Today, I had the honor of being invited as one of the panelists in a session titled “From Passion to Profession: Women Navigating STEM, AI, and Entrepreneurial Pathways.” It was an inspiring space where stories, struggles, and successes intersected—and where we celebrated the growing role of women in shaping tomorrow’s technology. This event is part of PIE Cardiff Mett, British Council, UMPSA, UMK program.
I represented Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) and UMPSA STEM Lab, where I currently serve the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. I also lead the UMPSA STEM Lab, a collaborative hub where we design STEM outreach and digital making programs in partnership with schools, agencies, and industry players. Our mission is simple – open access, ignite curiosity, and empower communities with real technical skills.
Below were the questions in the seminar:-
Who Am I—And What Got Me Here?
Beyond the academic classroom, my passion lies in giving young people, especially in underserved communities, the chance to interact with real-world technology—whether it’s building miniature robots or learning to program embedded systems. These aren’t luxuries; they are opportunities. And for some communities, they are still out of reach due to high costs or lack of resources.
As a child, I had dreams too. I used to stargaze with my family, and I remember one magical night catching a meteor shower. At the age of 10, I proudly declared I wanted to be an astronaut—yes, it was written in my report card! Though I didn’t end up in space, my journey led me to the stars in a different way—through engineering, innovation, and education.
What Sparked My STEM Journey?
It started with a phone.
As a student, I was fascinated by how communication technologies work. During school recess, you’d often find me in the library, flipping through encyclopedias with colourful graphics. One story that left an impression was Alexander Graham Bell’s journey in inventing the telephone. That story steered me toward communication engineering, and later, into telecommunication systems and antenna design.
As technology rapidly shifted from analog to digital, I became even more intrigued. Eventually, my path led me to embedded systems and FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)—the very hardware that drives robots. It all came full circle.
Facing Bias in the Field
Working in a male-dominated field comes with its own unique challenges. At times, I was the only woman in the room during technical discussions or project meetings. Sometimes, assumptions were made before I even said a word.
I learned that the best response is to show up, speak up, and deliver results. I focused on building credibility—not just for myself, but for the next generation of women watching quietly from the sidelines. Visibility matters.
The Skill That Matters Most? Resilience.
If you ask me the one mindset that truly matters in STEM today, it’s resilience.
Let me explain with a personal story. I loved music growing up, but music classes were expensive. When our school introduced music into the curriculum using affordable instruments like the recorder, it gave us all a chance to learn music theory and notation. That shaped how I think about access today.
Now, with tools like YouTube, Arduino kits, online simulators, and budget-friendly electronics, access to learning is no longer a luxury. My kids, for example, learn rollerblading tricks from online videos—something unimaginable when I was their age.
So, the challenge has shifted. It’s no longer just about access. It’s about perseverance. In a world where everyone can learn anything, those who keep learning, unlearning, and relearning will thrive.
That’s why at UMPSA STEM Lab, we design platforms that are affordable, replicable, and meaningful. A miniature robot can represent a whole world of technical possibilities. The goal is to open windows—and maybe even doors—for those who never knew such a world existed.
STEM isn’t just about coding or circuits. It’s about curiosity, courage, and community. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this journey and to be part of a growing movement of women pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and creating inclusive tech futures.
If you’re reading this and thinking about your own path—don’t wait for permission to explore. The future is wide open =)
