Major Suman Devi

Why did you decide on a career at the UN?

UN aligns with my professional values of promoting peace, stability and international cooperation. Coming from a military background, I have witnessed firsthand the human cost of conflict and understand the importance of neutral, data-driven decision-making in peacekeeping operations. Serving as a UN Military Observer allows me to combine my technical expertise in data analysis with my field experience to support evidence-based reporting and situational awareness that enhances the mission’s effectiveness

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

Applying GIS and statistical tools to identify spatial and temporal patterns in security incidents. Developing interactive visualization dashboards that allowed senior leadership to monitor conflict trends and troop deployments in near real-time. Training colleagues in basic data interpretation and visualization to strengthen the FIOC’s analytical capability.

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

Stay curious and adaptive as technology is evolving rapidly and continuous learning is key.If you don't embrace technology, you will not be relevant for long. Most importantly, look for uses of technology in everything you do. Whether it’s using data to improve humanitarian responses or digital tools for peacekeeping intelligence, our work can directly contribute to building safer and more inclusive societies.