Episode 10 (Season 3) of the Empowering Women Podcast
GUEST: Anna Nguru, Product Management Specialist
BIO: Anna Nguru, an inspiring multi-faceted leader, is a mechanical engineer, immigrant, activist, social media content creator, and rising entrepreneur. She recently launched her journey in Product Management using her successful experiences of aligning business strategy and engineering principles to improve processes, systems and profitability. Previously, Anna has held roles in different industries in tech as a mechanical engineer and engineering coordinator.
With her uplifting commitment to the immigrant community, Anna is facilitating a mental health program within the Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency (CRRA). She is also a strong advocate for women in STEM with her strongest asset being her resilient mindset.
CONNECT WITH ANNA
LinkedIn Instagram (@ann_linda2) Email
Watch on YouTube.
NON PROFITS ANNA SUPPORTS
CRRA – Welcoming Families, Rebuilding Lives (carolinarefugee.org)
Homepage | National Domestic Workers Alliance | National Domestic Workers Alliance
Donate to USA for UNHCR (unrefugees.org)
HIAS - Welcome the stranger. Protect the refugee.
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY LINKS
Empowering Women Slack Channel
Empowering Women 2021 Event Info (Including Registration)
Empowering Women Events (Including Meet Ups)
QUOTES
“I remember telling the CRRA director how amazed I was at the number of opportunities available here (United States) and, quite frankly, it was overwhelming.”
“Two weeks (before flight to the United States) we got a call that you have been selected to go to Charlotte, NC. We had to sell everything… it was tough, I was homesick for sure.”
“I came here at 19; I’ve left all my childhood, my friends, my extended family (behind). It is like starting over with one suitcase and my mom had probably $200 for the entire family.”
On her Social Media start: “I had so much pressure for someone who is supporting herself, I thought of ways and ideas to be able to make side income. I definitely went the influencer route. It all started out with my passion which has always been supporting women in STEM, specifically women of color. ”
“As women in STEM, it’s difficult out there. We’re not noticed. We’re not recognized. Specifically engineers.”
On being the one or the only: “Every day you will experience microaggressions. Best way to deal with it to understand how to advocate for yourself”
On Imposter Syndrome: “Coming from no opportunities to opportunities, you are like ‘ok, it’s real; it’s happening. I am somebody. I am an engineer.’ Do they trust me to do the job?”
On her immigrant mental health program: “With immigrants, the topic of mental health has such a stigma. My goal is to normalize mental health for immigrants.”
