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 Naomi Kothiyal, our Student R&D Data Scientist.
Why did you choose engineering as a profession?
I always enjoyed my math and science courses in school and had the hardest time deciding between wanting to become an engineer or a doctor. I loved biology, but at the same time I liked the idea of applying the knowledge I gained in school to solve real-world problems. It wasn’t until grade 12 when I took biology, physics and robotics in the same semester that I realized I could actually combine the two, hence me applyingo Biomedical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. This was the perfect profession for me to embrace my curiosity and desire to innovate and positively impact people’s lives, while also learning about all the subjects I was interested in.
Considering your experience so far, what do you love most about engineering?
I love the room for creativity and innovation engineering offers. Most people think engineering is just math and physics. I’ve come to love the design process that leads to forming creative solutions.
What are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman in engineering?
Visibility of women in engineering is still a problem. This industry tends to be male-dominated and I haven’t come across many women in STEM in leadership positions who I can look up to. However, this is something that is very rapidly changing. I’m glad HTC has some super awesome women who have been so helpful with giving me advice and mentoring me.
What advice will you give women who are interested in pursuing engineering as a profession?
Finding a mentor or joining a Women in Engineering organization would have definitely been helpful for me. These are great ways to have more guidance and can help with everything from resume critiques, interviewing tips, to learning more about the journey women have taken to becoming successful in their careers.