Asmaa Mountassir

My name is Asmaa Mountassir. I was born in 1982 in Morocco, the first child in my family. We were a Berber family, and my mother’s primary goal was to give her children a higher education—so by the time I was two years old, I was already in school. I remember back then how shy I was. We spoke our Tamazight dialect at home so I couldn’t speak or understand Arabic, the official language. So I struggled with my shyness, with the language at school. Despite my obstacles, though, I found that I was falling in love with school, and the teachers whom I would cherish in my heart over the years, wherever I went. 

I knew even back then that I loved the idea of teaching, and my dream was to one day become a teacher. I could see myself in front of a blackboard with my students sitting in front me of me; sometimes at home I would go into our living room alone, staring at all the pillows, pretending they were students. Then I started to teach them the alphabet, letter by letter. 

Years passed and I became an engineer in computer science. I loved my work, but I couldn't forget my dream of teaching. But life went on and 2010, I had a baby I named Imene. I was working all day, leaving my daughter with relatives. I saw that she was growing up while I was away, working at my job, which is not how I wanted us to live. I ended up leaving my job and earning a Ph.D. while I stayed at home. Again, it was time for me to rejoin the workforce and that meant leaving my family all day, returning late in the evening after a long commute. 

And then I found Odetta. 

Through friends and LinkedIn, I learned this company—dedicated to helping working women like me—was looking for data scientists to work remotely. And it has changed my life. I organize my time as I like. I love writing. Now I am writing my first book at the same time working with Odetta. I can even schedule my time to be a part-time teacher at a school. My dreams are coming true.  

The moment I joined Odetta, I had a strange feeling, like huge positive energy was flowing into my life. I couldn't explain my feelings, but it is real, and it continues. Love. Time. Career. I think I can have the three at the same time as Odetta.