Name: Colette Jaff
Role/Occupation: Energy Engineer / Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
Country: Cameroon
Colette Jaff is an Energy Engineer at Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. As an energy engineer, Jaff is responsible for maintaining all aspects of energy management on telecom Base Transceiver Stations. This broadly involves supervising all regulatory compliance activities during implementation as well as helping to ensure site energy security policies and practices.
Jaff initially wanted to become a medical doctor, it was one of her absolute passions, this passionate later shifted to engineering as she got older. She studied Physics with Computer Science as an undergraduate student and then went on to achieve a masters degree in Renewable Energy Engineering with focus on solar and biomass energy. She currently works as a Renewable Energy Engineer. She is motivated by the desired electrification of remote parts of Cameroon through renewable sources of energy. Jaff feels that “our world would be a much better place if everyone works, thinks and acts at FULL POTENTIAL,” and that full potential can only be achieved through authenticity. “Renewable energy brings every environment closer to authentic modernization,” she elaborates.
As a young girl, Jaff had a neck for going after anything that was tagged “NOT FOR GIRLS”. She vividly recalls her tree climbing and hunting adventures as lone girl amidst a crown of boys, “those days greatly shaped my future. Every time I was told I couldn’t engage into whatever activity because I was a girl, I became more determined to excel in it.” Jaff feels that STEM fields are still highly male dominated fields, with many stereotypes against women and that being a woman in engineering an be challenging and discouraging, “you have to prove your worth against a vast number of male counterparts and many a times to a bias management,” she explains. She maintains her composure by reminding herself of her worth and competencies, “I hold my head high, and when I fail as sometimes I do, I learn from the mistakes and confidently move on,” she elaborates. Her advice to young women aspiring to enter the STEM field is to simply believe in yourself, “my dear sisters, be confident and make your impact to bring change in your community and the world at large, “ she emphasises.
With regards to the future of STEM in Africa, Jaff feels that girls need to be shown that STEM is as fun and rewarding as the somewhat more glamorous career options in show business. She feels that girls need to be shown that, “We don’t just make careers in STEM, we build our lives, identities and leave a better environment for generations to come.” She believes that African STEM women should reach out to the youth and become role models for them, thus “letting them savour the fragrance of the flowers that bud and blossom in STEM.”
There have been several milestone moments in Jaff”s career, the most recent one being her selection as an Emerging Leader for the ongoing TechWomen18 mentorship program in Silicon Valley. As part of the program, she learnt new skills as a female leader in STEM from other amazing female leaders who have being making strides in the STEM industry. She described this opportunity as a one of a kind experience, “a breakthrough from all those chains and setbacks that kept you going round in circles, a moon-shot in [your] network with inspirational persons that share your vision and enlighten your path.”
Read more about this energetic energy engineer Colette Jaff in an interview that will inspire you to reach your full potential by discovering your authenticity.
Colette Jaff was interviewed by Dhruti Dheda, the founder of the African Steminist on behalf of Geeky Girl Reality. The full interview can be found here.
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