In this latest series of articles, we are publishing interviews of women who are working as a professional or a student in the technology sector. The objective is to highlight their work and contribution to the industry as well as to the community.
In these interviews, you will find women working in technology to solve real-world problems, to break stereotypes and to create the next big impact on the tech industry. This series of interviews shows that even with the lowest rate of women participation in the labor market in Pakistan, there are still lots of smart women who are creating and using technology to work wonders.
Today, we are featuring Amna Jalal. Read on to know more about her work and get inspired.
Tell us a little about yourself, your background, your education, and your work.
To begin with, I was born in Muscat, Oman, and had my early education there. After some time we moved to Karachi, Pakistan permanently. I did matric from The Mama Parsi Girls’ Secondary School, Intermediate from St. Joseph’s College for Women and BS in Computer Science from Jinnah University for Women. My entire educational path was an all-girls environment!
Fortunately, my career journey started right after my graduation. Currently, I am working as a Software Developer – CRM on Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform in an esteemed Software House.
Official Team Lunch – each one of the ladies in the photo above is a master in her own field! (from left to right: (Me) Software Developer – CRM, Human Resource Manager, Business Analyst, SQA Specialist)
What are your future plans/aspirations? What impact it will have on the community/society/your team/your project?
I don’t believe in making big plans because you never know what’s going to happen next, It’s human nature we think of something and get hooked to something else. But…yes I aspire to be a better human, a more responsible version of what I am today.
People are already facing a lot and I want to be someone who can help them in getting out of their problems. I am a programmer and this is what I have learned in my entire life – “to become a Problem Solver!”. I am already into writing and try to play my part in giving out positive vibes to whoever reads my stuff. (Link to my Instagram, Facebook, and Blog)
I am also working with my group of friends on building a coaching culture and sharing knowledge with others who are in need. There is a famous quote ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for his lifetime.’ We aim to teach people how to fish so that they can feed themselves forever.
Please brag about your career accomplishments, what are the things you are really proud of?
For me, appreciation for my work is the biggest accomplishment!
I have achieved Microsoft Certifications related to Dynamics 365 Platform based on the exams that I passed. Recently I have passed the exams and achieved a certificate of Dynamics 365 Sales Functional Consultant Associate.
I was honored to be invited by my university as a guest speaker/judge multiple times to share my knowledge and expertise with the students.
I participated in Hack4Good MBAS Hackathon (#Hack4GoodMBAS) which was a 24-hour global virtual hackathon. It was an amazing learning experience to virtually participate with highly skilled professionals like Chris Huntingford and Dona Sarkar along with about 400 people from 40 countries at the same time. Getting recognition of our team (Team ACE) in the blog post from Dona Sarkar was an immense pleasure!
I also had a privilege to visit our UAE development center (official trip) to work with my manager and team members spread across the globe. This helped me to get a chance to work in a diverse culture.
This interview by WomenInTechPK, I believe is an accomplishment itself! I feel really proud to be one of the amazing Women in Tech who strive hard to grow and let others grow with them.
Let me be very clear that my success and accomplishments would never have happened without the support of my father who has always encouraged me to move forward and never lose hope and my mother who has always supported in bringing out the best in me.
What has been your best education/career decision and why?
I think the best decision is to study in one of the best schools in Pakistan ‘Mama Parsi’. The few early years of a child are the ones that actually build his/her future and I am proud to have received such fine education and mannerism which I find missing in many individuals.
Another wise decision that I took is to complete my basic education (that is graduation) first and then think about starting the career. Having a degree in your hands is the most important thing in your life. Everything has a proper time, you have your entire life to enhance your skills through certifications and practical experience but if you don’t have a proper degree you will always stand unqualified at times of promotion and growth.
What’re the best lessons you’ve learned?
- No matter how successful you become, stay closer to your roots.
- The more you share the more you grow. Be it in terms of knowledge or charity, if you have a genuinely caring heart, helping nature and firm belief in Allah, He will never leave you alone in times of distress. You will always find a way out. Make sure you never miss your 5-time prayer.
- Parents are the only people you can trust forever. Build a bond so strong that you can talk to them about anything in life without any fear.
Which woman inspires you and why?
Women with a positive attitude and calm nature inspire me. Since the question is about the one WOMAN that inspires me, it is my mother, my biggest inspiration.
Being the ‘Lady of the house’, my mother has the expertise of doing everything so well and quickly. From my childhood, I have always seen her doing several tasks simultaneously. Be it looking after the family, preparing our meals, helping us in the homework, doing the home chores, and now as a grandmother of my nephews, Masha Allah. With all that on one side and the life-saving tips that I get from my mother are amazing. I look up to her whenever I need a piece of advice.
In our life we all go through suffering, it is not always as easy as how it looks. My mother also faced some hardships, ups and downs in her life but she never gave up and always stood up to tackle everything with a smile on her face.
Do you think Pakistan has changed as a society, in terms of accepting career-oriented women? What needs to change to help more women come forward?
Well, it is still in progress. At many places, we have open-minded people who are not gender-biased, but still, it is a long way to go.
The most important thing is women should know their worth. They should know what to tolerate and at what point they need to stand and speak up.
If women start supporting each other and helping out each other it will become easier in terms of career growth.
What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
I think the biggest challenge they would face is having too much of knowledge gaining platforms within their comfort zone. You don’t actually get to know the value of something without facing hardships and troubles. While it is good that everything is just a click away these days but I am afraid if the future generation will be taking things seriously.
If you could change one thing about the tech industry/business, what would it be?
We haven’t yet understood that Tech Industry / Software Houses are not the same as other industries. 9 to 5 job culture should be changed. Flexible timings should become the norm. I don’t get it if a person stays awake coding all night, how can he/she be in a state to get up and be in the office at 9:00 am sharp! It is high time that people should be given importance to the quality of work and effort they put in rather than scrutinizing them on petty issues like timing and dress code.
How can WomenInTechPK help you and other women?
WomenInTechPK is already doing so much to help us all! A lot of times women hesitate to share their problems with the fear that they will be mocked or belittled. WomenInTechPK has proved to play a very strong role for such women where they can easily find like-minded girls who are facing similar issues and also some intellectual women who share their experience and knowledge and help them out.
You can follow Amna Jalal using her profiles below, and please do not hesitate in hiring her for your next project.
Email: amnajalal@live.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amnajalal/
Blog: https://innovativeaj.wordpress.com/
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Community: https://community.dynamics.com/365/b/innovativeaj
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilthingsbyaj/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilthingsbyaj/
