At Convoso, we’re proud to have talented women who are making significant strides in our industry. In honor of Women’s History Month, we interviewed Senior Software Engineer Ellie who shares her journey, insights, and experiences with us as a woman in the STEM field.
Q: Can you tell us what you do at Convoso?
A: I’m a senior software engineer. My day-to-day involves working on different projects, tackling bugs, handling tickets, and pretty much anything that falls under our sprint assignments from the product team. This June marks my fifth year with Convoso.
Q: Were you always interested in engineering, or did you grow to like it? How did you get started?
A: I’ve always really liked math and physics. Growing up in Iran, where education was highly valued both culturally and by my family, my choices were engineering or medical school. I didn’t want to become a doctor, so I decided on engineering. There were a few choices like computer engineering and mechanical engineering. At the time, computer engineering seemed to be the better option when considering being female and the overall growth of the industry.
Q: Have there been continuous growth opportunities? Does technology advancement keep you on your toes?
A: Yes that’s one of the exciting yet challenging aspects of this field. There’s always something new to learn. Whether it’s mastering new programming languages, adapting to evolving software, or exploring new tools, staying ahead requires continuous studying and refreshing your knowledge.
Q: How do AI tools impact your work? Do you find the explosion of AI relevant to your role?
A: AI tools can be helpful for sure but each application is very different and therefore comes with its unique challenges. There are specific things you can ask and get a quick answer for, but others require a deeper understanding of the underlying code and logic.
Q: Do you aspire to move into management, or do you prefer to continue coding?
A: I’ve always thought I wanted to go towards a management position, but recently I’ve had some doubts. I like the autonomy and control I have over my work as a coder. When you’re in a management position you don’t have that since you’re overseeing people and don’t have direct control. Ultimately, I see myself moving toward a leadership role like an engineering manager or director where I can use my expertise while guiding and mentoring others.
Q: What advice do you have for women in male-dominated fields who may feel intimidated to speak up? How did you develop your confidence in such environments?
A: I’ve often found myself as the only woman in a room full of male colleagues. What’s helped me is to focus on my accomplishments and contributions even when I’m concerned I’m being judged more. By comparing my work objectively I started to build self-confdence that helped me to have a more confident voice in meetings. But it is something that I still have challenges with and am actively working on.
Q: Is there a woman who inspires you, either in your career or life, or from history?
A: I am really inspired by Shiva, our VP of engineering and product. The pressure in these departments is very high. And despite that she has stayed committed to making strides and effecting positive change. Seeing her navigate and thrive in this male-dominated space shows me that it’s doable for me to get to where she is one day.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s continue to honor and uplift the achievements of women in STEM fields and beyond, paving the way for future generations of innovators and leaders. Thank you, Ellie, for sharing your story with us.
