Colt sees inspirational women engineers powering the company

Colt is committed to raising the profile of female engineers and highlighting the different career opportunities open to women in the field.

Colt continues to celebrate the women who power the company, both on International Women in Engineering Day and continuously throughout the year.

Some of the inspirational engineers who power Colt and its customers share their inspirations and journeys here.

Hear from engineers powering Colt

Robin Farnan, Colt's Executive Vice President of Operations & Engineering, firstly discusses what International Women in Engineering Day means to him and the company.

"Like in all walks of life we need role models, we need our engineers to be looking up to those role models, maybe not in Colt, but around the world, so that they can aspire to become the next generation of innovators and pioneers of new technology. And we have that here in Colt, because the IQ net to make it faster, smarter, more sustainable, women are involved in that program. Women are also involved in the on-demand program to scale our unique capability to meet the growing demand," comments Robin.

Meet Colt Senior Technical Lead, Incident & Problem Management, Ambika Rajalabandi

As a child, Ambika loved fixing things and knew she wanted to do something different to others around her, that’s when she knew engineering would be the perfect career for her. She went from fixing her toys to fixing the Colt network.

"I’m 15 years into my engineering journey and I still get a rush every time I find a solution," says Ambika.

"I like interacting with customers to break down their challenges and deliver above and beyond. My career in engineering has given me multiple opportunities to learn new things and be creative in finding solutions That’s what I really enjoy," she adds.

Meet Colt Information Security Specialist, Alina Kovalcsuk

Alina's journey into engineering started at school age, reading fiction books about programmers, coders and the world of security.

"I went to university to study Information Technology Security and that’s when the official journey began. My curiosity drives me, and it’s what has taken me to where I am now. Currently, I am an Information Security Specialist within Network Operations. My role is to make sure our Colt networks are compliant with security best practices. I am also a volunteer at The Cyber Helpline, where we help victims of cybercrime, and a Trustee at yoga foundation with their information security being my main responsibility," comments Alina.

"I admire so many women in the engineering world that it’s really hard to highlight just one. So many have had a big impact on our world, but I’d especially like to spotlight a group of women who were code breakers in Bletchley Park. Bletchley was a central site for British cryptanalysts during World War Two. It was vital to Allied victory and the place where the Enigma machine was decrypted. About 8,000 women worked in Bletchley Park and constituted roughly 75 per cent of the workforce there. I highly recommend visiting the place if you have an opportunity."

"My key advise to other women that are future engineers would be to learn something new about the subject every day and to network with peers. There are always people who are ready to help, there is always someone ahead in their career who has gone through the same challenges and can share their experience. Keep your mind open, be curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions," she explains.

Meet Colt Consultant, Incident & Problem Management, Shikha Malhotra

"My journey to where I am today has been rewarding. From my extensive 15 years of experience, the key thing I’ve learnt is to get comfortable with change. Stepping out of your comfort zone is the key to success," says Shikha.

"I am part of the Governance & Compliance team, ensuring we are complaint to all industry standards and that our processes allow our Colties to succeed. My role gives me opportunity to connect with a diverse group of people, which I enjoy the most."

"An engineer I admire is Pooja Lamba, a previous manager of mine at Colt. She has been a true source of inspiration to me and she taught me to never stop learning and gaining new skills, and not to shy away from taking risks. I’ve watched her grow from team leader to a senior leadership role in a leading organisation," comments Shikha.

Meet Colt Specialist, Advanced Technical Services Voice, Alejandra Salmerón Ntutumu

"I grew up in Spain and from African decent, and I first started working as a researcher at a university. All the way through my career I have felt underrepresented, being a black women in the tech industry has been exciting but I can also be lonely sometimes. Currently I’m working as an Advanced Technical Voice Specialist at Colt, and I run my own non-profit association to empower young black children using African stories," Alejandra explains.

"To other women who are going to be future engineers, I say be the change you want to be. What makes you different can be your super power, and the world need the presence and representation of more women as future engineers. Together we can change the world!," she adds.

Meet Colt Senior Engineer, Incident & Problem Management, Gagandeep Kaur Walia

Gagandeep's journey to being an engineer was full of mixed feelings, excitement and fear.

"I was excited to get start my career and put the theory to practice, but also scared of failing and worried about how I would adjust to my new environment. I knew if I worked hard, good things come. And they did. I settled in well, and I’m now part of the Infra Event Management team, where I monitor the Colt Core Network for Voice & IP," says Gagandeep.

"Engineering is a creative profession where we need to think 'outside of the box' to find the best solutions to complex problems that are always changing. To succeed I need to collaborate and communicate with customers, suppliers and fellow engineers. This creative thinking and working with other people is really rewarding."

"Each day we learn from our mistakes and keep moving to the next level. As Denis Waitley said, 'The essence of life is finding something you really love and then making the daily experience worthwhile'," she concludes.