WITGBG Portraits: Sreeja Vijjapu
Don't underestimate your strength. Appreciating small achievements is super important in any journey.
The Woman in Tech - Gothenburg is a community of remarkable women of diverse backgrounds and experiences. In our Women in Tech Portrait series, we take an intimate look into fabulous and talented individuals, inviting them to answer a few questions.
We talk to Sreeja Vijjapu. She is an Embedded Software Engineer, who in her spare time, works as a WITGBG Communication hacker, a Social Entrepreneur. Her passions in life are to create an impact, skincare, beauty and to break down the stereotypes and preconceived perceptions. You are most likely to meet her on Instagram or listening to Indian music.
How would you describe yourself and how do your friends/colleagues describe you?
My colleagues would say that I have a very optimistic, positive and fun personality. I always want to focus on what's good in other people instead of pointing out their flaws. I like to make people feel confident and happy around me. I'm like that spider that weaves the web.
Tell us about your journey into tech? What is fascinating about working in tech?
Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the way phones, desktops, and the Internet worked. After moving out from home to pursue my bachelor’s, I fell passionately involved in electronics and tech, so there's no turning back. Starting my career in software development and now into an automobile, I have been hooked.
I think tech has a range of career opportunities and amazing innovations. These innovations bring in constant energy when I work on building solutions. Let's say if you bring in something interesting to me and it fascinates me, I would like to explore it deeper on my own.
What is the best and the most challenging part of your job?
Along with working full time, I'm also a founder of SUPERKONS - which is a company set to eradicate single-use plastics and add a fresh dimension to your everyday products. So you won't need to hide the bottles under your sink. My startup journey has been a roller coaster - some days I feel happy, fun, high and there low ones too. Balancing energy & time. The best part is again this same roller coaster, meeting & connecting to fun, talented people, coaches, & investors.
Coming full time in the automobile sector, each day is a new page to start learning, and experimenting to solve challenges.
If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice at the start of your career, what would that be?
Don't be afraid to fail and you deserve to be happy as much as everyone else. Don't underestimate your strength. Appreciating small achievements is super important in any journey.
How do you define success?
IMO everyone defines success differently. Great things can happen, when you come out of your comfort zone and step out & explore things. Never compare yourself to others! So go at your own pace & create success stories.
What is one of your superpowers?
My superpower is about being flexible & adaptable to tackle any tasks & responsibilities in fast-paced conditions. I have a brilliant capacity to spot new ways to improve processes and accomplish things more swiftly and efficiently.
What is the biggest dream for yourself and the industry?
Being a POC woman working in Sweden with entrepreneurship, automobiles, and beauty influencer, I want to set an example and be a role model to other people, who want to get inspired and to be proud of. My biggest dream is to be successful in every possible way I can - in work, life and health.
Also would be building a strong community that I can trust & join me in my startup journey to create a sustainable & happy future for us.
By joining WITGBG, I am taking a step closer to creating an equal future for all of us.