Entrepreneur, author, and speaker Chip Conley once said, “At the heart of great leadership is a curious mind, heart, and spirit.” IMAPAAKT’s 10 Women-in-tech Accelerating Progress in 2024 features one such woman whose curiosity and ability to solve problems took her to the heights of success and made her an accomplished leader.
Nelli Safina, Founder and CEO of the Association of Women in Tech, embodies exactly this curious spirit that has helped her make a name for herself in the male-dominated aviation field. Since childhood, she has been curious about things and loved solving technical problems with her dad in the garage. She loved being an engineer – to be at the helm of a problem, solve it, and take accountability.
Her humble beginning and curious mindset took her formal technical background to becoming a Boeing Customer Support Engineer. And her will to rise high in the men-oriented industry led her to become one of the finest women empowerment leaders in the tech space.
At the Association of Women-in-tech, Nelli has been spearheading the idea of bringing technical fields directly to women. She advocates showcasing successful women in these fields, provides mentors for those who are starting out, and builds a community where inclusivity comes together to inspire empowerment. Her message is clear — technology is a field for all kinds of women. Her efforts, ideologies, and leadership pave the way for an inclusive world where empowered women challenge traditional gender norms and confidently pursue their passion for technology.
Continue to read all about Nelli’s professional and inspiring story in this exclusive interview.
Can you share with us your journey in the aviation and tech industries, from your early days as a developer to your current role as a full technical support engineer for avionic systems at Boeing?
I started my technical career back in university as a technician in a radio lab. I soldered and repaired various antenna devices. Then, I began to develop and test them. I eventually worked for six years as a radio engineer in the development of devices for aviation.
Later, I decided to try my hand at operating airplanes and went to work for an airline in the airworthiness department. I didn’t know anything about operations, but at that moment, I learned how the weather radar and VHF station on a Boeing worked. I had to study a lot to understand what work was being done on the airplane. I made operational charts and analyzed modifications and upgrades for the fleet.
After a few years, I grew to be the lead airworthiness support engineer. I decided on avionics modifications, accompanied heavy maintenance and defect repair, and accepted new airplanes from Boeing.
During my last year at the airline, I started preparing for the acceptance of the first Boeing 737 Max into the company; I set up the ground infrastructure for that and had a lot of contact with Boeing.
I finally decided to go to work at Boeing to understand better how the Boeing factory works from the inside. I became a customer support service engineer. I answered requests from engineers like me in the past. The requests ranged from subspecialty requests on avionics to AOG requests on ferry flights, defects, etc.
What inspired you to pursue a career in aviation and technology, and how has your academic background influenced your professional trajectory?
I’ve always loved figuring out how things work, often going with my dad to the garage to fix the car. I was fixing the table in my room when I broke it, jumping on it. I liked to figure out problems and solve them. That’s probably the main reason why I’m an engineer. An engineer has a problem and should be able to solve it and take responsibility for the processes. I’ve loved it all since I was a kid.
Education has given me a lot of inspiration and a knowledge base for the future. Professors told me about their projects and gave me the opportunity to do something with my hands during practice.
I had one young professor. He was interested in showing us that scientific knowledge could be transformed into devices and then sold. So, we started to participate in different grants and made our startup. We received funding for our fantasies. We were radio technicians, and we wanted to make beacons for items that are lost every day: keys, wallets, pets, etc. (spoiler: we didn’t make it, but now it’s Airtag). We made some prototypes and wanted to have an interface on the phone. But then, we didn’t have enough resources to succeed. But it was interesting!
As the founder and CEO of the Association of Women in Tech, could you tell us about the mission and goals of the organization and the impact it has had on supporting and assisting women in the aviation and tech sectors in Russia?
Our mission at the Association of Women in Tech is to support and promote women in the tech industry and to popularize technical professions among women.
In Russia, there are many stereotypes that there are “female” and “male” professions (unfortunately, this is the case in many countries). But despite this, many girls want to be engineers, pilots, mechanics, drivers, CEOs, etc. And these skills do not depend on gender, only on skills and knowledge. But because of stereotypes, it is hard for girls in these spheres. You are under pressure; you are not looked after. Our association, first of all, shows how many of us are in technical fields and that if you don’t have support at work, we will give it to the association. And you can’t give up; you have to keep doing what you love.
Before, as the founder of the association, I used to think that we should create professional development courses and have lawyers for different cases. After five years, I realized that the most important thing is to support each other, friendship, and inspiration.
In your opinion, what are some of the key challenges that women face in these industries, and what initiatives or strategies do you believe are effective in addressing these challenges?
Lack of examples that women can take any position, no support from family and in the team, and stereotypes. All this creates insecurity and thoughts that such a career is for women and that growth will not work out.
There are also problems in the distribution of household chores; according to stereotypes, all housework and taking care of children are women’s work. This does not give the opportunity and time for career development.
Problem-solving strategy: talk about women working in all positions, supporting and helping each other. Even creating a community to take care of children and household chores together. Women should help each other in word and deed. And not to be competitors.
How do you advocate for better representation of women in traditionally male-dominated fields like aviation and technology, and what steps can companies take to foster a more inclusive and diverse work environment?
First and foremost, we showcase female members of our community in their professions. That is, we say that “everyone can work in the technical sphere; it is not difficult, it is possible, it is normal.”
Secondly, we offer mentors for women who are starting their careers. They can be students or those who are changing their careers.
The Gender pay gap remains a pressing issue globally. From your perspective, what measures can be implemented to address and mitigate this gap within the aviation and tech sectors?
I still don’t know the answer to that question; it’s complicated.
We have to try to change that in every place, every woman. They should not be afraid to ask about their possibilities. We need to tell women to be more confident and not be scared to fight for themselves and their opportunities.
Many people talk about quotas and special opportunities for women; maybe that will help, too. But only time will help us understand this.
Your academic interests lie in “Predictive maintenance of onboard equipment.” How do you see advancements in this area contributing to the future of aviation technology and safety, and what role do you envision women playing in shaping this future?
Modern aircraft generate a lot of information that can be used to improve technical conditions and maintenance processes. Now, IT technologies, artificial intelligence, and data science can help for these purposes.
Why is this necessary? So that modern aircraft volumes can be maintained even better, faster, and more economically without loss of safety.
The role of women in these processes is as important as that of any other specialist.
As someone deeply involved in both technical and social projects, how do you balance your professional responsibilities with your advocacy and community work?
It used to be difficult; I was shy about declaring myself as a specialist and supporting the girls. Now I am an experienced specialist, I can already talk about my experience, and I have overcome barriers to help other people.
Sometimes, I don’t have enough time to do social work because of the heavy workload at my main job. But in a few years, I will have comrades who support my ideas and help me.
In general, first of all, I have become more confident and have a lot of friends. That helps a lot.
Could you share some insights or advice for aspiring women professionals looking to enter the aviation and tech industries, based on your own experiences and accomplishments?
The most important bottom line from my experience is not to be afraid and not give up. No matter how difficult things get.
Ask for help and look for like-minded people. It is often difficult to find answers on your own, and girls are shy about asking for help because they don’t want to seem stupid.
Lastly, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, what message would you like to convey to women around the world, especially those striving to excel in STEM fields?
Don’t be afraid; do what you love, and support others. You’re not alone. You are strong and brave; sometimes, it will be hard, but you will get through it. If you can’t, you have helpers, go to them.
