Meet 2 Women Engineers Thriving in Their Field — and Inspiring Others

In honor of Women’s Equality Day, women engineers from Parsec Automation and Zeta Global share their career journeys, how they find support in their current roles and their advice for other women in the field.

Golnaz Rahmatian at Parsec Automation and Hemalatha Amrutha Lingam at Zeta Global describe overcoming bias and imposter syndrome to gain confidence, leadership skills, and career growth, supported by inclusive cultures and remote‑work flexibility; for example, Lingam notes Zeta has enabled her international relocation and structured learning over her seven‑year tenure.

When men make mistakes in their career, it’s seen as a “learning opportunity;” when a woman does the same, it brings her competency into question.

This relates to a phenomenon called the “punishment gap,” which refers to the idea that women and individuals from marginalized populations are criticized more harshly than their white male counterparts when they’ve made mistakes.

That’s why Golnaz Rahmatian was nervous when she first embarked on her engineering career. She knew that if she failed, she might be judged harshly, and this made her afraid to take risks.

But over time, Rahmatian’s confidence grew stronger. As she navigated bias and fought against imposter syndrome in the early stages of her career, she finally found strength in those around her. And now, Rahmatian gets to “work on problems that matter with people who care” as director of quality assurance at Parsec Automation.

“At Parsec, I’ve had the chance to take on visible, impactful work while also influencing quality, security and team dynamics,” she said.

In her current role, Rahmatian feels as though she’s surrounded by opportunities to make an impact, which is something that Hemalatha Amrutha Lingam can relate to. As a staff software engineer at Zeta Global, she gets exposure to cutting-edge projects and collaborates closely with other talented engineers, architects and senior leaders.

While Lingam felt significant pressure to “know it all” at the beginning of her engineering career, she has learned that it’s OK to not have all the answers. She enjoys continuously learning in her role and has had the chance to master key skills, such as leadership.

“Leading a team has given me a sense of purpose beyond myself,” she said. “It’s not just about my success, but about lifting others up and helping the team grow together.”

In honor of Women’s Equality Day, Rahmatian and Lingam caught up with Built In to share the challenges they’ve overcome throughout their careers, the support they have found at their current employers and the advice they have for other women in the field who are looking for their next role.

Describe your experience as a woman in engineering. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?

Being a woman in engineering has been a mix of excitement, growth and constant learning to stay up to date with the latest technology trends in the industry. Early on, I felt a lot of pressure to “know it all,” but over time, I’ve learned to embrace the idea that it’s OK not to have all the answers — and to ask for help when I need it.

Challenges can sometimes bring you down, but those experiences have helped me become more resilient. Leading a team has given me a sense of purpose beyond myself. It’s not just about my success, but about lifting others up and helping the team grow together. Personally, as a working mother, Zeta has been very supportive in terms of remote work, helping me balance work and family responsibilities.

What are your professional goals, and how has Zeta Global enabled you to pursue them? What career growth resources/opportunities are available?

From early in my career, I’ve aspired to grow into an architect — designing scalable systems and making key technical decisions. At Zeta, I’ve had the opportunity to work toward that goal, with strong mentorship from senior architects and exposure to cutting-edge projects. I’ve learned enormously by working closely with other talented engineers, architects and senior leaders who inspire me every day.

Zeta actively supports growth through structured online and in-person courses, training and internal mobility across teams and tech stacks for hands-on learning. Throughout my seven years at Zeta, I’ve always felt that growth opportunities and career paths were equally accessible, regardless of gender. I’ve been encouraged to participate in forums and discussions with the same level of support as anyone else. I was also fortunate to be given the opportunity to relocate internationally to work in Silicon Valley.

“Throughout my seven years at Zeta, I’ve always felt that growth opportunities and career paths were equally accessible, regardless of gender.”

What advice do you have for women in engineering or other technical roles regarding how to identify a company and team that will support their growth and development?

My advice to women in engineering is to look beyond the job description and pay close attention to how the company values people. Does the team encourage diverse perspectives? Are voices heard and contributions recognized, regardless of gender or title?

A company should promote a strong team culture that encourages collaboration over competition and support individuals when they hit roadblocks. Be open to asking questions during interviews about mentorship, growth paths and team dynamics. In the tech industry, where women are still a minority, being in a supportive environment can make all the difference in helping you thrive in your career.