Ana Connor

What do you do on an average work day?

On an average work day I collaborate with my colleagues and peers across  Foodstuffs South Island to ensure our B2B eCommerce (business-to-business online sales) platform is delivering a stable and effective service. This could involve meetings, teleconferences or video conferences with internal and external staff and vendors.

I use my knowledge of our business and technology to recommend improvements to our business process and help to drive greater accuracy and automation of standard business transactions, such as purchase orders and invoices.

What did you study at school? And after high school?

At high school I really enjoyed the sciences, and also English.

When I finished school I started out doing a BSc in Physics, but then I discovered the Drama programme and switched courses to do a BA in Drama. I also studied Philosophy and Linguistics.

Later in my career I studied part time and gained a graduate Diploma in eCommerce.

Was your study directly related to what you do now?

My degree wasn't directly related; I had learned a lot of IT from my parents' business, and worked for my mother when I graduated to further develop those skills.

The skills I learned in studying drama, linguistics and philosophy are very useful to me now. I can present confidently to large groups of people, and my communication skills help me to achieve the results I need to as a manager.

What would you like to share with young women who are thinking about their career choices right now?

I think it's really important to keep doors open for future choices. Math and science are so important at high school because if you don't have that background it can make it difficult to gain access to STEM courses later on.

Also it's absolutely fine to have no idea what you want to do, and try lots of things to work out what you enjoy.

What are some of your career highlights so far?

In 2004 the system I manage won the Computerworld "e-business of the year" award. I had suggested that we enter and wrote our entry submission.

I was really proud to have this external recognition of what we had developed. This was at a time when businesses around the world were still trying to work out how to collaborate more effectively with their suppliers.

The fact that this system has been updated and continues to provide real benefit for our business is a real satisfaction for me.

Why do you believe engaging in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) is important to New Zealand?

We are a long way from the physical supply chains of the world. But we can communicate at the speed of light. STEM drives innovation which can close the distance and connect us to the rest of the world.

Why is it important to have more women working in STEM?

We need a diverse workforce. Women bring a different perspective to problem solving, which is really important in STEM. The more we can expose our thinking to different challenges, the better solutions we will develop to the problems we face.

Ana Connor is the eCommerce Manager for Foodstuffs South Island , a grocery cooperative that includes New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square Supermarkets.

This profile is part of our series of girls and women in STEM.