IMC graduate Doris Lippert is recognised as a role model for women in IT. In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we shine the spotlight on her, as she is one of those women forging new paths, pushing boundaries, and shaping the future.
Story
Female Role Model for Austria’s Digital Future
Doris Lippert, the first President of the Association of Austrian Software Innovations (VÖSI) and a member of the management team at Microsoft Austria, began her journey at IMC Krems, where she completed her master degree in Unternehmensführung in 2014 (now: Management master degree programme). Since 2023, she has been a member of the IMC Advisory Board. During her studies, she acquired the essential skills for her career in the tech industry. Today, she ranks among the most influential women in the Austrian IT world and is passionately committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and the advancement of women in IT.
Inspiration for Female Talent
Through initiatives such as WOMENinICT and SHE goes DIGITAL, she inspires young talent and paves the way for the next generation. “International Women’s Day is a reminder that equality is not a given but a goal that we must actively work towards every day,” emphasises Lippert.
She demonstrates that a career and a family do not have to be mutually exclusive – on the contrary, they can complement and enrich each other. With passion, expertise, and a clear vision, she is actively shaping Austria’s digital future.
In an interview, the mother of two shares more about her experiences, milestones, and future plans.
You studied for a master in “Unternehmensführung” (now Management) at IMC Krems – to what extent did your studies prepare you for your career in the IT sector? Is there anything from that time that left a lasting impression on you?
I had already been working in the IT industry for over five years during my studies. It was the right moment to combine my practical experience with the theoretical knowledge from my Business Administration course. I had grand plans and visions of where I would see myself, and it was clear: no matter what role or company I ended up in, I had to master business management. The project work and practical presentations particularly shaped me. In the end, the course perfectly prepared me for my first leadership role. I must also mention that I met some wonderful people during my studies. We were an excellent group, and many continue to play an important role in my life.
Beyond that, I acquired a skill set in strategic management, change management know-how, and the ability to write perfect business plans. However, “Accounting for Management” still gives me nightmares today – it was rather tough.
You have been with Microsoft Austria since 2017 and a member of the management team since 2021. What challenges and milestones have particularly marked this period?
What has particularly shaped me are my two returns from maternity leave. Each time, I resolved that upon my return, I would really hit the ground running. And indeed, it worked out that way. Both children turned out to be career boosters for me. I was able to use my time off for personal development, which opened many doors. I believe that if I hadn’t taken maternity leave, I would have remained in my previous leadership roles. But I went “all in”: a fresh start. I remember very well the period when it wasn’t entirely clear whether I would get the dream role I had applied for. I felt alive and excited about where my path would lead, and I can only encourage every woman to dare to think big. I was often told, “You can’t have it all at once.” But that only spurred me on further. I knew I had the potential within me, and I knew I could achieve my goal if I pursued it consistently.
As the first President of VÖSI, you place a special emphasis on education and diversity. What specific measures do you plan to implement to advance these topics?
Both topics are very close to my heart, which is why they are my focus. The software association has successfully created a platform with WOMENinICT, where women become more visible, support each other, and implement joint initiatives to promote women. It is astonishing what 170 committed women can achieve. In just the last three months, we have been to over 100 schools with our Role Model events, where we showcase career paths and successful IT careers. “If you can see her, you can be her” – that even inspires me.
My goal is to scale up even more effectively and to further interlink initiatives in this area. As a network, we are currently growing rapidly. In the field of education, my focus is on making AI knowledge more accessible. Here, we aim to provide guidance from within the industry.
The WOMENinICT initiative is especially dear to you. How do you see the current situation for women in the IT industry, and what do you think needs to change to inspire more women to pursue technical careers?
Change is happening slowly. We are witnessing companies focusing on hiring more female employees. However, we often see that there are too few applicants and not enough women who become passionate about the field. Therefore, in education and also with the topic of career changers through SHE goes DIGITAL, we are addressing this issue. We work intensively with our Role Model events and mentoring to make successful careers more visible. This typically excites the schoolgirls because women speak from their own career experiences and demonstrate the diversity of role models. Many of the issues we see – such as too few female teachers in STEM subjects, a lack of role models, and insufficient access to IT – cannot be solved solely by politics. We are committed to making a significant contribution.
With the SHE goes DIGITAL initiative; you want to make career opportunities in IT more accessible to women. What successes have you achieved so far, and what goals do you have for the future?
SHE goes DIGITAL was initiated by Doris Schmidauer, Marlies Lenglachner, and Ingrid Heschl, and we are now entering its third round this year. In previous rounds, we have already achieved impressive success. We reached 1,500 girls, career changers, and women over 50 who had no previous contact with IT. Through our programme, they were able to gain an introductory insight into companies and digital professions.
We are particularly proud of the success stories that have emerged from our programme. For example, participants of SHE goes DIGITAL have made the leap from being a children’s educator to a data analyst. We have broken down barriers and made access to digital professions easier.
Our goal is to continue raising awareness of digital jobs and, through the training measures included in SHE goes DIGITAL, to prepare women for the job market. We want to ensure that our participants acquire the necessary qualifications and confidence to succeed in the digital world. We have also observed that acquiring the necessary qualifications is just as important as the interest of the game changers.
We have supported SHE goes DIGITAL with WOMENinICT from the very beginning by providing mentors, our platform, and the companies behind it. This is, for me, a living example of how we can scale the added value of our network when we latch onto the right initiatives. WOMENinICT and SHE goes DIGITAL have now become absolute passion projects. Those who know the women behind them understand that they are the lighthouses of their industry, guiding even more women and girls towards a successful career in IT. And that is precisely what lighthouses are for.