Harsha Koorimannil Valiyamannil discusses the factors that influenced her love of computer science, the leap of faith that brought her from India to Belfast and what the future holds for her.

“I wasn’t one of the kids who grew up coding, but I have always loved a good puzzle”, said Harsha Koorimannil Valiyamannil, a recent computer science graduate who left Ulster University with first class honours and a lengthy list of achievements. 

Koorimannil Valiyamannil told SiliconRepublic.com, “I enjoy spotting patterns and figuring out how things work, so when it came to choosing a path, computing science felt like a natural fit for how my brain works. I knew I would enjoy the logical side of it, but what surprised me most was how much room there is for creativity.”

She previously studied animation and graphic design in her native Kerala, India and had always shown an aptitude for maths, so with all of that combined, it made sense to her that she would look to develop a lifestyle and career that merged her skills and interests.  

She believes her artistic background has greatly shaped the way she approaches problems, enabling her to experiment, look at things from multiple different perspectives and communicate ideas in ways that resonate with people. 

“I loved that computing gave me a highly practical toolkit to merge problem-solving with creative design and build tangible things people can actually experience. 

“That is what continues to drive my career path. I want to build accessible technology that goes beyond just being functional. I believe the best solutions are the ones that understand the people using them, consider their needs and make their everyday experiences genuinely better.”

Leap of faith

Perhaps surprisingly, Koorimannil Valiyamannil noted, making the career switch – despite the significant personal and professional commitment it took to achieve – did not feel like a drastic move. Having spent some time working with design software, eventually she began to ask herself, ‘If I built this, what would I add?’ or, ‘How could I make this better?’ 

A background in graphic design and design theory had trained her to consider viewpoints from the user’s perspective, and she found herself constantly analysing what was missing from an experience and how small decisions completely transform the way someone interacts with a product. 

“After a while, I realised I wanted to do more than just create the visuals. I wanted to understand the technology behind them and have the technical skills to build the software itself. Computer science gave me the tools to turn my ideas into working products and I knew pretty quickly that this was the exact direction I wanted to take my career.”

A whole new world

To realise her goals, Koorimannil Valiyamannil made the decision to relocate from Kerala to Belfast, in a move that, while bittersweet at points, was exactly the experience she felt was needed. She explained that circumstances at home did not allow for much independence and she wanted the opportunity to build a life entirely on her own terms. 

“Here, I have learned how to chase opportunities without having to worry or hold back. Even something as simple as spending late nights studying in the library felt like an entirely new kind of freedom,” she said. “The initial isolation was the hardest part, but it pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and reach out. 

“Over time, I became much more confident putting myself forward and started having the courage to try things I would never have considered before. Now, the people I have met have become a massive part of my journey. Building that solid foundation of friendships is what helped me turn a completely unfamiliar place into my own.”

As her confidence grew, so too did her desire to have a genuine impact on the world around her. She had noticed that the Women in STEM Society was no longer active at Ulster University in Belfast – an issue she remedied alongside three like-minded peers.  

“We wanted to rebuild a community where students could connect and feel supported throughout their journey in STEM,” she said. “While we started with smaller events to bring people together, we also wanted to create something that would have a wider impact, which led us to making the Hack4Health Hackathon our main goal. “

As the society secretary, she used her design background to create branding and promotional materials for both Women in STEM and the hackathon, supported outreach efforts, and worked with the wider team to contact organisations and secure sponsorship.

“Rebuilding the society and pulling off an event of that scale was a massive amount of work. It was a crash course in the logistics of community building. It also proved that we could actually execute ambitious ideas from the ground up just by stepping up and trying.”

Eyes on the prize

If Koorimannil Valiyamannil’s experiences have taught her anything, it is that often you have to be the architect of your own dreams, but sometimes, you need to be the person helping to lift up others alongside you. 

“Throughout my journey, I have benefited from people who encouraged me, and I want to do the same for others,” she said. “I am incredibly excited about this opportunity to learn from the people around me, share what I have learned and use my skills to build up my community.”

With that in mind, she plans to build a career in technology that creates a positive social impact. Her biggest focus right now, she explained, is on ethical technology and digital accessibility. “I want to build solutions that actively break down digital barriers and ensure no one gets left behind.” 

She added, “I am excited to explore the different directions my career could take, but my core goal remains exactly the same. I want to keep learning, keep building, and use my skills to create inclusive and human-centred tech.”

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