Former Hackergal participant Ambassador alumni, and now summer intern, Samia, sat down with Antonia Kourteva from Cenovus Energy to explore her unconventional career journey from graphic design to user access management in tech. Here’s a glimpse into their inspiring conversation.
If Antonia had to summarize her career, she would say “Unpredictable, but in the best way possible.”
From design school critiques to navigating fast-paced IT teams, Antonia’s journey proves that no path is linear and that trying something new can lead to something great.
When Antonia first pursued a career in visual communications and graphic design, she had no idea she’d one day find herself in the world of information technology. Now working in user access management, Antonia supports teams across departments and countries, ensuring people have the tools and access they need to do their best work.
“It kind of happened by chance,” she laughs. “I applied for a job that was supposed to be temporary, just a few months in IT, and ended up staying for years.”
Though switching from a creative field to tech might seem like a leap, Antonia says the transition made sense once she got into the work. “There are definitely overlaps. A lot of the fundamentals, especially around customer support and working with clients are similar.”
In fact, her design background still helps her approach technical problems with creativity. “It allows me to take a more user-focused and imaginative view. And all those peer critiques in school really taught me how to take feedback – something that’s still useful every day.”
But it hasn’t always been easy.
“The pace of IT was definitely a challenge at first,” she says. “You have to stay on your feet and adapt constantly, especially when things change outside your control, like new software versions or vendor updates. Over time, you learn to ride that wave instead of getting overwhelmed by it.”
Antonia credits her time in school, and mentors along the way, for helping her build that resilience. “I’ve worked with people who were so passionate about what they did, and willing to share that knowledge. That really inspired me.”
When asked what advice she’d give to girls* and gender-diverse youth considering STEAM careers, Antonia doesn’t hesitate:
“Just try it. See if you like it. There are so many people out there who want to help and so many ways to learn. Tech has come a long way, and the environment can be really fun and supportive.”
She adds that representation in tech is crucial. “People from different backgrounds bring different strengths. It’s not just valuable for the company,it also makes the work more enjoyable, too.”
She wrapped up her interview sharing, “One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is: if something doesn’t work the first time, don’t be discouraged. Try again. There’s always something to learn.”
At Hackergal, we’re proud to highlight stories like Antonia’s that show just how expansive and unexpected a tech career can be. Her journey reminds us that open-mindedness and resilience are powerful tools, no matter where and when you start!