Olivera Kotevska is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), working with the Secure Systems and Applications Group as part of the Computer Security Division. Her research interest is in the field of machine learning, network science, and the Internet of Things. She received her Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from the University of Grenoble Alpes, France, and M.Sc. and B.Sc. degree from Saints Cyril and Methodius University, Macedonia. She is a member of AI, Big Data working group, and Global City Teams Challenge at NIST.

How did you first get involved in IEEE Women in Engineering?
The first time I heard about WIE was during the IEEE IoT World Forum 2016 Conference in Reston, VA. WIE was part of the conference and I immediately fell in love with the organization and I wanted to be part of it.

Why did you decide to become a WIE member?
Encouraging and motivating younger women or women who did not have that support and role models when they were growing up is one of the most beautiful things we can do to make the world a better place.

What do you wish other people knew about IEEE WIE?
I wish everyone to know about WIE as soon as possible.

What is it like to be an IEEE WIE Volunteer, and what do you enjoy about it?
Giving support, sharing the learned lessons from the past, and see the results.

Why do you feel it is important for women to enter into the field of engineering?
Women need to feel and know that engineering is accessible to them and to know that there are many women around the world who managed to become very successful engineers and have fulfilled lives at the same time.