Sara El Karii, Full Stack Developer: "Equality is first and foremost about skills"

A clear vocation, without compromise

For Sara, choosing a career in tech was never a question of gender. From an early age, she knew what she wanted to do.

Since I was 14, I wanted to work in development, she explains.

Strong in mathematics and logical thinking, she naturally chose to pursue engineering studies at the National School of Applied Sciences of Safi. Contrary to some common assumptions, the presence of women there was not a topic of debate.

After completing her studies, she began her career in Casablanca, working for a start-up in the banking sector before joining a major Moroccan insurance company. There, she discovered different aspects of the profession: development, project management, and collaboration with teams and clients.

At a key moment in her career, she made a significant choice — one that reveals a great deal about her relationship with her work: returning to coding.

Project management taught me a lot, but what truly fascinated me was development, she explains.

It was a deliberate choice, guided not by external expectations but by her desire to remain aligned with what genuinely motivates her.

Being a woman in tech: when skills matter more than gender

Today, tech remains a predominantly male sector, particularly in Morocco, where women represent around 15–20% of technical roles.

In her career, Sara has never felt the need to “prove more” because she is a woman.

I have never received sexist remarks or faced difficulties because I am a woman, she says.

For her, the rules of the game have always been clear:

What matters most are skills, adaptability and the ability to deliver the work.

This reality does not entirely erase existing imbalances. In technical teams — particularly in development — women are still less represented.

In my current team, I am the only woman on the development side, she explains.

Yet this situation has never been an obstacle for her — neither in her relationships with colleagues nor in her interactions with clients.

I have always had very good relationships with clients and positive feedback about my work, she adds.

It is an important reminder: professional equality also depends on the trust placed in women in visible and technically demanding roles.

Building legitimacy through work

When asked about obstacles she may have faced or people who helped her overcome them, Sara mainly highlights a personal dynamic.

Confidence is built through practice — by doing, by coding, she summarises.

Most of her role models were men, reflecting a sector where female role models are still not sufficiently visible. One exception, however, stood out during her studies: a female lecturer at engineering school.

She was the only woman professor. She taught us algorithms, Sara recalls.

A detail that might seem small, but which illustrates the importance of representation. Seeing women teach, code and share knowledge also helps normalise their place in tech.

A simple and powerful message for women

To those who are still hesitant about entering the tech industry, Sara offers a straightforward piece of advice.

You simply need to dare and get started.

Tech requires curiosity, perseverance and a willingness to keep learning.

Technology evolves constantly. You always have to learn — it never stops.

She also emphasises a key aspect of professional equality: access to knowledge.

Today, everything is accessible to everyone: training, tutorials and documentation. You just need patience, curiosity and the willingness to begin.

Professional equality: a collective challenge

In conclusion, Sara highlights that gender equality cannot be addressed only at an individual level.

There is room for everyone, both women and men, she affirms.

For her, diversity is not an abstract concept but a genuine driver of performance.

Having multiple perspectives within a team is essential.

On this International Women’s Day, her testimony highlights an encouraging reality: when skills are recognised, career paths respected and trust established, professional equality stops being an individual struggle and becomes a collective dynamic.

A powerful message embodied by a woman in tech who moves forward with confidence, clarity and conviction.