What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?
I've always dreamed of working for the United Nations because its values—equity, transparency, and women's rights—deeply align with my own. Although I initially chose my technical field somewhat by coincidence, I’ve come to believe that there are no true coincidences in life. My interest in art and design has unexpectedly found its place in my current role, where I create beautiful and insightful maps that tell powerful stories. Working in geospatial technology has allowed me to combine creativity with purpose. At the same time, I enjoy the opportunity to engage with diverse Member States and contribute to global projects that support people across the world. This balance of technical work, human connection, and meaningful impact is what brought me—and keeps me—in this career at the United Nations.
I often meet young women—especially from my country—who are passionate about working in the humanitarian field and dream of joining the United Nations. When they hear my story and see that someone like me—a woman from a middle-class background, without powerful connections or an extraordinary profile—can work at the UN, they begin to believe it's possible for them too. Many think the UN is only for the “chosen few,” but that’s not true.
The UN has made strong commitments to gender equality and geographic diversity. Many job postings explicitly encourage women to apply, especially from underrepresented Member States. The UN is also working toward achieving gender parity across all levels of the Organization, guided by the Secretary-General’s system-wide strategy on gender parity. Knowing that makes me optimistic about the future—not only for women in technology, but for every woman aspiring to lead and contribute meaningfully on a global scale.
What has been your favorite technology project or initiative at the United Nations and why? What was your contribution?
Although I’m still relatively new in my current role, one of my favorite recent projects has been the redevelopment of the UN-GGIM website. I was deeply involved in designing the content structure, functionality, and overall layout of the site from the ground up. It has been both an exciting and challenging experience.
This project allowed me to apply my creativity and design skills in a meaningful way—particularly by addressing the limitations of the existing website and proposing new, user-friendly templates for the revamped platform. While I wasn’t responsible for the full technical migration, I worked closely with the IT team to shape the content and draft the first design templates.
Being able to contribute to a project that improves access to global geospatial information and better serves Member States and stakeholders makes me proud of the work we’ve done.
What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?
My advice to women is this: if you are genuinely interested in your field, committed to continuous learning, and driven by the desire to make a positive difference in the world, you absolutely have a place at the UN. The Organization values diversity, competence, and integrity, and strives to provide equal opportunities to all qualified candidates.