In a society that has always taught women to take a step back, and avoid the limelight, Kerusha embodies what it takes when women decide to go against such stereotypes. Kerusha's career as a Software Engineer almost never became a reality, until she allowed herself to be curious and to be in the spotlight. Having grown up in a conservative home in South Africa, Kerusha's childhood was filled with an overemphasis on excellence and hard work over curiosity and passion. Given the preference of excellence over curiosity, she leaned towards subjects that came naturally to her and that others encouraged her to pursue. As a result, her early start in her career was in Historical Studies, a field she excelled in despite the overwhelming feeling of uncertainty. Having worked incredibly hard to avoid disappointing anyone, she went on to build a strong academic career at the University of Cape Town, earning an Honours in Historical Studies, and a Bachelor of Social Science in History, Politics and International Relations, gaining formal recognition for her achievements as she excelled in both. Despite such great achievements early on in life, Kerusha described this point in her life as “I felt very lost and confused about what I wanted to do with my life. I felt the pressure to continue to excel but unclear about what I really wanted to be excellent at.” This was an overwhelming feeling, despite the acknowledgement and offers Kerusha was getting in Historical studies. This point in her life became Kerusha’s first proactive step in her career; making the big switch into Software Engineering.
Although societal perceptions of women and girls have progressed over the years, there remains considerable work to be done to fully shift the status quo. Despite her early curiosity about computers, Kerusha was only able to take basic Computer classes through the Computer Applications Technology offered at the girls’ school; advanced lessons were only offered at the boys’ school. Notably, Kerusha attended a modern privileged girls’ school, yet such biases that push girls into specific boxes still existed. The fact that she had this experience around 2009 and in a privileged institution is a reminder that unequal access is not solely a historical issue neither is it a privilege issue, rather it is a social issue. Such disparities meant that boys were exposed to technology at the exact stage when curiosity and experimentation were encouraged, while many girls only encountered the field much later. These stereotypes and structural limitations, even when seemingly subtle, inevitably leave certain groups behind. Although the situation has improved, similar patterns continue to exist around the world. When Kerusha eventually made the decision to join a software engineering bootcamp, she did not anticipate that it would become the foundation of a fulfilling career. She describes the shift as moving “from stewing in the problem in History to solving the problem in Software Engineering.”
Following her graduation from the coding bootcamp, Kerusha’s proactive approach led her to her first role in software development. She secured the opportunity by volunteering at a small family-owned business, despite no internship being advertised; a testament to her initiative and determination. However, in time she realised that although she was comfortable with the organisation’s technology stack, she no longer felt challenged. She also became increasingly aware that her skills were not widely transferable within the ever-evolving tech industry. Recognising the long-term risk of staying in her comfort zone, she chose not to settle. Instead of prioritising security, she once again backed herself and began seeking new opportunities. Months later, she secured a position working with a framework she knew nothing about. Despite this, she embraced the challenge, joining an all-male team focused on developing new mobile products. This further pushed her out of her comfort zone, learning from other engineers while allowing her to contribute meaningfully. In retrospect, Kerusha’s career has been defined by ownership, courage, and initiative; stepping forward each time growth was required rather than waiting for change to happen.
Notably, Kerusha’s career has been a journey of ownership, and personal decision-making. Growing her career, she continues to take charge of her career direction. Here are three key lessons that she learned shaping her professional journey and owning her career:
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