The Steminist Spotlight Series: Shivika Tyagi, Engineer

Empowered by science and technology, women are transforming the way we live and work—and they’re changing the world for the better along the way. Our blog series, The Steminist Spotlight, celebrates these women.

The Steminist Spotlight amplifies the voices of the amazing and inspiring women in tech who are making history here at Navisite. As Steminists, these women have the power to inspire the next generation of female leaders to choose a career in STEM, where they can co-create the future and help build a diverse, inclusive workforce.

Catch up on previous Steminist Spotlights and read on to learn about our latest featured Steminist!

How did you get your start in tech?

Navisite gave me my start in tech! I completed a Bachelor of Technology degree program in 2020 and joined Navisite shortly thereafter—in September of that same year. So, Navisite is the first and only company I’ve worked for—and I couldn’t be happier. I learn something new every day. The opportunities are endless, and the people I work with everyday are very friendly and helpful. I am truly thankful that such an amazing opportunity presented itself right out of school. And, I am very proud to say that I work for Navisite because, in every respect, Navisite is #SoMuchGood!

Can you share a little about what you do at Navisite and what your typical day is like?

I joined Navisite almost two years ago as a Graduate Trainee Engineer, with a focus on Python. But, within six months of working at Navisite, I graduated to the engineer role, which has helped me gain expertise and experience in a variety of tools and technologies outside of Python. Now, my typical day is focused on using this foundation to provide IT infrastructure management and monitoring services to Navisite’s customers.

What do you like most about your tech career?

Honestly? Everything! I enjoy everything I do here at Navisite. The tech world is particularly appealing to me because it provides the ongoing opportunity to solve problems and bring progress to companies and industries. Every day, I get to help my customers by sharing knowledge, simplifying tasks and making systems more efficient. From a personal perspective, I love that the tech field provides no shortage of opportunities to learn new things, build skills and advance my career.

Who are your tech role models?

My role model is Mr. Tushar Saxena, who was one my teachers at the DPG Institute of Technology and Management. He was instrumental in guiding me at a point in my life where I was standing at a crossroads, confused about what to do next. He was so helpful—I could ask him anything, at any time. He made such an impact on my life, that today, he remains my inspiration and role model.

What has been one of the proudest moments in your career so far? 

I’m still very early in my career, but I’m extremely proud of the fact that, within just six months, I moved from graduate trainee engineer to engineer. Accelerating to a higher level in such a short amount of time validates all the hard work I put in each day!

What do you think is the biggest obstacle for women today who are interested in pursuing a career in tech?

I think the biggest challenge that women face in their tech career is establishing a good work/life balance. Some women need to take a break from their career—when they become a mother, for example—and when they are ready to return, many feel like they’ve lost touch with the industry or that their skillset is no longer suitable to be successful. And, then there’s the fact that, in job interviews, women often get peppered by potential employers about why they left their job in the first place, which can cause them to lose confidence in their ability to pick up where they left off. I’ve also seen returning moms refuse challenging roles for fear that they won’t be able to maintain the optimal balance of work and home life. Women can do both equally well, and employers should trust them to do so.

What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in STEM?

I would give the same advice to female and male colleagues alike: STEM fields are meritocratic and competitive, regardless of gender, so you have to prove your worth every day by solving problems and adding value.

When starting out, determine your career goals and find a discipline that aligns with them. Balance what you’re good at with what you’re interested in and what there is demand for—and then go and grab relevant opportunities.

Is there one piece of advice you wish somebody gave you at the beginning of your career?

Take the time to seek proper guidance and conduct research on the various jobs and opportunities available to you. I’ve learned these are two very important things to prioritize at the beginning of a tech career.

Now that I’m in my career, I’d also tell newcomers to ask lots of questions to get up to speed quickly, focus on becoming a creative problem solver, always be prepared and set tangible goals for your career advancement.

What’s a fun fact about you that many people may not know?

I have a close-knit group of friends that made my time in engineering school extremely enjoyable. They are part of the reason why I love engineering so much, and they’ve helped me get to where I am today as an engineer at Navisite!

Our Steminist Mission

At Navisite, supporting women in their STEM education is not only important to us—it’s vital to building the inclusive and diverse tech workforce the world needs. Our mission is to help bridge the gender divide and bring diversity to the technology sector by empowering the next generation of female leaders to consider a career in STEM.

The Navisite’s Next Steminist Scholarship

The Navisite’s Next Steminist scholarship program is designed to encourage young women to pursue careers in STEM and close the gender gap in tech. Navisite’s second annual program will award three $10,000 scholarships to eligible female candidates pursuing a degree in STEM. For more information, visit Navisite’s Next Steminist Scholarship web page.