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We got to know Miss Kokab Khalid at the Rajeev Circle Fellowship, where she visited Silicon Valley (USA) as part of the first MJTechWomen cohort from Pakistan. Kokab identifies as a "Maker"; someone passionate about the DIY (do-it-yourself) culture, and and as someone actively championing it across Pakistan. She is both educator and student, with science and IT as her passionate hobby and profession. One of her major interests is additive manufacturing, better known as 3D modeling. Passion for coding intrigued her to design her own CNC machine (Computer Numerical Control machines form part of the manufacturing sector that uses computers to control mechanical tools). She also fabricated her first CNC router using completely local resources, and have utilized both the machine and router to apply intricate design to wood carvings, producing particularly elaborate home furniture. You can check out her work here, here, and here too. We asked Kokab to share some of her life story with Women Engineers Pakistan, and following is what Kokab had to say for upcoming youngsters within STEM fields in Pakistan:  I am Kokab Khalid, CEO of MakerSTEM. I belong to Peshawar, where at that time women mostly didn’t prefer to come to IT fields and choose IT as a profession. Still, I chose IT as my field of education and work. I challenged the norms, but my love for IT pushed me forward. At that time it was a difficult decision, but I took it anyway. My struggle began right there, because at that time I was the only female student in my class; my class fellows made fun of me; my society did not support me. They always questioned my decision, asking questions like "What can she do in this field?" and, "Why did she choose such a male-dominant profession?" Now however, the resistance of this society has ignited passion within me to encourage, engage and empower more women in technology. From the beginning, I had interest in subjects like computer science, math and statistics. I did well in these subjects, and so these subjects helped me a lot in building my career as a tech-educator and later, as an entrepreneur. Life was not easy, I faced lot of hurdles in it. I struggled all the time, but never did I think about the naysayers, or paid heed to what they thought of me. I just worked hard consistently, and never thought about quitting. For me to find the ascension of efforts would be to see new comers in the field come together, share each others' knowledge and network together for sustainable development in technology.  Who inspired you to STEM forward?Do you know any extraordinary Woman in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine? Help us Nominate Role Models for the coming generation!
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Pakistani Women in Engineering: Meet Engr. Dr. Maria Riaz, Senior Software Engineer at Google23/6/2018 We had the privilege of speaking to Engr. Dr. Maria Riaz, a truly stellar engineer from Pakistan who has shattered glass ceilings and reached all the way to Google. Maria graduated from NUST (MCS Rawalpindi) as a software engineer, and later received a PhD from North Carolina State University. She is a true role model in both academic and career streams, and her story is sure to inspire many more superstar women in STEM fields from Pakistan. Following is Maria's story, and her very inspiring message to the women both already in the field and those aspiring to join in:  "I grew up in a closely knit family with two sisters and one brother. The strong bond that I have with my family is a blessing and provides me with a lot of positive reinforcement. I am thankful that growing up, I was never compared with others and was rather expected to do the best I can in a given situation. This has helped me feel empowered to learn and grow without any external constraints. My favorite subjects in school were Mathematics and Physics. I was always encouraged to develop an understanding of the subject over rote memorization. Later in undergrad, I really enjoyed logical reasoning and programming related courses. All of these provided a strong foundation for analytical thinking and problem solving. The knowledge itself, but more so the underlying skills to understand the requirements and constraints of a given situation and figure things out, definitely helps in day to day situations. Growing up in Pakistan, we are not exposed to a lot of the career options that are out there. I was motivated to be an engineer as I felt inclined towards subjects and concepts that are closely associated with engineering. This was not the most popular choice for girls and many individuals encouraged me to choose a different career path. Initially, the biggest barrier was that people were constantly questioning my choice and I had to justify why I would rather not be a doctor or something deemed more suitable for women. I think it is important to realize that engineering is not one profession, there are many options available and many type of career paths and job opportunities to meet different types of interests within engineering. There is room for everyone to explore their individual strengths and passion when choosing a STEM career. I am thankful to have had strong role models in all walks of life, be at home, school or as part of other social / professional interactions. I feel inspired by individuals who are kind and compassionate as providing a little encouragement and reassurance can go a long way. I think it is very important to have a support network as no one individual has all the answers. The most trusted way to create a support network is to be of support to others where and when you can. I would like to see newcomer girls, and all newcomers in general, to develop strategies that help them be resilient in the face of challenges and not be afraid to seek guidance and opportunities that can lead to personal growth and excellence."  Who inspired you to STEM forward?Do you know any extraordinary Woman in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine? Help us Nominate Role Models for the coming generation!
Are you a woman in engineering? Or rather, are you a woman affiliated with any of the fields within the umbrella of science, technology, engineering, medicine and/or math? If yes, chances are you know how it feels to be a minority. Chances are you have been told you aren't made for engineering, that it's a field suitable only for boys, or that you shouldn't get the job as you'll leave when you get married (we know, duh!! We know..) Here's the thing: We as women can either buy in to that narrative, and sit down - or we can change the narrative and reclaim this space. June 23rd 2018 is the International Women in Engineering Day (trending as INWED). Here's our chance to turn the mic right back on. In 2018, the INWED theme is 'Raising The Bar'. Its time to show the world how you are raising the bar in STEM, and how your amazing work is paving way for new-coming women in STEM. Let's show them how your participation and existence matters. We created a few selfie cards for you. Download whichever you like most (or create your own), and share it on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) with the following hashtags: #IlookLikeAnEngineer #WomenEngineersPakistan #WomenInScience #WomenInEngineering #WomenInSTEM #INWED18 #RaisingTheBar
Or grab a pen and write your own message:  And to our male allies: Your support is vital to the movement. Show support for women engineers by distributing these cards in the hallways of your office, classrooms, schools, colleges, universities and professional networks. Get people talking, start the conversation. The above cards are perfect to distribute among young people and get them interested about science, technology, engineering, math, medicine, and of course, art!  |
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