Mariane discusses her experience as a woman in a male-dominated field. Her journey started in Lebanon, where she was born. Driven by her passion to learn more about different topics, she has defied all expectations-creating her place in the rapidly changing tech world.
Mariane currently works with the Engineering Development Group (EDG) at MathWorks at the Cambridge Science Park. Prior to this, she did her undergrad in Mechanical Engineering at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Today, she is finalising her work on her PhD at the University of Cambridge in optical communication and information theory. Through her internships, Mariane has gained experience in programming and laser modelling.
What sparked your interest in Tech?
When I was 14 years old, my parents bought my brothers and I an Arduino board. The first thing I remember when we started experimenting with it were the colourful wires and how small and delicate the components were. I remember the first code I wrote, simulating a traffic signal. Before then, I had always wanted to be a paediatrician. However, after this, I began shifting my focus onto mathematics and physics. When applying for university, I chose Mechanical Engineering. Meanwhile, I continued to learn independently about programming and other topics related to Electrical Engineering.
What top tip/s do you have for women pursuing a career in Tech?
I have learned… I am the only one standing in my own way – where there is a will, there is a way.
I can speak from my own experience, from which I have learned two things. The first one is that I am the only one standing in my own way – where there is a will, there is a way. The fight to get to this point in my life was difficult. I would not have been able to reach it without my mother, in addition to all the wonderful people I met along this journey, including my friends and my professors. Today, I thrive in offering support for people in similar situations.
The second thing I learned is to always trust myself to take the first step – namely, towards what I want in life. I learned that the “what if’s” I kept asking myself do not define the reality. As much as it was important to account for them, the balance was always overthrown by my lack of trust in myself.
What surprised you the most when you started working in Tech?
Additionally, many people assume that Tech jobs are mostly about coding and working alone on technical problems. However, I learned that ‘soft skills’ like teamwork and – most importantly – good communication are crucial to success.
I think the most surprising thing I found about Tech is the fast pace of technological advancement. It became obvious to me when I started doing literature review during my PhD, since the optical communication field is growing rapidly. It can be difficult to keep up with the latest developments.
Additionally, many people assume that Tech jobs are mostly about coding and working alone on technical problems. However, I learned that ‘soft skills’ like teamwork and – most importantly – good communication are crucial to success. These are the skills that I am currently cultivating, especially after spending a few years working on my thesis.
One of the biggest personal changes I went through when starting at MathWorks (compared to PhD work) is how to settle into a comfortable work-life balance. I had to learn how to ‘turn off my brain’ when I got back home!