This month, we caught up with Shruti Thukral to learn more about her journey into tech!
Name: Shruti Thukral
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Role: DevOps Engineer
Tell me a bit more about your journey into tech.
I started my tech journey about eight years ago, straight after my engineering degree in India. I joined a Telecom Product Company as a site reliability engineer, where I worked with some amazing people, made a lot of friends, learned about the telecom solutions industry, and also handled ups and downs in corporate culture. I was very intrigued by DevOps in my initial years because it was a buzzword that everyone was talking about.
I moved to a data analytics company as a DevOps Engineer because I wanted to work on a relatable product. From there, I learned what I really liked in tech: coding!
I got insights on data security and the product development lifecycle and worked with some brilliant people to understand customers' goals and how to make them a reality. Then, I moved to a FinTech company as I wanted to work more towards data security, which is one of the most regulated industries.
Recently, around a year ago, I moved to the Netherlands from India to work for a bank as a Cloud DevOps Engineer. It is so much fun and challenging at the same time to work in an environment where there is scope for innovation and improvement but some inhibitions to working for a financial organization. But I learned to improvise and innovate a little.
What challenges have you faced in your career and how did you overcome them?
I would say I have been very lucky to always have so many amazing and supportive people and mentors to help me through this journey, but I am still battling the feeling of being an imposter in some situations where I may know what is going on but don't have the confidence to express it. I am trying to make my inner critic my friend.
What are some of the resources from SheSharp that have helped you with your growth?
SheSharp Community is the best and has always made me feel welcome. I have met so many strong women through this community that inspire me every day.
What advice would you give someone wanting to break into the tech industry?
Determine what aspect of technology excites you the most, whether it's software development, data science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, or something else, and start with it. Reach out to mentors, friends, or online communities. Don't hesitate to ask for guidance or share your experiences and concerns. Believe that you have what it takes to succeed, and others will believe in you, too.