Top 24 for 2024
What is your greatest achievement in your career?
"Seven years ago, I made a promise to return a manual washing machine to my former neighbour, Divya. During my secondment in South India building cooking stoves, Divya became my best friend and the inspiration behind this machine. After numerous iterations and with the support of a dedicated team of 12, we finally returned to India and fulfilled the promise by gifting Divya her very own machine.
Any time we distribute a machine and see the impact first hand is impactful and makes me so proud, but returning to Divya was an incredible moment. She told us that there are millions more Divya’s in the world, and we need to go and help them. That’s exactly what we plan to do. ."
Who or what inspires you in your work?
“Several factors keep me going in this work. There is a huge, unmet need, requiring a lot of support around us to continue tackling this problem - I always say to the team we are in a marathon not a sprint. Also, the personal stories and the tangible impact we make in people's lives provide daily inspiration. Delivering a washing machine to those individuals that can be positively impacted from the Divya Washing Machine, and seeing the immediate improvement in their quality of life is incredibly motivating. I am driven by the belief that engineering can change the world, and by surrounding myself with people who inspire me, I stay committed to this challenging yet deeply rewarding journey. This job allows me to combine my passion for engineering with a strong sense of social responsibility, making it incredibly fulfilling.”
Please provide one piece of advice for future global ethnic-majority engineers.
“To be a good engineer, you need insights from all other aspects of life. Focus on the softer skills, learn how to talk to people, how to listen - you’ll get the degree, but it’s those skills that get you employed and create a community around you.
My advice to the industry would be to diversify. We need to address a diverse set of problems that reflect the backgrounds of diverse people, and this is something that global ethnic-majority engineers can pave the way in.
It’s essential to fill the pipeline with diverse talent, but it’s equally important to ensure diversity among decision-makers. Creating a framework where everyone's opinions are valued and culturally aware is crucial. Getting them in room is one thing, but constructing a framework so that everyone’s opinion is valued, that there's allyship, a space for different views and representation. ”