A personal narrative exploring how courage, curiosity, and self-belief drive success in engineering and life. From Iran to Canada to California, this journey demonstrates that growth happens when we embrace challenges beyond our comfort zone and build our own path forward.
Her Story
About Nakisa
Nakisa Samadi serves as Principal System Engineer at a large medical technology company, where she leads projects developing monitoring devices for patients in OR and ICU settings to aid recovery from cardiac attacks and other cardiology issues. She is also co-founder of AfimaCheck, a company she started based on her master's thesis while at university. The company focuses on patented technology that detects substances such as marijuana or meth in saliva for non-invasive drug testing. Nakisa graduated with her master's from the third largest university in Canada in 2020. During her studies, she was nominated for the Governor General Medal and awarded the Best Thesis Award of the year 2020 Originally from Iran, she immigrated and built her career in the medical device industry, progressing from co-founding a university-based startup to taking on a leadership role at a faster-paced big med tech company.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nakisa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to step outside my comfort zone. My journey has involved adapting to new environments, moving between countries, and continuously learning in a field where there is always something new to understand. I’ve learned that success isn’t just about technical knowledge; it’s also about asking the right questions, taking ownership, and being willing to work through challenges even when the answer isn’t immediately clear. I also believe in staying open to opportunities, even when they take you in a direction you didn’t originally plan.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to focus on building your capabilities and let your work speak for itself. Don’t wait until you feel completely ready to take on a new challenge. Growth often happens when you take on something unfamiliar, ask questions, and learn along the way. I’ve also learned the importance of understanding the bigger picture rather than focusing only on your own area of expertise. Especially in systems engineering, some of the most valuable contributions come from connecting different disciplines and understanding how the pieces work together.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think women should be confident in their ability to learn and grow. You don’t need to know everything before you speak up or take on a challenge. Have the confidence to share your ideas, ask questions, and step outside your comfort zone.
I would encourage young women to develop both technical depth and, just as importantly, the ability to communicate effectively across teams. Build relationships, seek out challenging projects, and never underestimate the value of your perspective.
And one thing I would really emphasize is to never rely entirely on a man—or anyone else—for your future, your success, or your security. Trust is important, but always maintain your independence. Build your own professional path and, even more importantly, your own personal path. Make sure you have your own ambitions, your own identity, and the confidence to stand on your own feet.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in medical device engineering is managing increasing system complexity while maintaining safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. Today’s devices bring together hardware, software, firmware, sensing, connectivity, and increasingly intelligent technologies. Making all these elements work together consistently in a real clinical environment requires strong systems thinking and close collaboration across disciplines.
At the same time, this complexity creates exciting opportunities. Advances in imaging, automation, data analysis, and AI have the potential to make medical technologies more precise, efficient, and useful to clinicians. What excites me most is the opportunity to translate sophisticated engineering into practical solutions that can improve clinical workflows and ultimately benefit patients.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, curiosity, responsibility, and continuous growth are especially important to me. In medical device engineering, the work ultimately affects patients, so I believe it’s essential to approach decisions with care, be honest about what we know and don’t know, and never compromise on safety or quality.
I also value empathy and collaboration. The best outcomes happen when people respect different perspectives and work together toward a shared goal. On a personal level, I value independence, resilience, and the courage to pursue opportunities even when the path is uncertain. For me, success is not only about professional achievement; it’s also about continuing to grow as a person while maintaining meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose in what I do.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Nakisa
You Don't Have to Have All the Answers to Begin
From Iran to California: How Embracing Uncertainty and Courage Shaped My Engineering Career and Redefined Success
Building My Own Path: A Journey in Engineering, Courage, and Growth
My journey has taught me that success is not about having all the answers from the beginning. It is about being willing to learn, having the courage to take on challenges, and trusting yourself enough to keep moving forward—even when the path is uncertain.
I began my journey in Iran, where I developed a strong interest in science, engineering, and research. My academic years taught me the importance of discipline, curiosity, and perseverance. In 2018, I moved to Canada to pursue my master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in biomedical optics. Moving to a new country meant starting over in many ways: adapting to a different culture, building a new professional network, and learning to navigate unfamiliar environments. It was challenging, but it also helped me discover how much I could accomplish outside my comfort zone.
My research experience strengthened my belief in the power of combining engineering with healthcare to solve meaningful problems. Receiving the Best Thesis Award in 2020 was a particularly meaningful milestone, recognizing years of dedication and hard work. More importantly, my academic journey taught me that achievement comes not only from knowledge but also from asking questions, embracing uncertainty, and remaining persistent when things do not go as planned.
I later moved into medical-device engineering, where I could apply my technical background to real-world healthcare challenges. Working in research and development at Conavi Medical gave me the opportunity to contribute to complex intravascular imaging systems used in cardiac care. This work requires more than technical expertise. It demands critical thinking, collaboration across disciplines, attention to detail, and the ability to investigate difficult problems without giving up when the answers are not immediately clear.
My professional journey has continued to evolve, leading me to a principal systems engineering role at BD in California. Each transition has pushed me to grow, adapt, and take on greater responsibility. Looking back, I realize that many of the opportunities that shaped my career came when I was willing to step into something new before I felt completely ready.
As a woman in engineering, I believe one of the most important lessons I have learned is that you do not need to know everything before you speak up, share an idea, or accept a challenge. Confidence does not mean knowing all the answers; it means believing in your ability to learn them. Technical depth matters, but so do communication, collaboration, relationship-building, and the courage to make your perspective heard.
I also believe strongly in independence. Build your own professional identity, develop your own ambitions, and maintain your own sense of security. Relationships and support systems are valuable, but your future should never depend entirely on someone else. Invest in yourself, your career, and your personal growth.
If I could offer one piece of advice to young women, it would be this: do not wait until you feel completely ready to pursue something meaningful. Seek out challenging projects, ask questions, build relationships with people who encourage your growth, and recognize the value you bring to the table. You may encounter uncertainty, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt, but none of these mean you do not belong.
Your path does not have to look like anyone else’s. Keep learning, remain curious, and have the courage to build a life and career that reflect your own ambitions. You do not have to choose between being capable and being kind, between having a successful career and building a fulfilling personal life, or between listening to others and trusting your own judgment.
The goal is not simply to prove that you can succeed in someone else’s world. It is to build a world—and a future—that you can call your own.
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