Read about Angelica Maria Carnelosso

What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?

My motivation to join the UN is deeply connected to my personal and professional growth in the field of sustainable development. Leading environmental and technology projects in both the private and public sectors, I observed that many challenges could be effectively overcome or minimized with the appropriate use of technology. Particularly in data analysis for creating evidence-based public policies, one major challenge is ensuring that information is democratic—meaning it is easily accessible and understandable for all audiences. My mission at the UN has been to build these bridges, fostering a data ecosystem that prioritizes transparency and social justice.

What has been your favorite technology project or initiative at the United Nations and why? What was your contribution?

Choosing a favorite initiative is challenging, but I have a particular fondness for the Urban Observatories, a methodology by UN-Habitat that creates data ecosystems to democratize information, studies, and exchanges among diverse audiences through an open and online platform. I had the pleasure of implementing an Urban Observatory in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, where we integrated the needs of over 19 state departments, as well as civil society organizations and 102 municipalities. I also contributed to critical aspects such as establishing the governance structure of the platform and ensuring its continuity after launch. Additionally, I worked with public partners to define strategic areas of action for creating in-depth studies based on the data provided by the observatory. This not only tested the usability and relevance of the observatory in practice but also generated valuable information and strategies for public authorities.

What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?

My advice to other women working in technology is to never give up on what you believe in and to know that your opinions and knowledge are indeed valuable. Even in a world that still has much to overcome in terms of gender equality, there are many of us, and being aware of that and surrounding yourself with other women is a form of resistance and persistence.