Critical Careers - Women Building Careers in Digital Infrastructure - Book - Page 10
Critical Careers
E A R LY C A R E E R
When you were younger, what did you
imagine your future might look like and how
does that compare to where you are now?
When I was younger, I always imagined myself doing something technical.
I grew up surrounded by engineers — my mother is an agricultural
engineer, and my aunts are architects and civil engineers — so problemsolving and design were normal conversations at home. I was strong
in physics and maths at school and spent a long time torn between
medicine and engineering.
I initially applied to medical school, but during the interviews I realised
something important. I admired doctors, but I wasn’t energised by the
idea of being one. Engineering felt more natural to how I think: analytical,
systems-driven, and focused on building tangible solutions.
University wasn’t easy. There were years that were extremely demanding,
both academically and personally. But pushing through those periods
built resilience and discipline that shaped my mindset.
Looking back, my path to data centres and digital infrastructure wasn’t
planned from day one, but it feels aligned with who I’ve always been
as someone curious about systems, technology, and how things work
at scale.
Arwa Al
Ali
ELECTROMECHANICAL ENGINEER | KHAZNA DATA CENTRE
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