Women of Qualified: Meet Krupali

Meet Krupali Dedhia, software engineer at Qualified. Krupali's tenacity, spirit, and intelligence make her an invaluable addition to our team. Learn more about Krupali's journey into engineering and to Qualified below. ⬇️

Why did you become an engineer?

Krupali: I was good at math and I had a chance to pick between biology and computer science. I had taken computer science out of no choice, and that turned out to be great because I just loved learning. Back then, I learned C++C and I learned that I was good at problem-solving and logical reasoning. That’s what pushed me to become a computer science engineer!

Tell us about your first job. What did you learn there that you couldn’t have learned in the classroom?

Krupali: I learned that it's okay to ask for help, no one will judge you if you don't know something. Instead, asking for help helps you get better.  I got to learn way more than I would have if I didn't ask for help from my colleagues, coworkers, or peers.

Many people imagine engineers sitting in their offices and making calculations all day. What are the biggest misconceptions people have about your job?

Krupali: People think that software engineers are someone who sit in front of the computers and they don't need to talk to anyone...they just like being by themselves. Software engineers need to collaborate continuously with people. They are not socially awkward because they have to talk the entire day to everyone. You need a team of good people around you. That’s the biggest misconception I would like to clear up for people.

What are the non-obvious things men can do to make things better for female engineers?

Krupali: One non-obvious thing that men can always do is not treat anyone differently. Don't pick out that she's a female engineer, everyone's an engineer. Simply treat women like any other engineer.

I love that about my current team. For them, I'm not a female engineer. I'm just like another engineer who has things to do for the team. I'm given tasks that are given to any other engineer on the team. I'm given time to speak. I'm heard. So it’s a very small, non-obvious thing that men can do. Just treat everyone equally. You do not need to make a big deal if someone's a female.

Lastly, hit me with one humble brag 😏

Krupali: At the age of 18, I left my country to come here and study. I had no family here. I didn't know anyone in the US. I was scared, but I knew what I wanted to do. I came here all alone and figured out things: the education system here is different, the culture is different, but I was able to fit in even though I didn't try. I was able to get along and learn the different ways and I didn't give up. I graduated last year and I've started working. So, I believe that I'm someone who is self-made.
‍

Thank you for sharing, Krupali! We couldn't be luckier to have you on the team, helping build the future of our conversational sales and marketing platform. Want to see the product that Krupali creates in action? Check out our product page now.