Be confident doing what you love

By Dharini Subramaniam, Director, Software Engineering, Synaptics

My engineering journey began with a childhood fascination for science, fuelled by the books I read, both factual texts and science fiction. My uncle played a pivotal role in nurturing those early interests, introducing me to thought-provoking books and giving me access to a home computer – something rare in India at the time. That became my window into the world of programming and later into electronics. I didn’t know it then, but that early spark would ignite a lifelong passion.

Stepping into the professional world, one belief stood out – no matter how complex the challenge was, there was always a solution to be found. I have always been excited when diving into the unknown, whether that meant learning a new skill or taking on a daunting project. Stepping outside my comfort zone became second nature, driven by a desire to keep learning, growing, and adapting.

But no journey is ever walked alone. I was fortunate to have the guidance of mentors who trusted me with complex, high-stakes projects. Their support shaped my path and taught me the value of resilience and trust.

Eventually, this path led me to leadership roles. That came with a shift – not solving every problem myself, but building teams who could. Today, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is working with brilliant engineers and helping guide them toward the answers we create together.

One of the greatest privileges of leadership is the ability to create opportunities for others. I make a deliberate effort to ensure those opportunities are accessible to all, based on merit and potential. For a long time, women were often discouraged from pursuing careers in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Thankfully, that’s changing. It’s no longer unusual to see multiple women in an engineering team. And while there’s real progress for women in STEM, we have a lot of opportunity to bring in more women into the fold. Women remain quite underrepresented in tech, and that’s why I believe in opening doors for anyone with the talent and determination to succeed.

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned and want to pass on, it’s this: make the most of every opportunity that comes your way and don’t be afraid to create your own. In the beginning, I took time to find the confidence to ask for complex assignments or step into leadership roles. But confidence grows with experience, and it starts by taking that first bold step.

So, here’s what I’d say to young engineers starting out: Speak up. Take initiative. Don’t worry about being wrong. Your idea might not be the answer, but it could lead to the one that is. What matters is that you contribute, that you’re willing to try, and that you seek out challenges that stretch your abilities. That’s where real growth happens.

In my experience, engineers love to learn. That’s good, because there will never be a time in your career when you won’t have to learn something new.

Sometimes, the greatest reward is simply solving a problem that once felt impossible. Other times, it’s more tangible: seeing a product on the shelf that you helped bring to life. Knowing that something your team built is making someone’s life easier, more efficient – that's deeply fulfilling.

I’m an engineer. I love what I do. I’m grateful for the journey, for the people who believed in me, and the opportunities that shaped my path. If I can help create similar paths for others, I absolutely will.

As we mark International Women in Engineering Day, I hope this inspires more women to step into the world of engineering – and more leaders to help open those doors.