On 31 January 2025, the House of Science at AIMS South Africa hosted its monthly Women in STEM mentoring event featuring Ms. Asmaa Tbaeen,  2017 AIMS South Africa Alumni and a research scientist specialising in mathematical modeling and machine learning, as a guest mentor. Moderated by Dr. Rejoyce Gavhi-Molefe, the session provided a safe and open space for female students, tutors, researchers, and professionals to connect and share experiences.

Asmaa’s work bridges theoretical research with real-world applications. Her work has led to the development of scalable machine-learning models and production systems. She has head up several projects applying machine learning to solve complex problems and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to implement robust solutions.

During her engaging and interactive session, Asmaa shared her remarkable journey, the challenges faced by young women professionals in the industry, and strategies for overcoming the associated obstacles. For instance, from overcoming cultural barriers in Sudan to excelling in mathematics and becoming a machine learning engineer. “Determination is key. People may doubt you, but believing in yourself makes all the difference,” she emphasised.

Reflecting on her early challenges, Asmaa spoke candidly about the societal and cultural expectations that initially restricted her from pursuing her dreams. “I really wanted to study communication sciences. I wanted to be a director in TV, radio, or film. But my family decided I should study medicine instead,” she recalled. Determined to follow her own path, she spent three years challenging these constraints before finally enrolling in computational mathematics. “That was my first lesson in determination—if you know what you want, don’t let go,” she emphasised.

Asmaa’s career journey took her from academia to industry, where she successfully transitioned into machine learning despite initially having no formal background in the field. “I applied for an internship at a South African company specialising in educational technology. I didn’t know anything about machine learning at the time, but I taught myself. I attended Deep Learning Indaba in 2019 as a first step into learning about machine learning, which helped me gain foundational knowledge and confidence in the field. I also did my own research, applied different algorithms, and learned how to communicate with managers and coworkers. Now, I work as a machine learning engineer,” she shared.

Asmaa’s career journey took her from academia to industry, where she successfully transitioned into machine learning despite initially having no formal background in the field. “I applied for an internship at a South African company specialising in educational technology. I didn’t know anything about machine learning at the time, but I taught myself.  Attending Deep Learning Indaba in 2019 was my first step—it gave me a solid foundation and the confidence to keep going. From there, I did my own research, played around with different algorithms, and figured out how to communicate with managers and coworkers. Now, I work as a machine learning engineer,” she shared.

Her experiences highlighted the importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and confidence in navigating male-dominated STEM fields. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to never stop learning. Every job, every challenge, is an opportunity to grow,” she said. She also stressed the importance of mentorship and peer support, particularly for women in STEM, noting how mentorship programmes like the AIMS Women in STEM initiative create spaces where women can thrive and uplift one another.

Participant feedback from the session:

“Hearing the different academic journeys of women in STEM was truly inspiring, and it reminded me that achieving my goals in STEM is possible, even as a woman. Listening to women who have already navigated the same path I’m on motivated me to keep going. It helped me focus on the bigger picture, reminding me that the academic stress I’m facing right now is just temporary. The event definitely reaffirmed my belief in myself and my potential in STEM.” AIMSWIS Participant

“The guest inspired me.I love her determination and open-mindedness”  AIMSWIS Participant

“Before the session started, I was feeling very down and unmotivated. I didn’t have much motivation to do my work. However, after the session, I felt inspired to complete my work and gained a clearer perspective on my career path and goals. She also taught me to have the courage to fight, to keep trying, and to stay determined until we accomplish our goals”. 

Ms Ruth Abby, a Structured Master’s student at AIMS South Africa, and Noluthando Sithole, the House of Science intern, coordinated the event.