Read about Mosammat Israt Jahan

What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?

I have been serving in the Bangladesh (BD)  Army for 20 years as a Signal Officer (Communication). I was deployed in the United Nation mission twice: in Central Africa ( 2019) as G6 (communications and IT) in BOUAR, and, currently, I am serving in Congo as Chief U6 (IT and Communication Chief) as military in FHQ, Goma. My career started working in a Signal Battalion of a Division. In my whole career, I dealt with IT and communication of BD Army, so when I was deployed in UN mission, I was given with responsibility of looking after the communications and IT part of the UN Mission Congo (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

What has been your favorite technology project or initiative at the United Nations and why? What was your contribution?

My favorite IT project was to establish an alternative command post in KAVUMU (a town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). That was an alternate Ops Room where we kept all the provisions of communication with all the sectors and UNHQ. There, I established a video teleconference system, ISR feed and Radio Room.

What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?

Women are more than capable of excelling in tech fields like engineering, coding and cybersecurity. I encourage them to study current technology to stay at the forefront.