IT er mere end kode – det er kreativitet, diversitet og inklusion
Pernille Højland-Rønde havde aldrig forestillet sig, at hendes karriere skulle føre hende til IT-branchen. Men i dag er hun en del af den – og kunne ikke have fundet et bedre sted.
“IT er mere end kode. Det handler om at forstå mennesker og skabe løsninger, der gør en forskel,” siger hun. IT-branchen rummer mange profiler, også dem, der ikke passer i den traditionelle skabelon. Og netop det er spændende.
Som barn drømte Pernille om at blive forfatter, kunstmaler eller skuespiller – altid med et kreativt udtryk i fokus. Den røde tråd har altid været formidling og at skabe noget, der gør en forskel. Hun valgte at forfølge denne passion akademisk og uddannede sig til cand.ling.merc. i International Kommunikation. Uddannelsen gav hende en solid forståelse for sprog, kultur, strategi og formidling – kompetencer, som har vist sig at være værdifulde i IT-branchen, hvor kommunikation er en afgørende brik i at bygge bro mellem teknologi og mennesker.
Med denne faglige ballast trådte hun ind i sundheds-IT for 15 år siden. Efter et halvt årti i andre brancher og som selvstændig mødte hun den tidligere kollega, Karen Skjerbæk Jørgensen, der inviterede på en kop kaffe, der blev til en ansættelse, og hun fandt tilbage til den branche, hun ikke vidste, hun savnede. “Jeg troede aldrig, jeg ville vende tilbage til IT, men det viste sig at være det helt rigtige valg,” fortæller hun. I dag er hun Head of Communication & Culture hos Trifork Digital Health under Karens ledelse.
Rummelighed og forskellighed driver innovation
“Jeg trives bedst i en branche, hvor alle ikke er ens – det er netop forskellighederne, der skaber de bedste løsninger.” Pernille elsker at arbejde i en branche, hvor folk har forskellige baggrunde, styrker, personligheder og finurligheder. Det er i samspillet, at magien sker. I IT er der plads til nørder, idémagere, strukturerede projektledere, kreative tænkere og mange andre. Hun har aldrig oplevet sit køn som en barriere og har altid følt sig velkommen i IT-verdenen. “For mig handler IT ikke kun om teknologi – det handler om mennesker. Når vi skaber en inkluderende kultur, får vi stærkere teams og bedre løsninger.”
Kreativitet, kommunikation og AI i IT
Mange forbinder IT med kodning, men der er også masser af plads til kreativitet. Som Head of Communication & Culture bygger Pernille bro mellem teknologi og mennesker. “IT kan nogle gange (ofte for mig) virke teknisk og komplekst, men med den rette kommunikation bliver det tilgængeligt og meningsfuldt for alle.” Hendes arbejde handler om at skabe fortællinger, sikre gennemsigtig kommunikation og udvikle et stærkt fællesskab i organisationen.
Fra starten har hun arbejdet for at skabe tryghed omkring kommunikation som faglighed. “Jeg kalder det kommunikation frem for marketing, fordi det signalerer noget mere jordnært.” De tekniske kollegaer arbejder med data-drevet sundhed, og i kommunikationsafdelingen sætter de ligeledes en ære i at arbejde data-drevet. “Vi analyserer, justerer, forbedrer og eksperimenterer – altid med fokus på at være firstmovers. Især inden for AI, der går hånd i hånd med kommunikation i vores verden.”
At gøre en forskel i sundheds-IT
Sundhedssektoren er under konstant pres, og digitale løsninger kan være med til at frigøre tid til det vigtigste: patienterne. “Jeg er selv kroniker, og kan se mig selv bruge mange af vores løsninger. Det giver så meget mening at arbejde med løsninger, der reelt forbedrer menneskers hverdag,” siger Pernille. “Og derfor ved jeg, at jeg er landet det rigtige sted.”
En af Pernilles største professionelle milepæle er at have skabt en kultur i Trifork Digital Health, hvor alle forstår vigtigheden af at kommunikere og synliggøre den værdi, de skaber. “Da jeg startede, var det ikke en naturlig del af organisationen – især ikke blandt dygtige IT-specialister, der ikke har behov for at italesætte, hvor dygtige de er – nærmere det modsatte. I dag er kommunikation en integreret del af vores arbejde, og det er jeg særligt stolt af.”
IT er for alle – også dem, der ikke koder
Pernilles bedste råd til andre, der overvejer en karriere i IT, er at være nysgerrige og åbne over for nye muligheder. “Man behøver ikke at kunne kode for at arbejde i IT. Der er så mange veje ind i branchen, og der er brug for vidt forskellige kompetencer.” IT handler også om kreativitet, kommunikation, strategi og innovation.
