From Nursery to Robotics: How I Transformed My Career with Mentorship and Resilience

When I started my career working in a nursery in Glasgow, I never imagined I’d end up building cutting-edge robots. For almost seven years, childcare felt like the perfect fit for me. But a nagging sense of being unfulfilled set in – I wanted more growth opportunities.

The problem was, I had no technical background whatsoever. How could I possibly transition into an entirely new field like technology?

Mentorship opens doors

The catalyst was my aunt, who had been working in the space industry assembling satellite electronics. Seeing the fascinating projects she was immersed in ignited a new passion in me. With her guidance, I started training on weekends, painstakingly learning to solder components onto circuit boards.

Those first steps were daunting. I lacked any prior engineering experience and felt hopelessly under-skilled. But I persevered, embracing the challenge of picking up a completely foreign skill set. My aunt’s mentorship was invaluable – she invested countless hours going over the basics until the soldering techniques became second nature.

Breaking into a male-dominated field

When I finally landed my first role at a satellite company, I had to prove myself in an environment dominated by men who had been in the industry for decades. Some were sceptical of the newcomer with an unconventional background. But that doubt only fuelled my determination to excel. I welcomed complex new projects head-on, rapidly taking on responsibilities that let me shine, despite any friction it could create.

The importance of an innovative mindset

Despite the obstacles, I persisted, motivated by how energising I found the work. For the next eight years, I assembled pioneering CubeSats, scientific microscopes and propulsion systems for the space industry. With each role, I expanded my electronics capabilities. Eventually, the opportunity arose to apply these skills in an entirely new arena – robotics.

I joined Dexory, a robotics and AI company building cutting-edge autonomous robots for the logistics sector. Suddenly, I went from working wiring satellites to wiring robots that would transform supply chains across the globe. Our autonomous robot fleets continuously scan warehouses to build incredibly accurate digital twin replicas, giving customers a real-time virtual view of their inventory that helps optimise their operations. As an electronics technician, my role involves everything from repairing robot components to building cables and harnesses. I work closely with engineers, leveraging my insights from hands-on prototyping and assembly. It’s really fulfilling to play a key part in developing such innovative robotic systems.

Embracing the unexpected path

When I reflect on my career journey, it’s amazing how life can take unexpected turns. If you had told me years ago that I’d go from nurturing children to nurturing robot brains, I may not have believed it. But that improbable path was made possible by embracing new challenges, seeking out mentors, and remaining resilient in the face of doubters.

I hope my story can inspire others to not let unfamiliar fields intimidate them. There are so many routes into technology and avenues for gaining new skills. If you’re passionate about robotics, engineering, software, or any other domain, seek out mentors and start putting in the hours to retrain. The opportunities are there for anyone willing to take that first step into the unknown. My own career transformed because I decided to be bold and dive into something new. With dedication, passion and a go-get-it attitude, anyone can turn interests into fulfilling professions.

Gemma Donnelly is an electronics technician at Dexory.