MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO EMBRACE YOUR UNIQUE IDENTITY AND CULTIVATE YOUR POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN A TEAM ENVIRONMENT

The Integrator spoke to Meline Soulie - VP Marketing and Development Technologies at Obvious Technologies to understand the challenges and opportunities that women have in the technology industry.

Can you tell us a bit about your journey and how you got to where you are today in your industry?

I am an Executive Leadership Team member at Obvious Technologies, responsible for Marketing, Partners, and Development. With over 20 years of experience in the security industry, I have been privileged to work in various aspects of the security space, including cyber and electronic security products, software, consultancy, guarding services, and system integration in France, Europe, and the GCC.

What advice would you give to young women who are interested in pursuing a career in your industry?

If I were to advise young women interested in pursuing a career in the security tech industry, my first advice would be to not limit themselves in terms of what they want to achieve. Whether it's in engineering, software development, research, and development, or pre-sales, anything is possible. The UAE is a country where women are encouraged to pursue their career dreams, and we are lucky to have that support from all the stakeholders.

My second piece of advice would be to embrace your unique identity and cultivate your positive difference in a team environment.

What motivates you to continue working, and what keeps you inspired?

The exciting opportunity to join a fast-growing French software vendor, Obvious Technologies, which is a leader in the PSIM, Command & Control, and the 3D Data Visualization market, motivates me to continue working. Being a member of the Executive Leadership Team in charge of Marketing, Partners, and Development offers me the chance to define our unique selling points and create an innovative ecosystem by working closely with end-users and business and technology partners.

How do you balance your personal life and work, and what strategies do you use to maintain that balance?

As someone who has been married for almost 20 years and is a parent of two teenagers, finding a balance between personal life and work is crucial. This is already almost my second job! But despite this, I always ensure to actively participate in various business groups to help me expand my network and help others establish or develop their businesses. Volunteering as a Board Member for French Tech in the UAE has been rewarding, albeit time-consuming. My participation in this organization allows me to connect with interesting people and share experiences in investment, business scaling, and recruitment.

What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about women in your industry, and how do you address them?

As a woman in my industry, I've encountered misconceptions about being too emotional, which were once viewed as weaknesses. However, with the growing focus on emotional intelligence (EQ) rather than just IQ, I believe emotional intelligence can be an asset. Building strong personal relationships and establishing trust within my community through branding and storytelling has been successful. Another misconception is that women underestimate their abilities to achieve something new or master a skill.