Abie Award Winner Alumni Spotlight: Mehul Smriti Raje
Since winning the Student of Vision Abie Award in 2017, Mehul has continued to make inspirational strides in tech, completing her master’s degree in computational science (with a focus in AI) from Harvard, and accepting a full-time role with Google in 2019. When reflecting on winning an Abie Award, Mehul shares,
“Winning [that award] gave me a platform to voice my opinions and perspectives as a South Asian Woman. Often, owing to the larger ratio of South Asian women in tech — and not enough representation of Brown women in media — our stories of struggle, resilience, our mental and physical challenges and also our adaptability don’t get spoken of enough.”
In hopes of changing this, Mehul has recently began exploring diversity initiatives through art, performing in a South Asian rendition of The Vagina Monologues at Harvard and hosting “meet-ups” to study the depiction of women in the media and movies. She’s also began taking creative writing classes, hoping to lend her own voice to changing the media narrative around South Asian technical women.
Well-aware of the impact that COVID-19 has had on this community, Mehul stresses the importance of innovation and diversity of thought when developing resources that support technical women in adjusting to this “new normal.”
“Particularly in South Asian communities, women are the primary caretakers of home and family and have therefore, found themselves with no time-off and no time for self-care. it is important to think of innovative solutions to cater to these women while they are fulfilling their other responsibilities. Specific insights from other marginalized groups can form interesting studies that inform how we can improve the lockdown — food and healthcare service delivery. Thus, now, more than ever, inclusion and revolutions in tech are absolutely essential.”
In addition to continuing her work as a mentor and speaker in 2020, Mehul looks forward to supporting more visibility for women in media through her writing and technical art.
