From Iran to Canada: A Database Administrator's Journey

Sadie's story shows what happens when talent meets opportunity. This Canadian-Iranian Senior Database Administrator at Acuity turned personal challenges into professional success.

Starting in Iran's Tech Scene

Sadie discovered her love for computers early. She earned acceptance to a computer science program at a top Iranian university. Back then, people viewed computer science as "a job only for men." Sadie was among the few women in her graduating class.

Here's what makes this impressive: Iranian women actually dominate STEM education. Nearly 70% of science and engineering graduates in Iran are women. Yet workplace discrimination remains a serious problem. Women face cultural barriers that make professional advancement difficult.

Despite these obstacles, Sadie entered the workforce as a programmer right after graduation. Within a few years, she and her husband started their own computer programming company in Iran and Dubai.

The Move to Canada

Sadie wanted to expand her career opportunities. She made the decision to immigrate to Canada. This meant leaving behind her established business and starting over in a new country.

Moving to a new country as a tech professional brings challenges. You need to prove your skills all over again. Your credentials might not transfer directly. Building professional networks takes time.

Building Success in Canadian Tech

Sadie adapted quickly to the Canadian market. She became a Senior Database Administrator and earned important certifications:

• Oracle OCP (Oracle Certified Professional)

• Microsoft MCDB (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator)

She discovered something interesting about the Canadian tech industry. There was much more separation between programming and database work compared to Iran. This made her cross-functional experience valuable.

Finding the Right Company

When Sadie interviewed at Acuity, something clicked. "I felt like they valued my knowledge and experience and what I could bring to the team," she explained. "They saw me as a true professional and didn't give me less credit than a man because of my background."

The presence of other women in high positions at Acuity proved the company supported equal opportunities. This workplace culture made all the difference for Sadie's career growth.

Impact on the Next Generation

Today, Sadie lives in the Greater Toronto Area with her family. Her daughter studies Architecture. Her son works in IT and recently won first place in a prominent US hackathon.

Both children thank their mother for moving to Canada. Her decision created opportunities for them to pursue their own goals. This shows how one person's courage creates ripple effects across generations.

Advice for Women in Tech

Sadie's message to other women considering tech careers comes from experience: "Be confident. I believe women have unique strengths that apply to the world of tech. We are instinctively caring and have a level of discipline for prioritizing tasks and multi-tasking that makes us special."

She adds: "Don't give up on your dreams to explore technical professional jobs. We should be proud to be women."

What This Story Teaches Us

Sadie's journey highlights several important points:

Technical skills matter most. Her programming and database expertise opened doors in both Iran and Canada.

Company culture makes the difference. Finding an employer that values merit over bias enabled her success.

Persistence pays off. Moving countries and starting over required significant personal risk.

Supporting women creates generational impact. Her success enabled opportunities for her children.

Looking back, Sadie has no regrets: "I am proud of myself for doing this, and I would do it all again for my kids and also for myself. I really feel like I have found a place with all the qualities that I was looking for."

Sources

1. illumin.com - "Overcoming adversity as a woman in tech: Sadie's powerful, inspiring story" (Original source for Sadie's story)

2. Tehran Times - "Iranian female scholars break dominant Western clichés" (Confirms 70% of Iranian science and engineering students are women)

3. Human Rights Watch - "It's a Men's Club: Discrimination Against Women in Iran's Job Market" (Documents workplace discrimination challenges)

4. Qz.com - "The West is way behind Iran and Saudi Arabia when it comes to women in science" (Verifies STEM education statistics)

5. Wikipedia - "Women's education in Iran" (Comprehensive overview of educational trends and statistics)