'Being different isn’t a disadvantage, it’s a strength'

What if you could give advice to your younger self? For Imene Jadli the answer is clear: she would encourage her younger self to follow the exact same path. Today, she is a Portfolio Manager at imec but her journey began in Tunisia.

Imene started her career as an assistant professor in Tunisia. She then left academia for a job in France and subsequently in Belgium. She joined imec as an R&D engineer and rose through the ranks to a management position.  

What would you like to tell your younger self? 

“Follow your gut and do what you want to do. That may not be the stock answer, but I’ve always believed in myself and made my own choices. From a very early age, I knew what I wanted and went for it, even if it wasn’t the most obvious path.” 

You don’t shy away from big decisions. Was that always easy?

“Not at all, but even as a child I was very goal-oriented. I made a conscious choice to study physics, which was – and still is – very much a male-dominated world. But I’m glad I made that choice. Leaving my home country was also a huge challenge. You’re basically packing your whole life into a single suitcase to start over somewhere else, but that’s how you grow. You have to step out of your comfort zone to discover new things, both on a professional and personal level.”

What would you do differently today?

“(pauses to think) I’d tell myself to keep believing in myself but that it’s also okay to ask for help. I’ve always been very independent and insisted on doing everything on my own. Now, I realize that sometimes you can go further by letting other people in, asking for help and accepting it.”

From a very early age, I knew what I wanted and went for it, even if it wasn’t the most obvious path.

What is it like for you to work at imec?

“I’m very happy to be working at imec. If you’re looking to work in a high-tech environment, imec is the place to be in Europe. Personally, I also progressed from an R&D engineer to a Portfolio Manager. Imec really gives you opportunities to grow. Being ‘different’ is not negative at imec, it’s not a disadvantage. On the contrary, it means you’re unique in a different way, it’s a strength. That makes imec a great place to work.”