Pauline Akinyi Otieno, MBA

I attribute my success to hard work, the fierce confidence and believe that I am capable of doing anything and succeeding in it, and that I am a very blessed person. I have pivoted several times in my career and I have been successful because I am not afraid to get in any industry, navigate the environment, learn new skills and become a valuable contributor and leader. I started my career in manufacturing after my Chemical Engineering degree, then transitioned to Oil and Gas, was a Research Tax Consultant in the niche consulting field of R&D Tax credits and Incentives while pursuing my MBA, and then transitioned to Management Consulting post my MBA, with Infosys and Accenture. My work across these industries has provided a strong and diverse foundation that I know is unique, has allowed me to become a subject matter expert across multiple industries and enable me to navigate various roles with ease whether I am working with C-Suite leaders or developers, and now embarking a new journey of as founder of MazioTech LLC.

I have received two great career advices that I think still holds true. The first one was from a manager who hired me for my Oil and Gas job "Don't chase the money, chase the skills and quality of work. They build credibility. Then the money will follow". "The second one was "the best career rewards are waiting on the other side of fear". I think sometimes we say no, not because we are not ready but rather because we are afraid of failure or consequences of failure. What I'm now asking myself over and over is "what would I do if I was not afraid of the failure, the financial constraints, the starting over? If I gave myself permission to do anything, what would that be?". So I'm giving myself permission to do that thing!

My advice to young women entering the engineering and technology space is to believe in your ability to succeed. I’ve built my career both in engineering and technology spaces and I know that if I didn't believe I would succeed, I wouldn't be where I am. And equally important, in any industry you go to, build a great network of people who will speak your name in rooms you are not in. Because that is usually the difference between a promotion, sponsorship, a great engagement, exposure, or none. Last but not least, learn and get comfortable with the latest new / technologies and understand how they are impacting or disrupting your industry or field.

The biggest opportunities at the moment is the rapid advancement of AI/Agentic AI, which is fundamentally transforming how we work and solve problems. While this presents some challenges particularly around understanding its limitations and using it responsibly, it also offers incredible potential to enhance and augment many aspects of our work and daily lives. The key is to be intentional about where and how we integrate these technologies, balancing innovation with caution as the space continues to evolve. As a business owner, I working with business leaders to redesign how they reorganize their organizations to deliver work in this hybrid model of human and Agentic-AI and how they govern AI initiatives.

I value professionalism and how I show up for my clients and the people in my life. I am of the belief that if you are going to do something, do it right, be reliable and accountable. I am committed to delivering high quality service to my clients and consistently no matter the size of the task/engagement. I also value maintaining a well rounded life by staying active, enjoy some pilates and traveling. At the moment, I am on a quest to explore my 41st state.