Rula Inclusion & Diversity

Describe your experience as a woman in engineering. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?

My experience has been, naturally, mixed. I have experienced all of the classic gender biases – having my work or opinions being dismissed, needing an older, male counterpart to say the same thing to be heard, being pigeon-holed into doing glue work because I’m good at it but not getting the associated recognition, etcetera. One of the biggest challenges for me, personally, is that I get in my head a lot. When I have a less-than-positive experience, it’s impossible to attribute it to one thing, even if gender could be a factor. I tend to obsess over situations, wondering how they could have or should have gone better and asking, “Would the same thing have happened if I were a man?” That kind of thing. At the start of my career, that feeling was compounded because I also lacked experience and self-confidence, and I felt like I needed to know everything.

Throughout the years, watching role models with decades more experience openly ask questions — even asking me for input — shifted my perspective on what competence and “good engineers” looked like. I have also been very lucky in my career to have amazing peers and managers who have been supportive of me and my career growth and have helped me find my voice. 

What are your professional goals, and how has Rula enabled you to pursue them? What career growth resources/opportunities are available?

My professional goals have always centered around helping others, whether that’s through building impactful software, mentoring colleagues or creating supportive team environments. The more I grow my own skill set, the better equipped I am to support those around me and contribute meaningfully to the work we do.

I’ve never felt tied to a specific technology; instead, I’m driven by the opportunity to learn broadly and apply that knowledge where it’s most impactful. Working at a startup has given me the chance to wear many hats, which has accelerated my learning and exposed me to different facets of the business. Rula has supported my growth by encouraging cross-functional collaboration, providing mentorship and giving me space to explore new challenges. Being a part of Rula’s mission to help make mental health care accessible has also been personally rewarding.

What advice do you have for women in engineering or other technical roles regarding how to identify a company and team that will support their growth and development?

Look for a company or team where you feel safe being your whole self. Almost every tech company will offer interesting technical challenges — those come and go — but what truly fuels growth is being in an environment where you feel valued and supported.

In my own experience, the times I’ve grown the most have occurred when I’m surrounded by colleagues who are genuinely invested in my success. Prioritizing the people you work with, rather than just the problems you’re solving, often leads to a more empowering and sustainable career path.