Makalay Sesay

General Info

What will be your most valuable contribution to your TechWomen host company?

I have a positive outlook on life and taking that to my TechWomen host company will have me demonstrate my willingness to share with and learn from the company. I did this when presented with the opportunity to manage my company’s fraud department, where I’ve used my open-mindedness to successfully build a strong team and strengthen the company’s fraud management framework. My TechWomen host company will learn first-hand about successes, challenges and learning points from my activities in the telecommunications industry and from the experience of a STEM woman in a developing country.

The Top Three Things I Would Like to Learn or Experience During my Mentorship

1. Enhance my knowledge and skills in using data analytics to manage telecoms fraud
2. Gain the relevant skills to inspire and convince girls and women back home to close the STEM gap and to build stronger teams professionally
3. Design a short-term project that will help strengthen my analytical and problem-solving skills in industry best practices in combating fraud

Mentorship Characteristic

• Attend company meetings
• Focus on leadership skills building
• Focus on technical skills building
• Identify a short-term project I can work on at the partnering company

Ideal Company Type

I would like to work with a telecommunications company with a size of over 100 employees, whose main focus is on managing networks infrastructure (deployment, maintenance and improvement) in fulfilment of customer engagement activities. It would also be great to be mentored in a company with a positive outlook on the evolution of women in STEM, and women in general, and should be one where there are opportunities for all employees to thrive, with no discrimination.

Additional Technical Skills

Monitor automated Fraud Management Systems from vendors such as Subex and Telenity in terms of screening, alarm generation, alarm analysis and the monitoring and/or closing of suspicious cases; analyze data from our Business Intelligence system

What are three adjectives that best describe you in the work place?

1. Team Player
2. Empathetic
3. Assertive

What impact will your mentorship have on your career and professional path?

In my workplace, few women hold technical positions (11%). There are certain industry trends in managing fraud and cyber-attacks that my country is not yet abreast of. For instance, while shifting to cloud-based services will improve our customer experience, it will also have its related fraud risks and cyber threats, which will require more than the traditional technical expertise to combat. A TechWomen mentorship in a US-based company would set me apart in terms of exposure, experience and expertise in industry best practices for telecoms fraud management.

After participating in the TechWomen program, how will you leverage your mentorship experience to make an impact in your home country?

In my country, most girls grow up with an interest in STEM but only end up doing it within the classroom to fulfil the curriculum. They lose interest due to gender stereotypes and lack of the right influence. Upon returning home from my TechWomen program, I will formalize and implement a group mentorship plan, targeting girls and young women. This will expose them to STEM-related activities in the telecommunications industry and other areas of their interests. The aim is to help close the STEM gap in my country by inspiring and encouraging women and girls interested in the STEM fields.

Work History

Years of Full-time Work Experience

9

Primary Professional Focus

• Electronics or telecommunications
• IT systems and/or data analysis
• Managing technical employees

Education History