Watson College alumna shares engineering knowledge with Ugandan women

After receiving her computer engineering degree from Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, Nourin Haque ‘23 was offered a position at Cadence Design Systems, a leading electronic design automation and intelligent software system design company.

Nine days after graduation, Haque moved to California, and her role as an application engineer at Cadence has taken her across the globe to Uganda, where she collaborated with a partner organization Women in Technology Uganda (WiTU).

Part of Cadence’s mission is to support employees with opportunities to do meaningful work that makes a global impact in places where “immense talent could be stifled by a lack of resources,” as Haque puts it.

Q. What is your role at Cadence? What has it been like working there as a recent graduate?

A. I love it. Right now, I’m in a rotational program where you work in one sector for six months and then transfer to a different sector for the next six months. After the rotational program is finished, Cadence will place me in a permanent position. I think this program allows me to explore different areas in the industry and learn more about what I enjoy doing.

Right now, I’m on the custom integrated circuit and packaging team, and we focus primarily on design technology co-optimization. Essentially, we are fitting potentially billions of components on a really small computer chip while following our client’s rule deck. On top of that, we are optimizing the design and process technology for power efficiency, performance and transistor density.

Q. How did you end up working in Uganda? What did you do?

A. It was through a company program, Cadence Cares, that partnered with a local organization, Women in Technology Uganda. I had just joined the company when I got an email asking people if they were interested in volunteering in Uganda, and other people I was working with told me if I was passionate about it, I should go for it. I love engineering, and it’s important for me to share the education I’ve been given, and so I felt like it was perfect. Also, WiTU’s mission of enriching the lives of young women from underserved communities is something that I resonated with, so I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

Before traveling to Uganda, we worked on the “design phase” in our at-home office, where we planned out all the workshops we’d be instructing and all the resources we’d need. Once we got to Uganda, it was time for the “implementation phase.” The project was divided into three subteams – digital job center, hackathon and makerspace setup.

The digital job center team created a website for job postings where people can post jobs, apply to jobs and access educational resources to help them with job interviews. The hackathon team worked with the local school in Uganda to set up a hackathon for students and get them familiarized with different technology and coding languages. That was amazing to see, and the students were so excited to participate.

I was a part of the makerspace setup team, and we set up a makerspace where they could access 3D printers, VR headsets and micro-bit electronics, and we hosted workshops accompanied by physical manuals for them to learn.

Q. How did it feel to work in a foreign country? What was your experience like?

A. Everybody I met during this project, including the Cadence team from different offices around the world, was incredible to work with. From the moment I arrived in the capital of Uganda, everybody’s energy was really welcoming, and I’m grateful to have made such genuine connections with some of the people.

Before leaving, we exchanged WhatsApp info so we could keep in contact, and I still talk to some of them to this day. Sometimes, they’ll reach out to me with questions about a project they’re working on, and I’ll show them how to do this or that. I feel like that’s the most rewarding part of the job, getting to share what I know and seeing others apply it.

Q. Why do you feel as if Cadence Cares’ mission is an important one?

A. For me, sharing knowledge is a form of showing love to other people. It’s a way of telling someone, “Hey, I love you, so I’m going to share this with you because I want to see you grow and achieve success.”

Aside from the three subteams, we held mentorship sessions with the students, and I got to share how I got my role, what to do to prepare for interviews, how to format your resume and so on. I felt really excited to share this with them because I had just graduated from Binghamton and experienced all of the same things. When I got back to the U.S., I felt like I was inspired by everyone I had met beyond measure, and I felt grateful for the opportunity to practice love through sharing skills and information.

If you have the knowledge and the skills, sharing them with other people is the best thing you can do. It’s a privilege, and if you have the capacity to do so, why wouldn’t you? That’s why I feel like Cadence Cares’ mission is an important one, because it’s dedicated to providing educational opportunities to people around the world and engages those who want to contribute.

Q. What inspired you to pursue this career path?

A. My passion for the kind of work I am doing with Cadence was inspired by my time at Binghamton University. As an undergraduate, I worked in the Watson Fabrication Lab as an engineering apprentice and learned about 3D printing. I had the opportunity at Binghamton to develop and teach my own microcredential course on computer-aided design and 3D printing, so when I found out one of the subteams in Uganda was a makerspace team where I could teach others how to use makerspace equipment, I knew I had something valuable to contribute.

It was amazing to see them take our basic instruction and expand on it. When we’d come back to the makerspace every morning, they’d be printing laptop stands or toy dinosaurs or pencil holders. When it was time for me to leave, they even printed me a little “thank you” nameplate. It was so nice to be able to inspire other students the way I was inspired when I was a Binghamton student.

Q. How did you get your role at Cadence?

A. I was first introduced to Cadence through a conference with the National Society of Black Engineers at Binghamton, when we traveled to Kansas City. As I was exploring the different tables, I approached the Cadence booth and started talking to one of the managers there. In the middle of the conversation, he asked me if I’d be willing to do an interview either today or tomorrow, and I asked him if he’d want to do one right then and there — so we did. A few months later, I was packing up to move to California.

I shared that during one of the panelist sessions we held in Uganda, and one of the young women stood up to address me and started sharing her experience in tech, how passionate she is about what she’s doing, and she asked us to consider the women there for hiring. Everyone started clapping.

She made a good point. They’re talented, they’re dedicated, why shouldn’t they be considered for their skills? I told her that although I’m not a recruiter, I could always give her a referral, and I was very proud of her in that moment. It felt wonderful to know that my story inspired someone else to stand up and take that initiative, and I loved seeing her demonstrate that level of courage. I think that’s what we wanted to see coming out of this program.

Q. As an alumna, do you have any words of advice for current Binghamton students that might be interested in a similar career path?

A. First, I think it’s so important that recent graduates know that it’s OK to ask questions in whatever field they’re going into. When I first started out, I was afraid that asking too many questions would make me look unprepared or underqualified, and I think that’s something that a lot of kids struggle with. What I realized is that people like when you ask questions, when you take interest in what they’re doing and want to learn more. When I first started out, I had a little bit of imposter syndrome, and I think that’s normal when you’re surrounded by so many people who are experts in this industry. You have to remind yourself that they only got to where they are through practice and experience, and the best way to learn from them is by asking questions.

Practically, I found that having a personal website that showcases projects and accomplishments tends to catch the attention of recruiters. During the job application process, recruiters were impressed when they saw a QR code on the top of my resumé with a link to my professional profile, and I think that’s one of those additional touches that make your application stand out so much more.

I also think it’s important to bring your own personality to whatever job you’re doing. Whatever it might be, those little things that are unique to you add value to the workplace and the projects that you’re working on. For me, I love designing, so that attention to detail gets transferred into my work, and the other people around me can see that. For example, if I’m designing a circuit layout and I care about symmetry, people appreciate that. Even though it’s not always necessary, symmetry is valued, and I think that’s a good example of how you can personalize your job a little bit. It’s easier to thrive in a work environment where you can be yourself.