I grew up in a loving family where taking care of others was an important part of everyday life. From a young age, I learned what it meant to show up, to be present, and to carry responsibility in small, everyday ways.

That early sense of responsibility stayed with me and somehow shaped how I approached everything else.

As I got older, one belief guided me: hard work was my way forward.

Maybe you are wondering... Why?

Because I believed that if I worked harder than anyone else in the room, I could open doors that weren’t meant for someone with my background. That I could sit in rooms I was never expected to enter.

I didn’t come from a wealthy family. My parents couldn’t afford prestigious schools or extra guidance. And no one was going to give me opportunities because of where I came from. If I wanted something, I had to become good enough to earn it.

I had to figure things out, build skills with what I had and compete with people who had more access, more support and more advantages... and still find a way to win.

And it worked.

During my bachelor’s degree, I earned an opportunity to study in India for a year (exchange program). That experience changed how I saw what was possible.

Later, after many attempts and setbacks, I received a full scholarship from the French Embassy to pursue my master’s degree. Only three students in my country were selected that year. I was the only woman—and the only one pursuing a science field.

I kept going. I got an internship abroad in Canada—something I had always wanted. I came back to France and achieved one of my long-term goals: completing a PhD in signal processing and applied mathematics. One of my paper received an honorable mention.

From the outside, everything looked like it was working... but internally, something was missing.

The shift ...

Hard work opened doors... but it wasn’t enough to fully step into the rooms I had earned. I realized something important: my mindset determined what I did with those opportunities.

I had done everything “right”— but I still sometimes doubted myself or hesitated to propose my ideas. I remember times when I didn’t follow my instincts— even when deep inside I knew there was something worth exploring. And when things got hard, I often questioned whether I really belonged. Whether I would actually pull it off.

That’s when it became clear: Hard work can get you in the room... but confidence is what allows you to take your place.