Youngest Guinean Engineer to Work for Microsoft
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog that highlights stories of black women’s struggles and success.
By Hadiatou Wann| 05/04/19
As you walk in one of Microsoft's offices in Seattle, you will find Aissatou Bany Bah at her desk fully immersed in her work as she attempts to come up with the next innovative idea. She is fierce and built for the position—which explains why she is the youngest Guinean Engineer to work for Microsoft.
Bany was born in Guinea, Conakry and moved to Atlanta, Georgia when she was 16 years old. In 2017, at 23 years of age, she graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology, where she majored in Industrial Systems and Engineering with a minor in Applied Mathematics.
On graduation day, college students are often eager to go on stage to receive a congratulatory hug, but as a bulk of students walk off that stage, they are anxious because they don't know if they can find employment. That wasn't the case for Bany. She knew she secured a job at Microsoft. Once you know you are about to work for one of the biggest companies in America, you're in a hurry for graduation day to come to an end.
How did she manage to get a job at Microsoft?
“Being at Harvard Business School through the SVMP program allowed me to meet another student who had similar interests as me and was working as an intern for Microsoft. It was through that interaction that I learned about the opportunities available at Microsoft, and quite honestly it got me the confidence that I, too, might have a shot at it,” Bany said.
At the time, Bany was interning for Caterpillar as a Manufacturing Engineer and thought she would end up in similar companies but never thought of the tech industry. She was part of the career development program with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) where she was assigned a coach and had an incredible support system that pushed her to be the best candidate possible.
In addition to her internship at Caterpillar, she had worked with Emory University Hospital and the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a researcher. She took on several leadership roles on campus; which all allowed her to gain experience and build up her resume. All of these things helped Bany nail her 2-round interviews with Microsoft for an internship position.
“While interning [at Microsoft], I was able to not only prove them that I can do the work by excelling the project that I was given that summer, but I showed that I believe in the company’s mission/culture and I fit right in. It was then that I received a full time offer on the last day of my internship,” Bany added.
Bany's favorite thing about working at the giant tech company is that it embraces diversity and inclusion, and has a laid back culture. “They want you to come to work as you are,” she said enthusiastically. Adding that, “they didn't hire you to be someone else.” She genuinely feels as though people look at her for who she is, and not because she is a black woman.
Walking into a work place where you don't have to be anything other than who you are and know that you have to come up with something that's never been done before, makes it a thrilling experience.
Bany is a supply strategist at Microsoft. She is in the gaming field—she manages Xbox accessories. Every day at work is a chance to innovate. “There is no document of how to do something, you have to figure it out,” the Engineer said.
At first, she lacked confidence and thought she wasn't good enough because she was surrounded by people who attended Ivy League schools and have been working in the industry for years. But gradually, she convinced herself although she might be one of the youngest and straight-out-of-college employees, she was capable and qualified to be in the same room as them. “If you have an interest in anything, don’t let fear stop you,” Bany advised.
She works in a “super challenging” field, where she is required to think fast and outside the box. Everyone who works there has a growth mindset, which makes it easier to get through the day.
Bany has a great support system: four mentors and sponsors. She has a close-knit relationship with her manager—someone she can go to for guidance when she runs into a challenge. They meet weekly. She appreciates that at Microsoft, anyone can openly express to the people at the top whether he or she is interested in moving up to another position in the near future.
Because she works on confidential projects, her work environment is private, but very interactive in the sense that when she's on a break, she can easily access the game room and be in contact with colleagues.
After graduating from Georgia Tech, Bany left the night life of Atlanta, and settled in Seattle, where life there is calmer. She never thought that she could live in Seattle. But, she's grown fond of the place because it is a beautiful city where people care about the environment. People there are less concerned about how they look. She no longer has to focus her energy on what to wear (as she did when she lived in Atlanta). Instead, she can use that energy to boost her productivity at work or go on new adventures around the city. “When you isolate yourself, you realize the areas you need to work on,” she admitted.
Leticia Watat, Bany's close friend says, “[Bany] takes the time to be a genuine person to others which is why she's loved not only in her community but also at work. She is a very loud person (lol) and people find it intimidating; but deep down she has one of the softest hearts I've ever known."
Bany gives her all in her relationships as well as at work. Her friend adds, "She's a really fun person to be around and you can never have a dull moment with her. She sets realistic goals for herself and not only accomplish them but also surpass them. She goes above and beyond for her family and close friends in time of need. She's that shoulder you can cry on anytime of the day and night; but also that's going to make you laugh the second after."
To get life-changing connections, one must be in the right place at the right time. Bany did not magically appear at one of the most sought after tech companies. She excelled academically, got involved on campus through leadership positions, interned several times—which put her in a place where she met like-minded people. And then, she put her fears aside and plunged in a field that required her to get out of her comfort zone. She is young, ambitious and encouraging more people to grow the courage to relentlessly go after their goals.
Welcome to Bany’s World
Bany was a Mathematics major for 3 years before she changed her major to Industrial Systems and Engineering. She didn't tell her parents because she didn't want to worry them. They found out on the day of her graduation. They were very happy and proud of her.
“Fear is always going to exist. But we learn how to get over it.”
“A lot of people give up too soon. You have to take the pain.”
“If you have an interest in anything, don’t let fear stop you. Ask yourself ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’”
When Bany is not working, she enjoys camping, skiing, hiking, and trying new food. She meditates every day before starting her day, and reads for an hour before going to bed.
“I love tech! When you like something, you put your effort to get it done!”
“We are constantly saying that black people are not qualified people. But are we giving them the same opportunity? Although we are different in terms of looks, we are the same. America is a melting pot. If we look at our differences, we will always be fighting.”
“A strong woman is being able to walk with your head up and not be intimidated. A strong woman is not necessarily the loudest person in the room. She can be an introvert or extrovert. It’s about being authentic to who you are and expressing that wherever you are.”
“I would hate to leave this world without leaving anything.”
“The world is changing. We are capable. We need to change the demographic in the tech world. It’s not just a man’s world!”
Connect with Bany:
Facebook: Aissatou Bany Bah
Email: abah5464@gmail.com
Read other success stories here: www.iamafricanandican.info/blog
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