Ever thought about a four-footer taking on the world? And that too, a female? Perhaps in Bollywood, Tollywood or Hollywood, maybe? Well, the reality is that a 19-year-old Lautoka lass is switched on in taking on the world without fear and ultimately tasting victory was so sweet.
Suhana Shaista Sahib is hooked on artificial intelligence — reading and studying about networking, programing and data science — a computer wizard.
Suhana was bestowed with the prestigious 2020 Voice of GenZ Award recently at the CognitionX Festival.
“We received the free pass for CogX, and a chance to nominate ourselves for the Voice of GenZ category. This was when I participated in the hackathon with my team which we won. So CogX was one of the events we were invited as an incentive.
“Our reward for being placed 2nd in the globe also gives us an opportunity to present our product in front of investors at the Webit Festival,” she enthused.
The second year University of the South Pacific student currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in accounting and economics program, narrated her story to this newspaper.
“I entered the YouthvsCOVID-19 hackathon because my passion for online courses in cybersecurity, SEO advancement, networking and programming never wanes.
“They are my leisure time fillers. Our model, that was AI Can Help focused on easing personal protective equipment distribution in the US, which at the moment, many hospitals, manufacturers and firms are struggling with.
“Together with the PPEs, we expanded to include other essential supplies such as providing food to food banks.
“Large corporations have stated that they will assist, however, none are able to determine the severity of the pandemic in each state. As a team, we came together to provide a solution depicting a real life situation – dealing with a virus that has made the lives of medical staff and individuals vulnerable.
“Our team AI Can Help made it to round two that comprised of the top 10 teams. On May 16th we pitched in front of the judges and were placed second, overall.
“We created the predictive model using the linear regression model – Python programming language. We also created the website which at the moment is a wide prototype that was created using Marvel. We also updated content for Teens in AI and Girls in AI, we created the pitch-desk and GitHub repository,” she said.
Suhana divulged further that the team got together when the organiser, Elena Sinel, collaborated with the participants and the technical, ethics and coding mentors from across the globe.
“My teammates included Madeline Salem from the USA who was the back end developer lead, the project manager Mukil S. also from the US and Mexican Alvaro Lopez, who was the research manager. I was the front end developer lead and the only Fijian and Pacific Islander.”
Suhana is a web content writer for an India-based digital media start-up by young entrepreneurs, The Zealous Media. Through this role, she is able to improve on her writing skills, analysis, research and most importantly SEO skills.
She is the eldest in the family, and ably supported by her father Imtiaz Sahib, who is a licensed plumber and a part time Japanese language interpreter, and mother Farneez Sahib, the boss of the household.
Suhana is a former scholar of Tilak High School in Lautoka and scooped the dux award in 2018. She scored the highest marks at Tilak High School in her Year 12 external examinations with 372/400 and continued her achievements in Year 13 with 366/400.
This allowed her to become one of the recipients of the National Toppers Scholarship. She also won the first prize in the national Nelson Mandela essay competition in 2018.
While Suhana’s high school journey has been a successful one, her primary school days were chaotic. With her subject teachers’ guidance and assistance, true friends and with support, she was able to pave her way successfully through high school.
Suhana has a strong message to the masses.
“We need opportunities in Fiji that do not judge or rely on tertiary qualification. In Fiji, if we think deeply and properly, the government supports start-ups through the YES program with loans.
“But at the end of the day, ideas seem to only count when one has a degree. We always ask as to why countries like India and the USA produce so many geniuses.
“The answer is that they do not expect ideas to emanate from degree or diploma holders to start. Zuckerberg took his university project and turned it into a multi-million dollar company.
“Locally, we talk more about GPA, coursework mark’s, final exams and how to fit in the company giant chain’ after graduation. No one talks about starting a new chain. Jack Ma often phrases these words that if anyone wants to gain entrepreneurship skills, venture out to a small company. Usually when people enter a big company, they become part of a big supply chain.
“The difference is that working in a small company allows a person to work with passion and be skilled in multitasking getting many things done at one time. Education, maybe, is the key to success, but I vehemently opine that education is not success.
“It is great to educate oneself, however, keep a backup foundation. Learn and explore every day.”
Suhana stated to invest in oneself, but what does this actually mean? It means to gain as many skills as possible, whether it is related to your education or otherwise.
Coincidentally, Suhana’s idols are Jack Ma and Priyanshu Ratnakar. Their words and work have always moved Suhana every time she stopped and ran short of motivation.
“Young entrepreneurs inspire me because they have already set correct and focused mindsets at an early age.”
Suhana is an unique talent and she is a living testimony that size does not matter.
