Karima Lakouz

General Info

What will be your most valuable contribution to your TechWomen mentorship?

As an air traffic control engineer, my most valuable contribution to the TechWomen mentorship would be a unique mixture of operational, technical expertise and managerial skills. I can offer a profound understanding of the aviation sector, the different stakeholders involved and how they interact in this rapidly evolving industry. I can provide insights into the impact of technological development on the management of air traffic flows. I am a fast-learner who is ready to contribute to the mentor-mentee exchange by sharing diversified knowledge with others, learning from my mentor and effectively collaborating with colleagues to complete projects within set deadlines.

The Top Three Things I Would Like to Learn or Experience During my Mentorship

1. Learn from industry experts about exciting projects that showcase the intersection of technology, aviation and space exploration and current sustainability efforts in these industries
2. Develop an entrepreneurial mindset, management skills, strategic thinking and learn how to successfully launch and run a business, with a specific focus on gender equality in competitive fields
3. Develop effective methods to build a strong and global professional network of diverse industry experts who can provide concrete career guidance

Mentorship Characteristic

• Have exposure to the company culture
• Visit an office or attend a site-visit
• Participate in a skills-building course, either provided by my mentor’s company or identify a free resource online
• Focus on leadership skills building
• Gets me involved in day-to-day activities of the mentor and partnering company.

Ideal Company Type

My ideal company would be one where cutting-edge technologies meet innovative aviation projects. I would like to be mentored by someone who works in an aviation or space company, who has helped develop a small startup into a thriving business and who can provide guidance and inspire growth. I am determined to make a long-lasting contribution to the world; therefore, I'm particularly drawn to a company which creates a significant impact through solving real-world problems. An environment that embodies a collaborative, diverse and inclusive culture which encourages its employees to push beyond what's possible would be an excellent fit for me.

What are three adjectives that best describe you in the work place?

1. Resilient
2. Reliable
3. Collaborative

What impact will your mentorship have on your career and professional path?

This mentorship is the perfect setting to cultivate a network of various perspectives and meet and interact with like-minded individuals. I want to become an air traffic management consultant and an astronaut. Although the latter might seem farfetched, I strongly believe that working closely with a mentor will enable me to learn skills from their expertise and experience to use towards this goal. Moreover, I firmly trust that this mentorship will help me develop new skills, expand my network and expose me to golden opportunities which will unlock a world of possibilities in entrepreneurship and the aviation and space sectors.

After participating in the TechWomen program, how will you leverage your mentorship experience to make an impact in your home country?

Following my successful completion of the TechWomen program, my objective would be to inspire young girls to enter the STEM realm. I will start by sharing my knowledge and insights with motivated girls who strive to become successful women in the STEM and aviation fields by organizing webinars on social media platforms in collaboration with other TechWomen alumnae. I will continue my contribution to girls' education by offering hours of mentoring through the Titrit application, a digital education platform founded by eSTEM Morocco, to promote the TechWomen program and encourage other aspiring females to join this global community.

Work History

Years of Full-time Work Experience

2

Primary Professional Focus

• Energy, renewable technology or green technology
• Individual contributor leading innovation
• Mechanical or aerospace specialist

Education History