contract to help digitalise HR processes. In the end, not getting the job led me to my dream job.
Which skills feel elemental in IT and Tech?
Curiosity is essential. Ask questions and try to understand the problem before going into technical details. Understanding the problem well often matters more than rushing into the solution.
What do you love about your job?
I love the mix between people and technology. It can feel like a superpower to understand the buzzwords people use and to translate between business needs, technical systems, and real teams.
Key takeaways
What this path can show others.
A non-technical first job can still build relevant IT and Tech skills.
HR digitalisation, application support, and operations can become strong entry points into IT.
Cloud and systems work also need communication, leadership, and problem understanding.
Career paths often become clear only when looking backwards.