Saudi engineer powers ahead with 400-page manual for GE

Nour Al-Rammah breaks into a male-dominated environment and writes a guide book that helps job aspirants

Nour Al-Rammah never expected to work for GE Power because she lacked an engineering degree.

But she overcame this hurdle through perseverance and resourcefulness, as well as writing a 400-page manual for others who wanted to work for the company but did not have the technical background.

“I never saw myself reaching there,” the 28-year-old Al-Yamamah graduate said, reflecting on her accomplishment of breaking into and succeeding in a competitive and male-dominated environment. “When I studied marketing at university, I expected to land in a marketing company, doing some public relations, marketing and advertising.”

She wanted to join GE’s elite leadership program, but was rejected the first time she applied. “It’s very difficult to join, and one of the major prerequisites is an engineering background.”

Before that she had taken up a sales and commercial internship with GE Power and, once the internship ended, she could not imagine working anywhere else. To secure her position on the leadership program she wrote a manual for everything GE-related. Another reason was to transfer her knowledge.

Al-Rammah said she had never felt inferior to her male coworkers, despite being the only woman on the team.

“I feel empowered by my male colleagues. When I ask for help, they always give me (more) than what I ask. If I need any explanations, they share documents or connect me to the right person. In meetings, my points are always taken into consideration. When I make mistakes, they correct me without leaving me intimidated or they call me after the meeting and correct me.”

Nour Al-Rammah, 28, wanted to join GE’s elite leadership program, but was rejected the first time she applied.