We recently connected with Mariam Nuga and have shared our conversation below.

Mariam, appreciate you joining us today. When you were first starting out, did you join a firm or start your own?

When I was first starting out after graduating with a First-Class Honors degree in Computing, I made the decision to join established firms rather than start my own company. My very first professional experiences were with major organizations like IBM and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The choice was very intentional. I knew that to become the kind of impactful technologist and leader I aspired to be, I needed strong technical foundations, exposure to complex real-world systems, and mentorship from experts. Joining global firms offered access to world-class training, challenging projects, and the opportunity to see how large-scale, resilient platforms are actually built and operated.

At the time, the tech landscape was (and still is) evolving very quickly — cloud computing was taking off, DevOps practices were transforming traditional IT, and businesses were racing to modernize. Being part of that transformation at AWS, for example, taught me not just cloud architecture, but also how customer obsession and operational excellence truly work in practice.

Those first few years were both exciting and humbling. I was troubleshooting production issues for customers at AWS, sometimes under significant pressure, and learning to blend deep technical knowledge with communication and empathy. Moving later to JPMorgan Chase, I was part of the team that helped launch Chase UK — a fully digital bank — which was another level of scale and innovation.

Looking back, I absolutely believe it was the right choice for me. The structured yet fast-paced environments helped sharpen both my technical and leadership skills, exposed me to cutting-edge cloud technologies, and connected me to a network of brilliant engineers and mentors.

Today, as a Lead Software Engineer and Vice President, I’m able to innovate, mentor others, and contribute thought leadership to the community — in large part because I built that solid foundation early in my career.

So while entrepreneurship is still something I deeply respect and will explore in new ways in the future, I believe starting in world-class companies gave me a runway to grow faster, fail safer, and think bigger.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Mariam Nuga, and I’m a Vice President and Lead Software Engineer, specializing in cloud-native platform engineering, infrastructure automation, and secure software systems design. I’m deeply passionate about building resilient, scalable, and secure technologies that power transformative customer experiences — particularly in the banking and financial services industries.

My journey into the tech world began with a deep curiosity for how technology shapes the way people live, work, and connect. After earning a First-Class Honors degree in Computing from Technological University Dublin, Ireland. I made the conscious decision to immerse myself in the fast-evolving world of cloud computing. Early roles at IBM and Amazon Web Services (AWS) gave me a front-row seat to major industry shifts — from the rise of serverless architecture to the explosion of DevOps culture — and allowed me to build a strong technical and leadership foundation.

In my current role, I design, develop, and implement cloud-based solutions using technologies like AWS, Google Cloud, Kubernetes, Terraform, and Docker. I solve complex business problems by building secure, scalable infrastructure, automating deployments with CI/CD pipelines, enhancing system resiliency, and driving innovation through architecture modernization. Some of the core problems I tackle include optimizing cloud costs, improving system security, enabling agile software delivery, and helping businesses scale their operations faster and smarter.

Beyond engineering, I’m increasingly active in the thought leadership space. I’ve spoken at key industry events like the NextGen Banking Summit USA on the role of AI in enhancing customer experience, and have represented my employer at AWS re:Invent and AWS Summits multiple years in a row. I’ve also been invited to executive roundtables and conferences in New York City and across the country, where I collaborate with industry leaders on the future of cloud, APIs, and AI innovation.

What sets me apart is my ability to connect deep technical expertise with business strategy and user empathy. I don’t just build systems — I design solutions with the end customer and the business’s future growth in mind. My approach is grounded in innovation, security, scalability, and inclusivity.

I’m most proud of the work I’ve done to help launch Chase UK, a fully digital bank, where I contributed to the architecture and automation of highly resilient cloud platforms. It was a rare opportunity to help build a major banking platform from the ground up — and it reinforced my belief that technology, when done right, can dramatically improve people’s financial lives.

For potential clients, partners, or followers, I want them to know that my work is driven by a deep belief that technology should be empowering, accessible, and secure. I care about building systems that are not just technically elegant, but that also serve real people, drive real impact, and support the next generation of innovation. Whether I’m leading engineering teams, speaking on stage, or collaborating with industry peers, my mission is to help create a more resilient, inclusive, and dynamic technological future.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team — especially in high-stakes, fast-moving technology environments — requires a thoughtful balance of leadership, empathy, and strategic clarity. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that technical excellence alone isn’t enough; maintaining high morale is what truly sustains a team’s performance over time.

My first piece of advice is create psychological safety. Team members need to feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions, proposing ideas, and even making mistakes without fear of judgment. Especially in areas like cloud engineering, DevOps, and security, innovation thrives when people feel safe to experiment and iterate.

Second, connect the technical work to a larger purpose. It’s easy to get caught up in code commits, infrastructure builds, or deployment pipelines. But helping the team see how their work impacts end users — whether it’s enabling seamless banking experiences, improving security, or making digital services more accessible — fuels deeper motivation.

Third, recognize and celebrate wins, both big and small. It could be a successful cloud migration, a major project delivery, or even an incremental improvement to CI/CD pipelines. Acknowledging contributions publicly boosts morale, fosters a sense of pride, and strengthens the team’s culture of excellence.

Fourth, invest in individual growth. People stay engaged when they see a clear path for their own development. Encouraging certifications, supporting conference attendance, mentoring junior engineers, and exposing team members to different technical challenges keeps skills sharp and minds inspired.

Lastly, lead with transparency and authenticity. Especially during high-pressure situations — like system outages, tight deadlines, or major platform launches — honesty, trust, and a calm leadership presence are critical. People appreciate leaders who are real with them, not just polished.

What I’m most proud of when leading teams is not just the technical outcomes we achieve, but the environment we create — one where people are empowered, valued, and motivated to bring their best ideas forward.

At the end of the day, high morale isn’t something you enforce; it’s something you cultivate by building trust, giving people a voice, and helping them find real meaning in the work they do.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe building a strong reputation in the tech industry — especially in areas like cloud engineering, security, and AI — is about consistently delivering value, staying ahead of innovation, and leading with authenticity.

From the start, I committed to deepening my technical expertise. I became AWS Certified across multiple domains — Solutions Architecture, Security, and Machine Learning — to ensure I had not only breadth but also depth in critical areas that matter for modern businesses. This commitment to technical excellence gave me a strong foundation to build secure, scalable, and intelligent cloud solutions.

I also made continuous learning and external engagement a priority. Attending and representing at major industry events like AWS re:Invent, AWS Summits, and APIDays New York, and speaking at conferences like the NextGen Banking Summit USA allowed me to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies while contributing my own voice to important conversations around cloud innovation, customer experience, and AI.

Beyond certifications and conferences, what really set me apart was connecting technology to real-world outcomes — not just building systems for their own sake, but designing solutions that improve customer experiences, extend accessibility, and transform businesses.

Over time, consistently delivering results, sharing insights with the community, investing in continuous growth, and always focusing on impact helped me build a reputation as someone who can both engineer world-class systems and inspire broader industry progress.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamnuga