International Women in Engineering Day is June 23, 2022!
At HealthTech Connex, we are celebrating our amazing women in engineering in our team who have been instrumental in driving innovation in brain health technology. From software engineering, quality assurance, research, to data analysis, they have played a vital role in driving our purpose forward – to transform ground‐breaking research & development into solutions that can positively impact brain health around the world.
This is the story of Deneb Ragbar, our QA Specialist.
Why did you choose engineering as a profession?
I knew I wanted to work in healthcare or medicine, and I was always interested in bio-instrumentation and physiology so I thought that biomedical engineering would be a good combination of all of those things. I spoke to people in the engineering field and learned that it was a very broad field, and the degree would allow me the flexibility to eventually pursue a career in several different areas. I liked knowing that I wouldn’t be confined to a single industry after graduation.
Considering your experience so far, what do you love most about engineering?
I enjoy problem-solving and being involved in creating a product that has the potential to impact people’s lives. I also love that my engineering degree qualifies me to fulfill different roles such as designing, quality, project management and testing.
What are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman in engineering?
It can be difficult to be the only woman in a classroom or in a meeting and this can make you feel less confident. A challenge that I’ve faced and that I’m still working on, is learning to speak up and voice my opinion. I’ve been lucky to work in organizations that have been inclusive for women and women of colour and have fostered an open and collaborative environment.
What advice will you give women who are interested in pursuing engineering as a profession?
Don’t be put off by the idea that it’s a male dominated field, because that is slowly changing. Engineering is a broad discipline that can offer a lot of opportunities. The university workload is heavy but definitely worth it in the end. I’ve found my career in engineering to be very fulfilling, and I think the discipline will only benefit from the unique perspectives of women engineers.