Top 24 for 2024
What is your greatest achievement in your career?
"Fundraising for and running my first ever coding and robotics workshop through my NGO, The Techover Foundation, for young girls affected by Boko Haram in rural Nigeria. We raised over 3,000,000 Naira to aid the girls with attending school, taught over 50 girls from 2 local government schools and were sponsored by one of the leading robotics organisations in the world - Arduino.
Seeing the girls light up and take interest in how STEM can be a conduit to change their lives whilst successfully making robots out of cardboard boxes was truly an indescribable feeling and reinforced exactly why I fight for representation in STEM. I left with multiple girls telling me they wanted to be a robotics engineer and remember crying happy tears on the way home. That was the moment I knew that my engineering journey spanned beyond my personal career and that my God-given purpose was to empower, uplift and support others along the way. "
Who or what inspires you in your work?
“I guess…myself. I find inspiration in my life’s journey. Reflecting on the challenges I've overcome, which once seemed insurmountable, really motivates me to keep pushing forward and believe in myself especially during tough times. Nowadays I try to see each obstacle as an opportunity for growth and impact.
As an engineer, my primary goal is to create solutions for everyday problems, especially those impacting marginalised communities. By concentrating on how my work can make the world a better, safer place, continually honing my engineering skills and knowledge, whilst drawing inspiration from my personal experiences and challenges, I stay aligned with my purpose. This commitment drives me to be innovative and develop solutions that I hope will significantly improve lives. .”
Please provide one piece of advice for future global ethnic-majority engineers.
“Don't let imposter syndrome win! Its more common than you realise and many successful people experience it. Even your favourite most seemingly confident celebrity has their moments too - it's normal, we’re all human!
Acknowledging it is the first step to overcoming it. Challenge your self-doubt by reframing negative thoughts. Replace "I don't belong here" with "I am learning and growing."
Going forward, set realistic goals for yourself (documenting your STEM journey and projects along the way), and view challenges as opportunities to learn. Join and find camaraderie in your local STEM communities and seek support from mentors and peers around you! But most importantly, practice self-compassion by being kind to yourself and understanding that mistakes are part of the growth process. Never forget that you are capable and worthy of being an engineer! ”