Interview with Kristina Diesem, Senior Vice President at CANCOM
On International Women’s Day, we talked to Kristina about how she worked her way up from a marketing position to Senior Vice President at CANCOM – and what role equality played in her career. She shares exciting insights into her career path, talks about the challenges for women in management positions and how career opportunities for women in the IT industry have developed – and where there is still room for improvement.
10. March 2025
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Reading time: 7 min.
CANCOM Slovakia: Tell us about your professional background! How did you end up pursuing a career in IT?
Kristina: I studied economics at the University of Cologne and then worked at the department. But at some point I wanted to move from theory to practice and joined CANCOM almost 20 years ago. I made a conscious decision to work in the IT industry because it is constantly changing. There are always new technologies, projects, ways of working and customer requirements that make everyday work varied and exciting. A job with monotonous tasks would not be for me. Besides, as a lecturer in communication and economics, I share my knowledge with students at universities, because the connection between theory and practice is particularly important to me. By jointly analyzing use cases, I give students a practical insight to prepare them specifically for their career entry.
CANCOM Slovakia: How did you become Senior Vice President (SVP)?
Kristina: I originally started at CANCOM in marketing and worked as a partner account manager for two major manufacturers. Later, I became an assistant to the management, which already gave me deep insights into the tasks and role of a senior vice president. After that, I managed the sales team in the western region for three years. In 2022, I was offered the role of SVP for that region. So my career has been very organic – I never actively applied for a new position. Things have mostly fallen into place nicely. My career here at the company is a very good example of how you can write a success story at CANCOM – starting here after graduating and going from being a marketing employee to SVP. This shows that performance and commitment are recognized and rewarded here. CANCOM not only offers space for personal and professional development, but actively promotes it.
CANCOM Slovakia: What are your responsibilities as Senior Vice President? What skills are particularly important for this role?
Kristina: I am responsible for the Western region at CANCOM, with around 400 employees in sales, solution design and solution integration. This includes the financial responsibility to break down the corporate strategy to our area and derive concrete measures to achieve the given goals. Organizational changes such as new locations or content optimizations also fall within my area of responsibility.
Important skills for my position include assertiveness, clear communication and decisiveness. Especially in a large team, there needs to be one person who sets the direction and makes the decisions. Strategic thinking is also important for implementing goals and setting priorities. The aim is to provide a framework for the team. I often compare my role to that of a trainer who rallies their team around a common goal.
CANCOM Slovakia: What do you particularly enjoy about your job?
Kristina: I enjoy working with my team. Our employees are very motivated and committed. It’s just fun. Working with manufacturers and partners is also a lot of fun. But what I like best is being in direct contact with customers. Talking to them, understanding their requirements and finding the best solution for them is exactly my thing.
CANCOM Slovakia: What challenges do you face in your job and how do you deal with them?
Kristina: One of the biggest challenges is the ever-increasing complexity of customer enquiries, especially in current trends such as IT security or artificial intelligence. A strong consulting approach is important here in order to work with customers to develop the best solution. This is because many customers often don’t even know what they need. It is particularly important that we put ourselves in our customers’ shoes and understand their business. In doing so, we benefit from our great team and a broad service portfolio.
In addition, there are challenges in employee management, especially when it comes to difficult conversations. Things that go well don’t come to me. Topics that end up on my desk tend to be things that aren’t going so well and are problematic. Clear communication is crucial here.
When challenges arise, I try to get an overview. It’s also important not to view decisions as isolated incidents, but to think strategically and always keep the overall goal in mind.
CANCOM Slovakia: As a woman in a management position, does International Women’s Day have a special meaning for you?
Kristina: International Women’s Day commemorates all the women who have fought for and continue to fight for equality. Without them, I would not be where I am today. Unfortunately, equality in the workplace is still an issue today: many women have to prove themselves additionally. This puts a strain on them, is a shame, and also shows that there is still a lot to be changed.
Personally, I don’t experience this at CANCOM – I am respected as a fully-fledged colleague. I am often told that I am a role model as a woman in a management position. But for me, my male colleagues are the real role models because they live equality as a matter of course. I don’t have to worry about being perceived differently as a woman. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for taking this for granted.
CANCOM Slovakia: What do you think are the biggest challenges for women in management positions?
Kristina: Unfortunately, role clichés are often still anchored in people’s minds. It starts with the fact that many people are of the opinion that women are less productive at work because they have to juggle many things such as family, career and household. However, women should not let this influence them.
Another problem is that women often fly under the radar because they don’t actively put themselves forward for management positions and therefore don’t get promoted. They should be more vocal and have a greater presence.
CANCOM Slovakia: Has anything improved in this regard in the IT industry?
Kristina: Yes, there has been progress – for several years now, companies have been increasingly relying on programs to promote women, and there are more women’s conferences that I regularly attend. But I think it’s a shame that such programs are necessary at all – equality should be a matter of course.
CANCOM Slovakia: Is there anything you would like to share with women in the IT industry, but also in a general professional context?
Kristina: Be brave, believe in yourself and don’t compare yourself too much! If you think about it too much, you become insecure. So just get started and do it!
Thank you for the insights into your job and your perspective on women in the workplace.
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