Her Story
About Tabitha
Tabitha Sulaiman is a student with a computer science background whose main interest lies in software engineering, though she has found greater personal reward in product-related roles where she can help set visions and support others. On campus, she has revitalized her NSBE chapter as president of the National Society of Black Engineers, co-founded and served as co-president of a Color Stack chapter, and co-founded the Nigerian Student Association where she took on the role of Chief of Justice. Her recent internship at GE Healthcare involved transforming a complex company bottleneck into a user-friendly solution. Tabitha attributes her success and drive to the example set by her single mother, who worked long hours to support the family, and to her faith, inspiring her to initiate opportunities without waiting for permission. She advises young women entering the field to stand out without watering down their expertise, embrace their emotional awareness as an asset for better integration and product development, and allow their experiences to shape their professional and personal lives.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tabitha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I never had an official mentor. I can only point to my mom and based off my religion, like God. Seeing my mom work at crazy hours just to put food on our table, and she's a single mother too, so she didn't really have that much support. Seeing that growing up inspired me to be someone that sets the ball rolling for many things, someone that doesn't wait for permission in order to do something great.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Not being afraid to stand out. A lot of times women try to make themselves feel more palatable. When women are very smart or know their stuff, it can make other people feel uncomfortable. I noticed myself watering my expertise down a bit so that everybody could feel more included, but I actually think people should be open to just being different. Being yourself and letting your experience influence how you integrate yourself with work and life. Women tend to be more emotionally aware, and I don't think that's a disservice, I think that's more of an upside that allows you to integrate with people more cleanly and make better products.
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