Interview with Helena Rogério, Técnico Taguspark in a word

Helena Rogério describes Técnico Taguspark with the word “Proximity,” emphasizing the relationship among the entire community in a unique collaborative environment where a true “spirit of family” is cultivated.

Born and raised in Mozambique, Helena has a rich and diverse history. Daughter of Cape Verdean parents, she grew up in Mozambique until the age of 15 when she moved to Portugal after the April 25th Revolution. Her childhood was filled with outdoor play; she “loved climbing trees and eating fruits directly from them.” She had a happy childhood, growing up with five siblings, and the presence of a religious education instilled important values such as respect for others.

She describes the period of arriving in Portugal as “a time of crisis,” where she faced the longing for friends left in her homeland, “at a time in life when affections and interpersonal relationships mattered a lot.” “It was like starting everything from the beginning,” she adds. This was a phase in which the meaning of her relationship with faith awakened, helping her overcome tougher moments.

It was during high school, when she chose the field of Economics and Management, that Helena had her first contact with Computer Science. “That’s when a spark ignited to actually pursue Computer Science,” she says. It was during this time that she was challenged to do an internship at CIIST (Center for Informatics of Instituto Superior Técnico), marking the beginning of a professional journey that has lasted for 37 years. “It has been a very rewarding journey for me,” she confides. For 16 years, she worked on the Alameda campus. Then, due to personal reasons, she decided to transfer to the Taguspark campus, which provided her a “better life quality.” Currently, Helena is part of the Informatics Unit at Taguspark. “I found very good colleagues who have helped improve my professional performance,” says Helena.

Throughout her career, Helena faced some challenges during “occasional moments of greater tension,” causing some emotional and psychological strain. However, the overall balance has always been positive, and the freedom to be herself at Técnico was crucial in her decision to stay in the institution. “I come with joy and a willingness to work,” she admits, “I like being at Técnico, and I almost consider it my home because it’s where I spend most of my days.”

Within the field of Computer Science, Helena enjoys the aspect of helping users, communicating with people, and understanding their problems to solve them. “Dealing with the whole community, from students to professors and staff, all these different universes and this diversity of people have been very enriching not only professionally but also personally.” Helena believes it is essential to treat all people the same, “with respect and kindness.”

For Helena, “the balance between professional and personal life is crucial,” and beyond her professional life, she is an active volunteer in the “Serve the City” initiative, which seeks to mobilize people of all conditions and convictions for local citizenship. Helena managed to challenge a group of people from Técnico to participate in the initiative, and she reveals that “we are currently a huge family and have developed a strong friendship even outside of the workplace.” In her free time, she highlights her love for socializing, “I really enjoy being with people,” and she reveals a passion for dancing, “I really enjoy going out and dancing.” Helena describes herself as an animated person, a trait she shares with her family.

Regarding future plans, she has the desire to visit the land of her origins, Cape Verde, and reveals that she plans to do it soon. She also plans to dedicate more time to others, “I would like to retire with health so that I can help others (…) I would like to dedicate more time to volunteering, work on more projects involving others.” She also aims to be more present in family life, especially in the lives of her grandchildren, “I would like to have more availability to be with my grandchildren and be a more present grandmother. (…) I want to pass on values not only as a family but also as citizens.”

“Continuing to work, leaving positive marks on relationships and the community, being a person of integrity and trust, and always practicing generosity” are the pieces of advice that Helena gives to future generations at Técnico.