PowerPuffNerds

Faith, Trust and a little Pixie Dust!

nupurja
July 9, 2021

Once upon a time, a little girl had the fortune of meeting Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Her parents were overwhelmed with joy, and her friends were green with envy; what more could a girl want, right?

On the D-day, as she entered the auditorium, her heart skipped a beat! She was at arm’s length from one of the most beloved leaders of this century, but she could not comprehend what he was saying. Dr. Kalam addressed the students in Tamil as children from different regions of Tamil Nadu had come together. Unfortunately, she had no familiarity with the language. To her surprise, she wasn’t disappointed at all; her feelings were along the lines of awe and inspiration.

Hello everyone, I am Nupur Jain, that ten-year-old girl who found her purpose that afternoon!“Mom, I want to be remembered, not just for my accomplishments, but also for my compassion for humanity!” My mother probably asked me to do humanity a favor & finish my vegetables! In retrospect, this was one of the sole reasons for choosing a career in technology, an equally compelling one was my declaration: “I do not want to be a doctor,” so engineering it was!

Technology has the power to change the world and make a profound impact. I started my career in technology as a college graduate through CSAP (Cisco Sales Associate Program). I soon progressed to a more challenging role as a Systems Engineer working with customers in the Banking and Financial Services Industry. In this role, I create an impact by designing solutions that solve real-world problems for my customers. It feels like a dream come true on most days!

I say most days for a reason; as the youngest individual in most rooms, it was often a task to be taken seriously, to be trusted. Like any other newcomer, I was overwhelmed with the fear of judgment and was scared to voice my opinions. There was only one way to overcome my fear, and it was time to implement it. I looked myself in the mirror that morning, as I said: “Starting today, you have to say one sentence in each meeting!! It can be something as simple as setting the agenda or summarising a discussion, but your voice needs to be heard !!” In hindsight, it was a funny strategy but an extremely effective one. Over time, it helped me build my confidence and find my voice in a room full of people.

As I developed my voice, I soon came to realize that mine was different.“Women in Technology” was no longer just a hashtag; it was my reality. Over the years, we have shattered stereotypes that once defined us, and we will continue to do so. As the famous saying goes:”Don’t Just Fly, Soar!”

As I bring this piece to an end, I urge each of you to chase your dreams, especially those ridiculed by the world. I want to leave you with a beautiful message, one that has helped me during difficult days.