Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rouaa Elkhateb. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rouaa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Whether in my career or in life in general, I use a mindset that seeks joy in what I do, beyond seeking monetary rewards only. When we are driven by a larger purpose and a continuous thirst for learning and growth, challenges and difficult times become opportunities to fuel one’s purpose. Personally, setting a positive example for my children is one of my key purposes. Despite the challenges in certain situations and lessons, I refuse to adopt negative thoughts as much as I can. I firmly believe that every dark night turns into a day.

Rouaa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m originally from middle east, a single mother of two incredible children, an older daughter, and a first-generation college graduate :).

My career journey took an interesting turn when I enrolled in college to study Computer Science. Initially uncertain about my choice, it wasn’t until my third year, during the Network course, that both the material and the instructor delivery captivated my interest. At that time, I decided to pursue the Network path, I focused on obtaining certifications in networking after completing my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. What sets our team apart is the exceptional customer service we provide to our clients, especially considering the complexity and tense nature of the IT field. We are dedicated to upholding our promises to clients, remaining consistently available, and treating every request with sincerity, regardless of its size, always prioritizing with pleasure.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Being a woman originating from the Middle East wearing Hijab, a single mother of two, an older daughter and the first generation to graduate college presented significant personal challenges. Navigating these hurdles required resilience, considering the substantial influence of culture, family dynamics and the new envoirnoment.

Upon my initial move to the US, I eagerly sought employment. Fortunately, after four years of searching, I had the oppotunity to work at the Miami Dade government building (IT Dept.) While I wasn’t only concentrating on IT during my job haunting, I was actively submitting applications to various sectors/stores. Regrettably, I had to resign shortly afterward due to some family complications, this was such a difficult decision given the years invested in the search and the promising opportunity within the government office.

Despite this setback, I managed to address personal family issues and transitioned to a role in a CCTV company, even though I had no prior experience in the field, and considering it’s often perceived as a predominantly male job, here’s a humorous story” My manager shared this after I was hired. When he was selecting resumes for interviews, he initially thought I was a male candidate. However, his surprise was evident when I showed up!.” I believe having a unique name played a role in this amusing mix-up! 😄. Despite the challenging environment of the warehouse (Not air conditioned in Florida summer!), where I spent eight hours a day assisting on-site technicians, assisting the warehouse team with product packing … etc. I quickly learned and adapted. This experience offered valuable lessons for which I am grateful.

Eventually, circumstances allowed me to refocus back on my IT career. I was able to get what I was looking for at the time balancing family responsibilities/needs with professional aspirations, a part-time position at my current company ARK Solvers. Starting as a help desk support for four hours a day, I progressed to become the senior engineer now, and proudly contributing to the management team as well. :)

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I used to concentrate solely on the technical aspects of my job, I now actively pursue learning opportunities in diverse areas.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arksolvers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawaaalkhateb?igsh=eGJ2ZG9qdnZmOGZy
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rouaa-elkhateb-162189101