Social media handle(s): LinkedIn
A few words about me:
I'm Laura, I'm 30, been living in the Middle East for the past 8 years, I am extremely passionate about women's empowerment and gender equality in the workplace, mainly in the tech field.
I am learning Arabic, love sports and reading and painting too. I'm currently based between Beirut / London.
I started CONCAT in 2021, the first refugee and female led digital consultancy, to provide employment to some of the world's most marginalised communities through web design and development.
Are there any professional experiences you've had that are quite unexpected compared to what you do nowadays?
Yes, my whole career pre CONCAT was totally different to what I do now! I went to Art school, studied Fine Art. Then I worked for an Ice cream brand in the UK doing Marketing, then I did a graduate scheme in Media and Advertising and then I went to Lebanon on holiday in 2017 and everything changed from there!
Is your background more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or non-STEM related?
Definitely non-STEM!
Where did your professional journey start?
I started working from a young age, whether it was helping my mum catering for her catering company, waitressing or doing internships for charity / aid work. I wouldn't say I am a natural entrepreneur or that I was always focussed on entrepreneurship, but I was definitely always interested in people's jobs and what that involved.
How did you get into tech and what motivated you?
I started working for a coding NGO in Lebanon as Head of Comms and that's how I got into the tech world. From there, I realised how much opportunity there was for marginalised communities to get access to remote work from the safety of their homes, as long as they had a laptop and internet connection. This is what has motivated me from the beginning.
Have you experienced any 'career in tech' challenges / stereotypes?
Yes so many! At the beginning of CONCAT, I was told by so many people that it would never work. I would go to meetings with all men and they would ask to speak to my boss and who the man was in my team!
"Just go for it, speak to as many people as you in the job or field that you are interested in, start connecting with people on LinkedIn and get out there and meet as many of them as you can! You never know who will help you at some point in your career now or later on."
What you wish you knew before getting started in tech...
I wish I'd known the variety of roles available in tech, I used to think it was just you were a programmer if you worked in tech, but now there are thousands of different roles that are involved in the "tech world".
What has been your biggest 'wow!' moment related to working in tech so far?
I think it's still the fact that CONCAT works fully remotely, my team in Lebanon have now met clients from all over the world through our work. Both parties have been exposed to totally different cultures and individuals and the power of that for me is still such a 'wow' moment every time!
What do you like / not like about working in tech?
I love being able to work remotely and flexibly by working in tech. However, also that flexibility means sometimes I really miss working with a team in person and being together day to day.
"I wish I'd known the variety of roles available in tech, I used to think it was just you were a programmer if you worked in tech, but now there are thousands of different roles that are involved in the "tech world"."
What's been your favourite / most memorable / funniest 'career in tech' moment so far?
My favourite moment has been in one of our team meetings my developer said to us "CONCAT has given us the freedom to live again" and honestly that has been one of the most memorable moments of my life so far!
And to wrap up, is there any advice you'd like to give to others interested in a career in tech?
Just go for it, speak to as many people as you in the job or field that you are interested in, start connecting with people on LinkedIn and get out there and meet as many of them as you can! You never know who will help you at some point in your career now or later on.