Meet Mariam Nuga

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mariam Nuga. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mariam below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Mariam with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic is deeply rooted in a combination of personal values, early life experiences, and the environments I chose to grow in. From a young age, I understood the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and taking pride in whatever you build — whether it’s a system, a solution, or a relationship.

Academically, I always pushed myself to excel — earning a First-Class Honors degree in Computing — but it was stepping into the professional world that really sharpened my discipline. Working in high-performance environments — where reliability, innovation, and ownership weren’t just encouraged but expected — helped reinforce my drive.

I also believe that a strong work ethic isn’t just about working hard — it’s about working with purpose. Whether I’m designing secure cloud architectures, leading automation projects, speaking at conferences, or mentoring others, I stay motivated by connecting my work to real-world impact: helping businesses transform, improving customer experiences, and pushing technology forward in ways that are inclusive and scalable.

And honestly, I get a lot of energy from curiosity. The fields I specialize in — cloud computing, DevOps, security, and AI — are constantly evolving. Staying ahead means being a lifelong learner, and that naturally fosters a strong, consistent work ethic.

Over time, it’s become second nature: always aim higher, keep improving, stay grounded, and never lose sight of why the work matters.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a technology leader specializing in cloud-native engineering, infrastructure automation, cybersecurity, and AI innovation. I design, build, and secure complex cloud platforms, working at the intersection of engineering excellence, innovation, and customer impact.

What I find most exciting about what I do is the constant evolution — cloud computing, AI, and digital infrastructure are redefining industries at a breathtaking pace. I get to work on solving real-world problems: making banking and digital services more resilient, more inclusive, and more secure. From building scalable cloud-native solutions to speaking at global tech events about the future of AI in banking and APIs, I see every project as an opportunity to push technology — and people — forward.

My brand is built around three core principles: Innovation, Security, and Empowerment. I’m passionate about creating systems that not only scale and perform but also drive meaningful outcomes for businesses and end users. At the same time, I believe technology leadership must be inclusive and human-centered — great systems are built by empowered teams who see purpose in what they do.

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to expand my voice through thought leadership and industry events. I spoke on enhancing customer experience with AI at the NextGen Banking Summit USA, and I continue to represent at conferences like AWS re:Invent, AWS Summits, APIDays New York, and executive roundtables.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue expanding into areas where cloud innovation meets AI transformation — helping organizations reimagine how they build, secure, and scale their platforms. I’m also committed to mentoring the next generation of engineers and contributing to the broader conversation about how we can make technology more inclusive, more secure, and more impactful for everyone.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three qualities and skills have been absolutely foundational to my journey:

Continuous Learning and Adaptability

Technology evolves incredibly fast, especially in areas like cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity. Staying relevant meant being committed to lifelong learning — earning certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Security Specialty, and Machine Learning Specialty — and staying engaged with industry trends. For anyone early in their journey, my advice is simple: make learning a habit, not a phase. Take ownership of your education. Build side projects, pursue certifications, attend conferences, and stay curious even when things get challenging.

Problem-Solving Mindset

At the core of engineering and innovation is the ability to approach complex challenges systematically and creatively. Early in my career, whether I was troubleshooting network issues at AWS or building secure infrastructure at scale, being solution-oriented — not just identifying problems, but proposing and testing solutions — was key. My advice: get comfortable being uncomfortable. Seek out messy, unsolved problems. Volunteer for tough projects. Over time, your confidence and technical creativity will grow exponentially.

Communication and Collaboration Skills

Technology is a team sport. Being able to translate complex technical concepts into business outcomes, collaborate across development, operations, and security teams, and share knowledge effectively made a huge difference in my career. Especially in cloud and platform engineering, cross-functional collaboration is essential. For early career professionals: practice communicating early and often. Explain your ideas to non-technical stakeholders. Lead small discussions. Listen as much as you speak. These skills become your superpower as you grow into leadership roles.

Ultimately, your technical skills will open doors, but your adaptability, problem-solving, and communication skills are what will help you walk through them and make lasting impact.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I believe success comes from a balance of both — but with a very intentional strategy behind it.

You absolutely should go all in on your strengths because your unique strengths are what set you apart, create your personal brand, and help you drive the most value. Early in my career, for example, I recognized that cloud architecture, infrastructure automation, and secure system design were my natural strengths. I leaned heavily into those areas — earning certifications in AWS Solutions Architecture, Security, and Machine Learning, and getting hands-on experience building and scaling real-world systems. That focus helped me build credibility, open doors to leadership roles, and eventually transition into thought leadership opportunities.

However, I also realized that being one-dimensional can limit growth. There were areas — like public speaking, strategic communication, and cross-team leadership — that weren’t my natural strong suits at first. I didn’t ignore them. Instead, I worked systematically to improve them because I understood that to lead teams, drive innovation at scale, and represent at major industry events. I needed to be more well-rounded.

One story that sticks with me: early on, I was invited to help present a cloud transformation strategy to a group of senior stakeholders. Technically, I knew the project inside and out. But I quickly realized that technical mastery alone wasn’t enough — I had to connect the dots for non-technical audiences, show business value, and communicate with clarity and confidence. That experience pushed me to refine my storytelling and executive communication skills, which have since become a major asset in my career.

So my philosophy is:

Master your strengths to stand out.

Invest enough in weaker areas so they don’t become barriers.

Continuously grow both to become the kind of leader and innovator the future needs.

It’s not about becoming perfect at everything. It’s about being exceptional at what you do best — while rounding out your abilities enough to navigate new challenges, lead broader initiatives, and seize bigger opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamnuga