My journey into STEM began with a simple curiosity, a love for solving problems, and understanding how things work. I’ve always been drawn to figuring out patterns and building systems that make life easier. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a career where I could blend logic, creativity, and purpose.

What truly keeps me inspired is the impact I’m able to make, whether it’s building scalable data systems that power AI responsibly or helping young minds navigate their own STEM paths. Seeing how technology can create real change, and mentoring others to climb the same ladder, gives me a deep sense of fulfillment every day.

Gayatri Tavva, Senior Data Engineer at Amazon and WomenTech Founding Member

My journey in STEM began with a deep curiosity about how technology can solve real-world problems. I started by studying Electronics and Communication Engineering, which gave me a strong foundation in systems and logic. Later, my Master's at Georgia Tech helped me explore Human Computer Interaction and understand how people and technology connect. What keeps me inspired is the constant evolution of technology and its power to make a difference from building large-scale distributed systems at Visa to exploring AI applications that can shape the future of finance. I also stay motivated through mentoring, speaking at events and supporting young professionals, especially women in tech as they begin their own STEM journeys.

Madhushree Kumari, Staff Software Engineer at Visa and WomenTech Founding Member

My journey began with curiosity and determination. Growing up in India, where competition for top engineering institutes is intense, earning a place in Computer Engineering at NIT Kurukshetra was both a milestone and a dream fulfilled. That experience built my foundation in problem-solving and persistence. What continues to inspire me is seeing how technology, especially AI, can transform lives, empower people, and create real-world impact.

Nandita Giri, Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft and WomenTech Founding Member

My STEM journey began in the early 2000s when I witnessed the transformative power of the software revolution and yet noticed the glaring absence of women in this field, shaping our digital future. This dual realization of technology's potential and the need for diverse voices drove me to pursue both my bachelor's and master's in computer science. What keeps me inspired today is the exponential impact of cloud architecture: when I design serverless systems that automatically scale to handle millions of requests, or lead cloud migrations that reduce costs while improving reliability, I see how thoughtful engineering directly transforms businesses and lives. Every AI/ML integration I architect opens new possibilities for intelligent automation that didn't exist before.

Sowjanya Pandruju, Cloud Native Applications Architect at Amazon Web Services and WomenTech Founding Member

I started my career in a support team, resolving access tickets for HR systems. It was all about understanding user needs and problem-solving on the fly. Those early experiences taught me the importance of precision, patience, and empathy in technology.

Over the years, that foundation grew into designing large-scale data pipelines and optimizing AI systems for efficiency and transparency. Today I lead initiatives that bring scalability and operational excellence into enterprise AI, a long way from where I began, but built on the same curiosity and drive to improve systems and empower people.

I started my career working on software systems that supported large companies, learning how technology connects people and data. Over the years, I moved from writing code to leading teams and designing complete systems that handle global financial transactions.

Today, as a Staff Software Engineer at Visa, I work on building smart, scalable systems using AI and cloud technologies. My journey has evolved from learning and contributing to small parts of projects to leading global teams, driving innovation and mentoring others in their tech careers.

I began my career at Amazon, where I learned how large-scale, data-driven systems power global innovation. Over time, my focus evolved from software engineering to building intelligent systems that integrate data, AI, and human collaboration. Today, at Microsoft, I lead initiatives around AI agents and digital workers, designing next-generation copilots that redefine productivity and enterprise automation.

I've evolved from writing individual applications to architecting cloud ecosystems that power entire organizations. Starting as a software developer, I progressed through 13 years of increasingly complex challenges—from on-premises systems to cloud-native architectures, from traditional applications to AI-powered solutions. As a Cloud Application Architect at AWS, I now design the foundational infrastructure that enables businesses to innovate at scale. My role has expanded from solving technical problems to leading technological transformations, mentoring teams, and establishing architectural standards that influence how organizations approach cloud adoption and AI integration.

Stay Curious: Because every great innovation begins with a question.

Nothing is Impossible: Because growth in STEM comes from pushing beyond what seems unachievable.

Find a Mentor: Because guidance turns potential into purpose — mentors have been my compass through every transition.

Curiosity. Growth. Impact.

Curiosity, because my love for learning how things work started my journey in STEM.

Growth, because every step from coding to leading has helped me evolve both technically and personally

Impact, because I now use technology to solve meaningful problems and help others grow in their own STEM paths.

Curiosity. Resilience. Purpose.

Curiosity sparked my love for technology. Resilience helped me grow through challenges in a constantly evolving field. Purpose keeps me grounded reminding me that innovation has meaning only when it empowers others and I would like to help society using technology.

Purpose. Innovation. Impact.

Purpose drove my initial commitment to increase women's representation in technology while solving meaningful problems. Innovation became my approach—constantly pushing boundaries from containerization to serverless computing to AI/ML integration. Impact measures my success—not just in technical metrics like 99.9% availability or cost reductions, but in enabling organizations to achieve outcomes they never thought possible through cloud architecture.

Believe in yourself — if anyone can do it, you absolutely can. Don’t let anyone convince you that technical roles are “too hard.” Every expert once started as a beginner.

Find supportive communities, seek mentors early, and keep learning — the world of STEM changes fast, and staying curious is your biggest advantage. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, share resources, and remind you of your worth. You belong here.

Believe in yourself and stay curious. Don't be afraid to ask questions or make mistakes, that's how you learn. Find mentors who guide and support you, and keep building your skills step by step. With confidence and persistence, you can achieve anything in STEM.

Embrace the mindset that you're not just learning technology—you're shaping the future. Focus on understanding systems at scale, because the most valuable engineers are those who can architect solutions that grow with business needs. Seek opportunities to work on real production systems where your decisions impact thousands of users. Don't just follow existing patterns; question why things work the way they do and imagine how they could work better.

Most importantly, remember that diversity of thought drives innovation. Your unique perspective on problem-solving is exactly what the industry needs to tackle challenges like AI ethics, sustainable computing, and inclusive design. The cloud revolution and AI transformation are still in their early stages—there's never been a better time to be a woman in STEM, building the technologies that will define the next decade.

Your voice matters. Your ideas matter. The future of technology needs you.