The latest entry in our Women in Mobility Spotlight series, highlighting members of our Women in Mobility Peer Group.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Kannex Media (www.kannex.ca) >> I currently run a business specializing in Technology Services, Security, Websites, and more.
A student at St Clair College for the Computer Technology program.
Driving a 2011 Nissan Leaf EV (Electric Vehicle) and been part of the EV Society Canada for many years at this point.
You can contact me at rohan@kannex.ca
What does ‘mobility’ mean to you?
Mobility is about supporting all forms of transportation whether it be wheelchair accessibility, bicycling, transit buses, trains, carpooling, and private vehicles. It is something that everyone in our society, whether it be businesses, community folks, and government should be supporting.
What motivated you to pursue a career or interest in the mobility industry?
While I am most interested in STEM and Technology specifically, I aim to bring more under-represented groups of people and womxn into the field. The industry of mobility is an ever changing landscape especially with younger generations choosing alternative forms of transportation.
What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on in the industry or classroom?
I provide training on technology products such as smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs through my small business. I have quite a few customers whether they are families, senior couples, and employees of a business. I also assist in migrating their workflows to something that will work better for their needs.
The second project that I still work on, is the having a Wiki/ Knowledge Base where I post useful content that I use, and also share with my customers. There are also other IT Businesses in Michigan, New York, and Washington that use this Knowledge Base for their own purposes.
Going back to what ‘mobility’ means to you, what do you think is the biggest challenge or obstacle facing the industry today?
There is always a huge push for vehicles (cars, SUVs, trucks) while little thought it given to those that may not want to burden themselves with owning one. It can be bicycling or public transit that works best for them and we need to ensure that the facilities are available to allow for that.
How do you see the role of women evolving in the mobility industry in the future, and what changes would you like to see?
It’s important for womxn to be involved in the process whether it’s city planning and street design, or in the methods of transportations and decision making. Currently many cities have just a few buses and trains that accommodate womxn.
Also many of the roads make it unsafe or uneasy for womxn to ride bicycles or walk around. We need to think beyond just what has been commonplace since the 1970s and find new solutions to growing problems.
What advice would you give to young women who are interested in pursuing a career in mobility and/or tech?
At first, getting into STEM is going to feel quite difficult especially with a lot of womxn going into other fields. However if you want a different and better life than everyone else you know, you’ve got to get into something unique. Sure there will be barriers coming up and feeling like you’re in the minority. Face it head on, and keep doing the best you can.
For those that are just getting into college or university, I would say make connections with your instructors, tutors, and administrators of your department/programme. You’ve got to stand out from everyone else even it means coming out of the comfort zone.
Are there any specific resources, organizations, or networks that have been valuable to you in your professional journey within the mobility/tech industry?
- Hackforge
- Wetech Alliance
- WiCyS (Women in Cybersecurity)
- KubeCon / Linux Foundation
- the local college and university may have clubs and organizations
- going to networking events and talking to people. sometimes you can find a willing mentor
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and advancements?
I read articles through Morning Brew, Windows Central, ITProNews, and LinkedIn. Of course the best place to learn about Tech and other STEM areas is on LinkedIn Learning (Lynda), and through IT Pro TV.
What is one thing that you wish more people knew about the mobility industry, and why?
Mobility connects people from various industries and sectors towards a better future. Each of us a role to participate in and make it influence those around us.
Check out more Spotlights in our Women in Mobility Spotlight series, highlighting members of our Women in Mobility Peer Group, as well as our Women in Tech Spotlight, that highlights women in the Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent tech community.
