Carla Quant is Director of Operations for Schematic’s Costa Rica offices. In a recent interview with La República, she discussed Schematic’s most recent projects, technology challenges and the business sector she’d most like to advise.
Energy Everywhere
Despite her youth, Carla Quant is responsible for operations in the Costa Rica office Schematic, a company that develops solutions for the web, mobile devices, television, and new platforms.
Q: Is technology the domain of men? A: It has been, especially in the executive and technical areas, but that is changing.
Q: As a woman in a technological company, have you felt discriminated against? A: I wish I could say no, but yes, whether because I am a woman or because of my age, I have encountered people outside the company who are extremely narrow-minded.
Q: Can a company survive without a web page? A: The more importance a company places on having lasting and satisfactory relations with its clients, the more indispensable a web presence becomes.
Q: Which personal merits do you feel most proud of? A: The credibility I have earned; to achieve credibility, you must repeatedly demonstrate that you are able to meet the level of demands.
Q: Which product would you like to provide advice? A: In Costa Rica, a bank; banks have the tools to communicate with their clients but they don’t use them adequately.
Q: If you had to define yourself as a technological device, what would it be? A: A cell phone; I like to talk.
Q: Are you able to disconnect while on vacation? A: Enough to re-energize myself, but I do check my mail once a day.
Q: In what area is the country the most backward? A: We must expand internet coverage; we had to wait 14 months to get a fiber optic connection.
Q: If you could take only one invention to a deserted island, what would it be? A: Matches or a lighter.
Q: Which do you prefer? A Mac or a PC? A: For work, a PC.
Q: Your most important clients? A: All of them, but I could name Microsoft, Nokia and Coca-Cola
Q: The project related to the Schematic Olympics? A: The video player on NBCOlympics.com, with its capacity to transmit 2,200 hours of live video with unprecedented quality
Q: How important is it to relate to a web page? A: So important that it is Schematic’s reason for being.
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© 2008 Periódico La República. All rights reserved.
This article appeared in slightly different form in La República (September, 2008). It has been translated to English with permission from the publisher.
