Interview with Taninna Portebos, IOTA director

From philanthropic tech programs at Microsoft to digital inclusion work with underprivileged communities, Taninna's path to leading IOTA has been anything but conventional. Today, she leads the team behind one of 42's most people-centered tools, one built to bring students together and help even the most struggling learners feel seen and valued. We sat down with her to talk about her journey, her management style, and where she sees IOTA heading next.
Taninna Portebos, director of IOTA posing in front of a black background

Can you please introduce yourself and tell us more about your background and journey to become IOTA lead?

I have now been working in digital inclusion and education for 10 years. I entered the Tech sector in 2016 at Microsoft, where I led philanthropic programs primarily focused on tech evangelism, particularly among younger audiences. I became aware of the societal challenges surrounding this topic and felt a deeper calling. I then continued my journey at Sport dans la Ville, a non-profit, and then at Konexio, a social startup that helps underprivileged individuals develop their IT skills so that they can join the workforce. During all those years, I kept a close connection with 42, as I would often take my beneficiaries to the Paris and Lyon campuses for immersive experiences. Back in June 2023, I discovered IOTA through a LinkedIn post by Sophie Viger (CEO of 42). It was love at first sight. I decided to apply straightaway, and I haven’t looked back since!

What do you enjoy most about your role at IOTA?

Everything! First and foremost, I have an amazing team that I genuinely love working with day in, day out. That obviously plays a non-negligible part, but I’d say the most powerful thing is when we receive feedback from teachers telling us how much their students are opening up to others thanks to IOTA. That means the world to us! They also share stories of the most struggling students feeling far more included and valued in their learning journey. That, right there, is our greatest reward. Honestly, watching this project grow is pure joy everyday.

How would you describe your management style?

People who know me well will tell you my management is true to who I am: dynamic and people-oriented! We work hard, but with a lot of energy and good vibes. Things can get a little loud (I do apologize to our openspace neighbours), but overall I’d say it works like a charm. We operate in a very collaborative and horizontal way. Everyone has a voice and every idea is valued, regardless of title or seniority. I also deeply care about helping my team grow, so open communication is at the heart of everything we do. A perfect example of this: one of our front-end dev apprentices is moving to a permanent contract this fall, and that’s definitely worth celebrating!

42’s pillar values are Ethics, Excellence, Openness, and Tech. Which one of these matters to you the most?

Openness. For years, it’s been my mission to ensure that technology benefits as many people as possible, and that no one is left behind. IOTA is one of the rare tools that fosters genuine group cohesion, all the while giving everyone the chance to prove themselves and feel valued.

What is your vision for the future of education?

I hope education will eventually allow everyone to learn to know themselves and find the place where they belong within our wider community. I would also love to see an education system that equips citizens with the necessary tools to navigate all the key challenges of our society, whether digital, environmental, geopolitical, or economic.

And for the future of IOTA?

In an ideal world, we’d have an international community of IOTA-using teachers exchanging ideas around innovative teaching methods, growing organically through word of mouth.

Last question, and a fun one: why is IOTA going to revolutionize education?

Because Soki is a shining light!

Bonus: Is there any topic we haven’t gone through that you would like us to discuss?

We’re looking to develop IOTA internationally, and we need your help! Feel free to reach out to us if you identify deployment opportunities in your local schools, we’d love to discuss 😉