Seynabou Ndiaye: “Young girls need to know that it’s possible to marry technology and social convictions”.

Seynabou Ndiaye is a full-stack developer at social impact startup Myelin. She talks to us about her career and gives advice on how to get more women into technology.

What did you study?

I studied mathematics, statistics and computer science at Concordia University in Montreal.

How did you get interested in technology?

When I was a child, my father and older brother were very interested in computers. I was familiar with the field, but I wasn’t interested. It wasn’t until I arrived at Concordia University (which I originally joined to study business), where I made new friends, that I realized that computing could be an exciting field with a wide variety of applications.

What’s something you wish you’d known as a child that you only learned as an adult?

Actually, it’s something I wish I’d known when I was a teenager. I wish I’d understood a little earlier that I don’t have to be afraid of bothering people. As a child, I was quite inquisitive at times and got involved in everything, and I was often told that I asked too many questions.

As I grew older, I became more reserved and stopped asking questions. I saw it as a lack of respect and a sign of weakness. I didn’t want to waste my interlocutors’ time or have them take my questions as defiance. Eventually I noticed that many women share this feeling: trying not to impose. But that’s not a good thing, because you end up minimizing and censoring yourself. I still have work to do, but I now respect my time and my learning as much as anyone else’s.

Why do you particularly like this field?

There’s a huge variety of things you can do with computers and that’s what I love! Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to take part in environmental or social projects. I’m better at scientific subjects than literary ones, and I’m delighted to know that IT allows me to live out my social convictions.

“Sometimes, presenting only overqualified women at this kind of event intimidates other girls, who end up believing that they can’t get a career in technology without having several degrees and being top of the class.” – Seynabou Ndiaye

What would be your dream job in technology?

I’d love to be able to run my own hackerspace! A hackerspace is like a makerspace with a focus on computing. They’re spaces where exploration, innovation, collaboration and learning are encouraged. We remind people that science can be fun. We give people a space where they can use their creativity and love of technology, without the pressure of delivering by a given date or answering to their employer.

I spend a lot of time at Foulab, the first hackerspace in Montreal (and the second in Canada!). Not a day goes by that I don’t discover something fascinating or chat with someone who has a real passion for new technologies. I’d love to be able to create a space that’s open to everyone, but aimed at women. It’s good to have moments when you remember why you started a career in technology.

If you had to give one piece of advice to get more women into the business, what would it be?

You have to start at a very young age. Many statistics show that girls have the same aptitude for math and science as boys, but the lack of female representation in these scientific fields discourages young women from pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. What’s more, girls are more likely to consider the social impact of a job when choosing a career. This pushes many young women to study in more “social” fields in order to have a positive impact on the planet. These days, technology is everywhere, so you could very well be an engineer, programmer or statistician for an NPO or social impact company. So showcasing socially-involved women in STEM should enable young girls to see that it’s possible to marry technology and social convictions.

In fact, I think we also need diversity in events about women in technology. I’m not just talking about ethnic or cultural diversity, which is also very important, but also diversity in career paths. We need to have panels with women from a variety of backgrounds, not just women who have excelled academically and professionally. Sometimes, presenting only overqualified women at this kind of event intimidates other girls, who end up believing that they can’t get a career in technology without having several degrees and being top of the class. So, in my opinion, it’s important to have diversity in the backgrounds and qualifications of the women present, so that as many young girls as possible can find their way into these panelists.