Meet Samantha Katz
“My love of technology started back when I was 6 years old and my parents started letting me play games on the computer” - Samantha
Samantha Katz graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Queen’s University in 2017, as well as a Bachelor of Computing in 2019. She currently works as a Senior Technology Specialist at Scotiabank. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, binge watching reality TV, and exploring Ontario by finding interesting trails and parks.
When did your love of STEM begin?
It wasn't until I was at the end of my first University degree that I really recognized my love of STEM. While I was always fascinated by technology, I didn't realize it was something I was capable of pursuing as a career. After I got passed my preconceived ideas about Computer Science and the tech field, I tried coding for the first time and instantly fell in love with it. For those that have coded before, they know that there's no better feeling than writing code for the first time and seeing the computer execute what you coded it to do. That love and passion has continued to grow as I've gone through my STEM journey. While I don't code as much as I used to, I've found new challenges and opportunities in Technology that have brought me that same excitement.
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
There is always something new to learn when working in the field of STEM, and that's what makes it so exciting. Specifically, in my experience in the Technology field, there is an emphasis on being curious and striving to be innovative. In this past year, technology is what has kept the world connected and everyday more and more ideas are emerging to help strengthen that connection and create solutions to the new problems we're facing. This continuous evolution and innovation is the BEST part about working in STEM and what makes me excited to go to work everyday.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
My advice to young women interested in a career in STEM is to explore all the opportunities STEM has to offer. It took me two degrees and a rotational program to figure out where I wanted to launch my career. I initially went to University for Sciences in Chemistry as it was the only subject I was familiar with. Had I explored the different fields of STEM before applying to University, I may have realized that technology was the right path for me and pursued my Bachelor of Computing from the beginning. Even after I recognized my passion for technology, there was still so much more to explore. Just coming out of University, I was naïve to how broad the world of technology was, from the different fields to the different roles. I assumed you were either a Developer/Software Engineer or you weren't in technology. It wasn't until I began my journey in the technology rotation program at Scotiabank, that it opened my eyes to wide variety of roles the field had to offer.
I was lucky enough to have started my career in a rotational program that was set up for me to explore different roles in Technology so I encourage all young women to take the initiative to do this exploration on their own. There is so many different opportunities in technology and even more in the world of STEM, taking the time to explore, research and connect with others in the field is the best way to discover what your passion may be.