About the Women of the Year Awards

The Women of the Year Awards, hosted annually by Women In Technology (WIT), celebrates exceptional women across Georgia who are making a significant impact in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). Now in its 24th year, the WIT Awards honor leaders, innovators, and advocates who pave the way for future women in STEAM.

Can you share your career journey and what led you to your current role in the tech/STEAM field?

“I never thought I’d end up here, honestly. It wasn’t some grand plan or childhood dream. I just liked solving problems, and tech happened to be the best way to scratch that itch. Moving between India, London, and the US meant I was always the new kid, trying to make sense of different systems and expectations. Technology was the one thing that made sense no matter where I was. It became my way of making sense of the world, like a universal language. I started with small coding projects just to see if I could. Then it was more complicated stuff—AI models, data science, things that required more than just curiosity but a lot of late-night learning and mistakes. Now, I’m here—patenting biodegradable nanorobots, building AI tools, and always looking for the next problem to solve, because that’s the part that drives me.”

What challenges have you faced as a woman/girl in STEAM, and how did you overcome them?

“Being young in tech is already an uphill battle. Add being a girl into the mix, and you get a whole other layer of skepticism. There’s this assumption that you’re either a sidekick or you’re there to make the team look “diverse.” It’s frustrating. It’s isolating. But I’m not here for validation, and I’ve learned not to rely on others for it. Instead, I keep doing what I’m good at—solving problems. I’ve learned to focus on the work itself, the satisfaction of figuring out something new, and slowly but surely, the rest falls into place. It’s not about “overcoming” in a dramatic sense. It’s more like letting the noise fade into the background and tuning into what I actually care about.”

How have you contributed to innovation or change in your organization or community?

“I get restless when there’s a problem that no one’s tackling, like that itch you can’t scratch. Soil health became one of those things for me. Most people think of soil as just… dirt. But I saw a problem—microplastics were seeping in and no one was really talking about it. So, I did what I do best: I started building. That’s where the nanorobots came in. They’re not some miracle solution, but they’re a start, a way of taking action when the problem feels too big to solve. Outside of that, I’ve run hackathons where the goal wasn’t just to win but to experiment, to try and fail. Because in the end, that’s where the real learning happens.”

How do you use your position to empower or mentor other women/girls in STEAM?

“I don’t think of myself as a mentor in the typical sense. I just try to be the person I wish I’d had—someone who gets it when things don’t make sense, who isn’t going to give you some cheesy line about “you can do anything.” Because, honestly, it’s hard, and sometimes it’s just about getting through the next challenge. I share my mistakes more than my successes, like the time I completely bombed a pitch or when I couldn’t crack a coding problem for weeks. It’s not about telling people they’re amazing; it’s about showing them that struggle is part of the process, and that they don’t have to pretend otherwise.”

What are your goals for the future, and how do you hope to continue making an impact in STEAM?

“I don’t have a roadmap, but I do have a lot of ideas. I want to keep making things that solve real problems, not just things that look good on a resume. My focus right now is on making tech more sustainable, figuring out ways to merge AI and environmental science in a way that actually helps, not just makes headlines. Plant a Change is just the beginning—I want to expand it, make it something that reaches beyond my immediate community. But more than that, I want to create a space where people feel like they can build without having to ask for permission.”

What does selection as a finalist for the WIT Awards mean to you, and how do you feel this recognition can inspire others?

“It’s one of those things that makes you pause. I don’t really do this for recognition, but being a finalist is a reminder that sometimes people do see what you’re trying to do, even when you’re in the trenches. It’s not about the title; it’s about knowing that someone out there understands why you care so much about that weird project or late-night coding session. If anything, I hope it makes someone else feel like they can push through that doubt, that moment where they think they don’t belong. Because honestly, we all have those moments, and the trick is to keep going anyway.”