"I want to step out of my comfort zone."

Marwa Al-Mamari is an aerospace engineer from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She is working to encourage young women in the region to pursue careers in Science, Technology , Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Marwa is the first woman in the UAE to become an aerospace engineer. "I studied aerospace engineering without realizing I was the first woman in the country to pursue this field. It came as a surprise to me at graduation," shared Marwa, who was recently honored at the "Emirati Women Achievers 2024" awards.

From medicine to engineering

In many families in the UAE, high-achieving students, especially girls, are expected to pursue prestigious careers such as medicine. As a high-achieving student, Marwa felt pressured by these expectations.

Although she initially dreamed of becoming a doctor, a desire to do something different led her to choose aerospace engineering, a field she didn't know much about at the time. "I always wanted to challenge myself and step outside my comfort zone," Marwa said.

Initially, Marwa's family was unsure about her choice, as it went against traditional expectations. Limited resources and a lack of female role models in the industry made her chosen path even more challenging.

However, Marwa found support not only from her family but also from influential figures in her country, such as Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Professor Ahmad Al Ali, Vice-Chancellor of Emirates Aviation University. Thanks to their encouragement, Marwa confidently entered a male-dominated field.

Encouraging women to participate in STEM

Currently, Marwa works at the UAE Civil Aviation Authority. Her responsibilities primarily revolve around establishing training programs for operators, airport staff, and stakeholders. Marwa holds a Master's degree in aviation safety from Coventry University (UK) and is currently pursuing a PhD in artificial intelligence in aviation.

She shared: "I always say that to become the person you want to be, you don't necessarily need to be intelligent, but you need commitment and resilience. With these two things, you can do anything and become anyone you want." The female engineer also affirmed that with determination, women can overcome any obstacle and receive the support they deserve.

Looking back on her journey, Marwa acknowledges the challenges of being one of the few women working in the engineering industry.

"Even now, I often find myself being the only woman. This is still a male-dominated industry," she said, emphasizing that while the number of women in the field is increasing, there is still much work to be done. "Some people may underestimate your abilities, but your work will prove everything."

Marwa hopes to inspire the next generation of female leaders, particularly encouraging young women to pursue careers in STEM fields. She says, "I've always encouraged Gen Z to pursue careers in STEM. It's challenging but incredibly rewarding."

She appreciated careers in media and entertainment but stressed the importance of maintaining balance, reminding young women that the world still needs engineers and scientists . "It's great to see more and more girls choosing to pursue careers in media and entertainment. But if everyone did this, who would be the engineers and scientists?"

Source: Khaleej Times, Arab News

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