From studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering in Turkey to leading global product portfolios at Siemens, Amna Umul’s journey reflects engineering without borders. In this interview, she shares why shechose Czech Technical University in Prague for her master’s studies, how CTU’s collegial academic culture shaped her confidence and professional mindset, and how combining studies with industry work helpedher bridge theory and practice. Today, as Portfolio Manager for SINAMICS Drive Systems at Siemens AG, she focuses on digitalization, AI integration, and long-term portfolio strategy—offering valuable insightsfor students aspiring to build international engineering careers.
What was your journey before being accepted to CTU in Prague, and what motivated you to study there?
My academic journey began at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey, where I studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering. During my undergraduate studies, I developed a strong interest in power systems and decided to pursue a master’s degree abroad to further specialize in this field.
Prague stood out as an ideal destination, as I had visited the city several times before and was drawn to its cultural richness and academic environment. The opportunity to study at Czech Technical University (CTU) in Prague), a highly reputable institution, strongly motivated my decision. The availability of English-taught programs and scholarship opportunities further reinforced my choice. Additionally, Prague is home to the headquarters and major hubs of many international companies, offering excellent career prospects and a strong professional ecosystem for engineering graduates.
I completed my Master’s degree in Electrical Power Engineering at CTU in Prague, graduating with honors. This experience significantly strengthened my technical expertise and confirmed my motivation to study at an internationally recognized university while preparing for future professional opportunities in a global environment.
Did you experience any cultural shock during your preparatory year in the Czech Republic?
During my preparatory year in the Czech Republic, I did notice some cultural differences compared to my previous academic environment. One of the main observations was that there were relatively few female professors in my field, which was different from what I had experienced before.
I also became aware that social and professional roles tend to be more traditionally structured in Czech society. Recognizing these differences was part of the broader process of adjusting to a new cultural and academic context, and it helped me better understand how academic environments can vary across countries.
How do you remember your first semester as a full-time student at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering?/ What was the biggest challenge you faced during your studies, and how did you manage to overcome it?
I remember my first semester as a full-time student at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering as an exciting period of adjustment and learning. Academically, it was motivating to engage with new subjects, advanced laboratory work, and different teaching approaches, which helped me gradually adapt to the faculty’s expectations.
At the same time, settling into a new country came with its own challenges. Navigating everyday life in a new environment, along with practical matters such as obtaining a residence permit and completing administrative procedures, required time and patience. These experiences were an important part of the transition and helped me become more independent and adaptable.
Overall, the first semester was a formative experience that combined academic growth with personal development and laid a solid foundation for the rest of my studies
Looking back, what were the biggest benefits or opportunities that CTU offered you as a student?
Looking back, one of the biggest benefits CTU offered me as a student was the academic culture and the way professors interacted with us. From the beginning, I was grateful for being treated not just as a student, but as a colleague and an equal. This approach created an environment of mutual respect and open dialogue.
The professors were consistently supportive, approachable, and encouraging, which made it easier to ask questions, exchange ideas, and take intellectual risks. Being trusted and respected in this way significantly boosted my confidence, and it naturally made me feel more responsible, independent, and brave in both my academic work and personal development.
Overall, this supportive and collegial atmosphere at CTU played a crucial role in shaping my mindset as an engineer and helped me grow not only technically, but also professionally and personally.
Had you the opportunity to work while studying? If yes, how did you balance work responsibilities with your academic workload?
Yes, I had the opportunity to work while studying. I was employed at Eaton, and I completed my master’s thesis in collaboration with the company, which allowed me to closely connect my academic work with realworld engineering practice.
Balancing work responsibilities alongside my studies was not always easy, but it became manageable with careful planning and time discipline. Making a realistic schedule and sticking to it helped me stay on track with both academic deadlines and professional commitments. Of course, every now and then it was tempting to get carried away by social and extracurricular activities, which occasionally meant pulling an allnighter to catch up. 😊
Could you tell us more about your job—how it started and what it focuses on today?
My professional journey began at the intersection of engineering, product development, and energy systems, and it has gradually evolved toward portfolio ownership and strategic responsibility within Siemens.
My first industry experience was in R&D at Eaton in the Czech Republic, where I participated in the Engineering and Technology Leadership Program and worked on residential DC microgrids involving energy storage solutions. This role gave me a strong technical foundation and handson exposure to emerging energy technologies. I later transitioned into a Junior Product Manager role at COMAP, focusing on product lifecycle management and development of hybrid microgrid controllers and protection relays, which marked my shift from purely technical work toward product responsibility.
I then joined Siemens s.r.o. in the Czech Republic as a Product Manager for SINAMICS G Drives, a role in which my responsibilities expanded significantly. I worked on both current and nextgeneration continuous motion drive portfolios, covering hardware and software components such as control units and operator panels, as well as IIoT solutions enabling highfrequency data streaming from drives to edge and cloud environments. In addition, I was responsible for the SINAMICS G pool firmware and contributed to defining the software business strategy for the SINAMICS G portfolio.
In 2022, I moved to Siemens plc in the United Kingdom as a Service Portfolio Manager for Digital Services, where my focus shifted further toward digitalization and brownfield connectivity. I led initiatives such as the Brownfield Connectivity Gateway for drives and the Digitalization Check, helping customers modernize existing installations and unlock datadriven value from legacy assets.
Building on this experience, I joined Siemens AG in Germany as a Product Portfolio Manager, taking responsibility for the full Brownfield Connectivity Gateway portfolio and serving as Portfolio Workstream Lead for the Automation Connectivity Portfolio as well. This role required close coordination across business units, aligning technology roadmaps, product strategies, and market needs on a broader organizational level.
Since November 2025, I have been promoted to Portfolio Manager for SINAMICS Drive Systems at Siemens AG. In this role, I am responsible for strategic portfolio leadership and longterm roadmap definition, ensuring strong alignment between customer requirements, digitalization trends, and Siemens’ overall motion control strategy. A key focus of my work is the integration of digitalization and AI technologies into drive systems to enable smarter, more efficient, and futureready motion solutions.
Across all roles, the common thread of my career has been bridging technology, business, and people to deliver scalable, sustainable, and futureproof solutions.
What advice or message would you like to share with future, current, and alumni students of CTU?
Firstly, embrace AI early. Learning to work with AI is no longer optional. Developing this skill now will be essential across almost every field in the future. More Importantly, focus on people and self‑awareness. Meet people, listen to different perspectives, and build meaningful connections, while also taking time to understand yourself. Slow down, spend time alone, and reflect—university life is not only about becoming a professional, but about becoming more conscious, grounded, and human.
