Issue 05
The latest stories from Build With Her contributors — engineers, founders, and operators writing from inside the work.
- 01
Growth Begins Where Certainty Ends
Careers are rarely built by waiting for certainty. They are built one courageous decision at a time. A reflection on risk-taking, reinvention, and why embracing change may be the most valuable skill we can learn and pass on to our children.
By Suchita Kalele·July 17, 2026·8 min·Contributor - 02
Before I Led Communities, They Built Me
What began as a hesitant step into tech evolved into an unexpected career in Cloud Engineering. This is a story about curiosity, community, overcoming imposter syndrome, and how the people who believed in me helped shape the leader I'm still growing into. One committed to inspiring more women to find their place in tech.
By Divine Obido·July 18, 2026·8 min·Contributor - 03
Beyond the Cloud ,From a Linux Terminal to Enterprise Cloud Architecture — and Finding Purpose Along the Way.
A Linux terminal. A series of unexpected opportunities. And a career that was never part of the plan. Pooja Daga reflects on the moments that shaped her journey into cloud architecture—and why the most meaningful part of that journey turned out not to be the technology.
By Pooja Daga·July 20, 2026·10 min·Contributor - 04
From Banking to Venture Capital: My First Two Years as a Financial Analyst
My move from banking to Corporate Venture Capital has been a journey of constant learning, from evaluating early-stage startups to navigating global markets. Two years in, I've discovered that curiosity and adaptability are the most valuable assets an investor can have.
By Bhakti Goratela·July 20, 2026·3 min·Contributor - 05
Before the Opportunity Came, I Kept Showing Up
Growing up in a culture where many believed marriage was the highest achievement for a woman, Daniella Abu dared to dream beyond expectations. Through setbacks, homelessness, financial struggles, continuous learning, and unwavering faith, she discovered that success isn't about instant opportunities, it's about consistently showing up until purpose meets preparation. Her journey is a testament to resilience, lifelong learning, and becoming the woman she was created to be.
By Daniella Abu·July 21, 2026·6 min·Contributor - 06
From Admin to Tech: How I'm Building a Remote Career One Skill at a Time
After 7 years of holding organisations together behind the scenes, I made a decision that scared me —to intentionally pivot into tech-driven remote work.
This is the honest, unfiltered story of what that journey has looked like: the tools I've learned, the certifications I've earned, the days I almost quit, and why I kept going anyway.By Olasunkanmi Zainab Okunlola ·July 21, 2026·5 min·Contributor
- 01
The Day an Expert Mentally Resigns
Not every resignation comes with a letter. Sometimes, it begins with silence. This article explores how even the most committed experts can mentally resign when their invisible contributions are overlooked—and how leaders can bring them back before it's too late.
By Roopashree Ishwar Konnur·July 18, 2026·6 min·Contributor - 02
Can Leadership Be Feminine?
Can leadership be feminine? This article explores a different possibility: that a leader’s greatest strength may be her relationship with her own deepest intelligence. What if leadership begins there?
By Eva Simone·July 19, 2026·3 min·Contributor - 03
The 3-Stranger Rule: How I Hacked My Introversion to Build Career Confidence
Bansi is a qualified Chartered Accountant, certified coach, self-published author, and host of the Bansi Patel Show podcast, which has reached thousands of listeners worldwide. With a career spanning finance, coaching, business strategy, and operational support, she brings a rare blend of analytical thinking and human insight to everything she does. Passionate about growth in all its forms, Bansi believes you don't have to fit into one title to build meaningful work or a fulfilling life.
By Bansi Patel·July 20, 2026·4 min·Contributor - 04
I Thought I Knew What Inclusive Leadership Looked Like. Then I Started Listening.
I began my doctoral research seeking to better understand the barriers to women’s career advancement through the lens of the Inclusive Leadership Theory. What emerged challenged some of my own assumptions about leadership and revealed practical lessons that extend far beyond gender. This article explores how research reshaped my perspective and how those insights can help leaders build stronger, more inclusive organizations.
By Caryn Masters·July 20, 2026·6 min·Contributor - 05
"The System Was Always There. I Just Had to Stay Long Enough to See It."
"From DNA fingerprinting research to building AI systems — Sai Aparna Mopuru has spent sixteen years walking into rooms she had no business being in and building the systems nobody else saw. This is the story of a leader who always had the voice, the vision, and the frameworks — and finally found the tools to let them out."
By Sai Aparna Mopuru·July 21, 2026·4 min·Contributor
- 01
The Compass I Wish I'd Had: Why I'm Building a Community for the Next Wave of DevRel
Aspiring advocates are told to "build in public," "be technical," and "grow a community," with almost no honest, practical detail about how. So I'm building the thing I wish I'd had: a growing library of practical resources for people who want to build a real, rewarding career in DevRel.
By Anita Ihuman·July 18, 2026·3 min·Contributor - 02
The Fear I Refused to Live With
Growing up in Nigeria, fear slowly became part of everyday life until it became deeply personal. Instead of accepting it as normal, I chose to build Quida, a company reimagining public safety across Africa, proving that our greatest fears can become our greatest purpose.
By Fathia Taiwo Mojeed ·July 18, 2026·5 min·Contributor
- 01
From Invisible to Influential: Building a Personal Brand While Building a Bigger Vision
What started as a journey to become more visible on LinkedIn became something much bigger. In this personal essay, I share how building in public from Nigeria shaped my career, led to the creation of Impact Tribe and The Impact Media, and taught me that visibility isn't about attention, it's about creating opportunities for others.
By Raneobhazi Aribo·July 17, 2026·9 min·Contributor - 02
What Nobody Tells You About Being a Female Founder
What does it really take to become a female founder in industries where most decision-makers are men? This story reflects on the pressure to earn credibility, the sacrifices behind ambition, and the journey from believing success required becoming emotionally invulnerable to discovering that authentic leadership comes from strength, resilience, and staying true to yourself.
By Helen Gomon·July 19, 2026·3 min·Contributor
- Raneobhazi Aribo
- Suchita Kalele
- Anita Ihuman
- Fathia Taiwo Mojeed
- Roopashree Ishwar Konnur
- Divine Obido
- Helen Gomon
- Rohini Chaudhari
- Eva Simone
- Bansi Patel
- Pooja Daga
- Caryn Masters
- Bhakti Goratela
- Sai Aparna Mopuru
- Daniella Abu
- Olasunkanmi Zainab Okunlola