Hun har aldrig følt sig alene i en mandsdomineret branche og oplever ikke sit køn som en barriere. “Jeg har ofte været eneste kvinde i en samling af 15-20 mænd, men jeg har aldrig følt mig alene. De er mine kollegaer. De er tilfældigvis bare mænd.”
Til gengæld har hun oplevet udfordringen ved at arbejde i en teknisk verden uden selv at kode. “I starten tænkte nogle: ‘Hvad skal hun her?’ De kan kode, det kan jeg ikke – hvad kan jeg så byde ind med? Men vi fandt hinanden, og respekten voksede. I dag ved jeg, at min største kompetence er relationer og at jeg interesserer mig for andre mennesker.”
“IT er ikke en branche for de få – det er en branche for alle,” afslutter hun.
ENGLISH:
IT is more than just code – it’s creativity, diversity, and inclusion
Pernille Højland-Rønde never imagined that her career would lead her to the IT industry. But today, she is part of it – and couldn’t have found a better place. “IT is more than just code. It’s about understanding people and creating solutions that make a difference,” she says. The IT industry is home to many different profiles, including those who don’t fit the traditional mold. And that is what makes it exciting.
As a child, Pernille dreamed of becoming a writer, painter, or actress – always with a focus on creative expression. The common thread has always been communication and creating something meaningful. She chose to pursue this passion academically and earned a Master’s degree in International Business Communication (cand.ling.merc.). Her education provided her with a strong foundation in language, culture, strategy, and communication – skills that have proven invaluable in the IT industry, where communication is essential for bridging the gap between technology and people.
With this academic background, she entered the field of health IT 15 years ago. After half a decade in other industries and working as an independent consultant, she reconnected with a former colleague, Karen Skjerbæk Jørgensen. A simple coffee meeting turned into a job offer, bringing her back to an industry she didn’t even realize she had missed. “I never thought I would return to IT, but it turned out to be the perfect choice,” she says. Today, she is Head of Communication & Culture at Trifork Digital Health, working under Karen’s leadership.
Diversity and Inclusion Drive Innovation
“I thrive in an industry where not everyone is the same – it’s precisely these differences that create the best solutions.” Pernille loves working in an environment where people have diverse backgrounds, strengths, personalities, and quirks. That’s where the magic happens. IT has room for tech experts, strategists, structured project managers, creative thinkers, and many others. She has never felt her gender was a barrier and has always felt welcome in the IT world. “To me, IT is not just about technology – it’s about people. When we build an inclusive culture, we create stronger teams and better solutions.”
Creativity, Communication & AI in IT
Many associate IT with coding, but there’s also plenty of room for creativity. As Head of Communication & Culture, Pernille bridges the gap between technology and people. “IT can sometimes (often for me) seem technical and complex, but with the right communication, it becomes accessible and meaningful for everyone.” Her work focuses on crafting stories, ensuring transparency, and strengthening the sense of community within the organization.
From the beginning, she has worked to create confidence around communication as a professional discipline. “I call it communication instead of marketing because it signals something more down-to-earth.” While her technical colleagues focus on data-driven healthcare, her communications team also takes pride in being data-driven. “We analyze, adjust, improve, and experiment – always with the goal of being first movers, especially within AI, which is deeply connected to communication in our world.”
Making a Difference in Health IT
The healthcare sector is under constant pressure, and digital solutions can help free up time for what truly matters: patient care. “As someone living with a chronic illness, I can see myself using many of our solutions. It gives so much meaning to work on technology that genuinely improves people’s everyday lives,” she says. “That’s why I know I’ve found the right place.”
One of Pernille’s proudest professional achievements is fostering a culture at Trifork Digital Health where everyone understands the importance of communication and showcasing the value they create. “When I first started, this wasn’t a natural part of the organization – especially among skilled IT specialists who don’t feel the need to highlight their expertise, often quite the opposite. Today, communication is an integrated part of our work, and I am particularly proud of that.”
IT is for Everyone – even those who don’t code
Pernille’s best advice to others considering a career in IT is to stay curious and open to new opportunities. “You don’t have to know how to code to work in IT. There are so many ways into the industry, and a wide range of skills are needed.” IT is also about creativity, communication, strategy, and innovation.
She has never felt alone in a male-dominated industry and does not see her gender as a barrier. “I have often been the only woman in a group of 15–20 men, but I have never felt alone. They are my colleagues. They just happen to be men.”
However, she has experienced the challenge of working in a technical world without being a coder. “In the beginning, some wondered, ‘What is she doing here?’ They could code, I couldn’t – so what could I contribute? But over time, we found common ground and mutual respect. Today, I know that my greatest strength is building relationships and my genuine interest in people.”
“IT is not an industry for the few – it is an industry for everyone,” she concludes.
