Her Story
About Samiksha
Samiksha Kumar is a software engineer with three years of experience in the technology field. She currently works as a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, where she builds AI agents and contributes to research on how AI agents can think like humans. Kumar began her career as an infrastructure engineer at Maersk, one of the larger shipment and logistics companies, before joining the hypergrowth startup RightPrompt as a software developer. There she took on multiple roles including development and client interactions, which led her to pursue a master's in information technology and management from the University of Texas Charleston. She also holds a bachelor's in engineering from RNS IT3 in India. Kumar attributes her success to the support of her parents and values hard work, determination, and being true to herself.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Samiksha
01What do you attribute your success to?
To be very honest, I would like to credit my parents. They've been the most supportive, sending me abroad without questioning if I would be able to make it, trusting in me that I will work hard for what I want. That belief in me is what motivates me, and I owe this success to my parents. Even putting me to the best school and UT Austin has shaped me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Choose a career path that you enjoy the most. Every day, you need to wake up with an enthusiasm saying, I'm going to work today. Your career should be such that you wake up every morning with a smile to go for work. Treat your work or the company as your own so you don't feel like you're just keeping yourself busy, but it's a part of you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never give up. The initial path of breaking into tech, especially now with AI and a lot of competition, is definitely going to be hard. If you've dreamt of something and you're very passionate about it, even if the initial breakthrough is hard, just keep going. Take on any role that makes you happy, even the smallest, trust in yourself, work hard, keep pushing yourself, and once you reach there, the grass is really greener on the other side.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Being a software engineer, right now AI taking over is the biggest challenge. People ask why we need software developers when AI can write the code, but they don't understand that software development is much beyond just writing code, and AI is not doing those aspects yet. Proving that human knowledge is required much beyond AI has been the hardest part, especially as an international student job hunting.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being true to yourself. Know what you're doing and do it with whole heart and mind. Hard work - if I have to achieve something, I will go out of my way to do it. Determination and hard work and being true to yourself while enjoying the beauty of life. Never forget to enjoy life. These three keep me going.
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