The TU Women’s Award honors alumnae who strive for a social, economic, or scientific impact on society through their professional lives. Rector Sabine Seidler and Vice-Rector Anna Steiger presented the award to Lara Spendier in a small but atmospheric ceremony at TU Wien’s Kuppelsaal, celebrating Spendier’s professional achievements and her extensive social engagement for women in tech.

Dean of TU Informatics Gerti Kappel emphasized in her laudatory speech: “Lara Spendier, a scientifically trained logician, has successfully translated the central aspect of logic into her own life: consequential thinking. Because she knows the challenges girls face in computer science from her school days, she is now a mentor for female students. And as a mother of two, holding management positions in the industry, she is committed to creating equal opportunities.”

Award Winner Lara Spendier

Lara Spendier studied software engineering and computational intelligence at TU Wien Informatics and further holds degrees in Linguistics and Dutch Studies. In 2011, she started her Ph.D. in non-classical logics with Professor Agata Ciabattoni, working as a research assistant at the Department of Logic and Computation (Theory and Logic Group). During her Ph.D. studies, she was one of the top 3 “FEMTech Rookie of the Year 2013” nominees and the finalist for Austria in the international science communications competition “FameLab Olympics 2012”.

Spendier ventured into the technology industry in 2014. As a Senior Consultant at PwC Advisory GmbH and as Head of Software Architecture at the software company SDS, she gained extensive experience in IT strategy, digitalization, and management. Since 2018, Lara Spendier has worked with the Austrian Federal Railways, ÖBB-Holding AG. As Chief Enterprise Architect of Information & Data Management, she established a group-wide foundation for implementing and developing digitalization, big data, and artificial intelligence projects at the ÖBB group. A little more than three years later, she became manager of the group-wide transformation program, combining her knowledge in IT strategies and executive skills. This transformation program aims to prepare the ÖBB Group and its 40,000 employees for future challenges – not only in IT but regarding questions of diversity, forward-thinking working conditions and company culture, such as the topic of “new work”.

Lara Spendier is an advocate for women in the technology sector: She is a founding member of women’s tech networks, such as the “Agenda Bahnindustrie Frauen” and “Women in Mobility Hub Vienna” and organizes the “Women Techmakers Vienna” conference. She is a speaker and mentor in various programs supporting pupils, students, and young professionals in their STEM careers. At her alma mater TU Wien, Spendier coaches female graduates and holds workshops for high school students within the TU Wien/VCLA program “Diary of a Computer Scientist”.