Sevilla Nanqi Zhou

Why did you decide on a career at the UN?

I still remember being 11 years old and watching a UN clean water project on TV, it was the first time I realized how the UN empowers communities and turns compassion into action worldwide. During my undergraduate studies, I discovered my passion for AI and worked on projects applying it to public sector challenges. That’s when I realized that technology can be a powerful force for positive change. Joining the UN allows me to turn that passion into purpose, using innovation to create meaningful impact for the public good.

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

At RCO China, we’re passionate about driving efficiency and innovation in our daily work, with strong support from our Resident Coordinator and Head of Office. For UN Day this year, we transformed the entire registration process through digital innovation. Using Microsoft Power Automate and Power Apps, I developed a fully digital system that streamlined everything, from sending customized invitations to scanning unique QR codes at the event. The result: each check-in took less than 10 seconds, saving significant time and enhancing the overall guest experience.

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

In the technology field, change is the only constant, and that makes it exciting! Keep learning, stay curious, and see every challenge as part of the journey. Support and uplift one another, because progress is never a solo effort. Be confident in your abilities, remember that you have what it takes to lead change and shape the future of technology