Técnico Alumni is a platform that allows former students of Instituto Superior Técnico to reconnect, relive, and reminisce their time at Técnico through access to a network of contacts with other Alumni. It is within the context of this platform’s activities that this interview with Marta Teixeira, a former student of DEI (Department of Computer Science and Engineering), originally took place, and is now being republished in full.  

To learn more about Técnico Alumni and join the network, click HERE.

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Marta Teixeira was born and raised in Lisbon, but the most memorable moments of her childhood were spent in her parents’ hometown, Rendo, near the Serra da Estrela mountains, where contact with the countryside offered her unique and singular experiences compared to life in the big city. She completed her (post-Bologna) Master’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering at Técnico in 2012, and since then she has been involved in software development, initially in the field of railway planning, and for the past five years in the area of e-commerce.

• Why Técnico?

During high school, while attending the Emídio Navarro Technical School in Almada, I visited the Computer Science Department at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology in Monte da Caparica.

They spoke so much about Técnico during that visit that it sparked my curiosity, and from that day on, I chose Técnico and the course.

• As a woman, what was it like studying at Técnico?

First, it meant walking into a lecture hall full of men and being one of six women among three hundred freshmen in the program. It also meant always finding clean and vacant restrooms in the department. Beyond that, I never felt different or special. I was always treated equally and with respect by both classmates and professors. I'm very grateful to everyone for that, and I hope other women can feel the same.

• What do you take away most from your time at Técnico, in or out of the classroom?

Resilience, courage, and overcoming challenges. The transition from high school to Técnico wasn’t easy. And I didn’t even have to leave the comfort of home like many of my classmates. At one point, we used to say that the hard part wasn’t getting into Técnico, it was graduating with a diploma. Looking back, I realize that nothing is impossible and that we’re all just human beings trying to make it through Técnico. The sum of the hard and happy moments laid the foundation for both my professional and personal life, and one of the best feelings was realizing that work felt easier and less demanding than university.

• Did you have any inspiring figures at Técnico? Who and why?

Who can go through Técnico without inspiring figures? The first one who comes to mind is Professor Ana Cachopo, in the practical classes of the first programming course. Many of the principles she taught me I still apply today. I also must mention Professor David Martins de Matos, who taught several courses and made me a more rigorous and self-demanding professional, and who also helped me understand that we can fail. We just can't let failures turn into defeats. In the realm of professors, I must also mention Professor João Cachopo, who guided me through my master’s thesis and introduced me to the book Bugs in Writing, which I still consult and recommend to others. Lastly, I remember my classmate Rui Batista, who went through all of Técnico as a blind student and is now a successful software engineer. He might not know how much of an inspiration he was, and still is, to me.

• What’s your best memory from Técnico?

There are many memories from Técnico. They were certainly defining times. The best one? The first week: the week of praxe (student initiation rituals)! I met not only my fellow first-year students but also other students from the course, with whom I’m still friends today. The challenges we were set during those days remain in my memory because they created strong bonds between people and with Técnico, as well as the lyrics of the songs we sang, songs that still echo and empower us over the years. For example: “Não deixes de tentar, caloiro tu tens de aprender que a vida de estudante também é saber sofrer. Vais ver darás valor àquilo que te custa a ter…”

• Can you tell us a bit about the start of your professional journey?

In the final months of my course, I started job hunting and ended up spending a day at a consulting firm. I hated it! The atmosphere, the dress code, the type of tasks, the schedule. Not everyone likes the same things, and although I knew it could be valuable for my résumé, I also knew I didn’t go to Técnico to be unhappy in my career.

So, it took me a bit longer to get started, but I ended up finding a product-based company focused on railways. I’ve always loved taking trains and the metro, they were part of my daily life since childhood. Being able to combine computing with this field was extremely motivating, and even though the programming language was older and uncommon in the industry, I stayed in that area for six years.

• Tell us a bit about the work you're doing now.

I currently work in e-commerce for an American company. The biggest shift was working entirely in English and with cutting-edge technology. I deal with products from all kinds of categories, each with hundreds of attributes. Imagine storing nutritional data and being able to compare different products, for example.

More than a challenging domain, I now work with a team spread across the globe, in three or four different time zones and with very diverse academic backgrounds, including from the IMT. And, of course, I traded a daily office in Lisbon for the calm of remote work, with occasional visits to the office for necessary social interaction and idea exchange.

• What makes you proud to be a Técnico alumna?

The pride in Técnico is hard to explain, but it's real. Técnico values its students and its alumni. It’s always a pleasure to reconnect with Técnico, often through events where I share my experience with current final-year students. When I meet other Técnico alumni, I notice a shared set of values and professional pride. And if there’s one thing no Técnico alum ever forgets, it’s their student number.

• What advice would you give to current students?

"You’ll say: Mom, I’m a student... Oh freshman, you will suffer!" I used to chant that to the rhythm of music during praxe. And yes, I can’t say Técnico was easy, but I can say it was the best educational experience I’ve had and gave me the best foundation for my professional life.

To current students: take full advantage of everything Técnico offers and stay strong, because I can tell you from this side: it will all be worth it if you do what you love. The working world demands dedication and teamwork, but it’s no harder than Técnico.

• Do you have a favorite quote or phrase?

“Always live in such a way that your presence is not noticed, but your absence is felt.”

(original image: Marta Teixeira)