Postgres Woman of the Year December 2025 - Soqra Banu Rumi

Introduction:

I bring over 14+ years of experience as a PostgreSQL DBA and Associate Manager, having worked with multiple global clients across industries such as automobile, banking, and heavy machinery manufacturing. My role has provided strong exposure to diverse teams, complex project environments, and large-scale database systems. I have successfully managed mission-critical PostgreSQL databases, ensuring high availability, performance optimization, and zero downtime during upgrades and critical operations.

Motivational Speaker

Journey in PostgreSQL

My journey from developer toward PostgreSQL DBA began with inspiration from my husband, who encouraged me to explore PostgreSQL more deeply.

Can you share a pivotal moment or project in your PostgreSQL career that has been particularly meaningful to you?

One of the most pivotal moments in my PostgreSQL career was working on a mission-critical banking platform where database availability and data integrity were absolutely non-negotiable. The system supported high-volume transactions and had a very narrow maintenance window, with zero tolerance for downtime.

Contributions and Achievements:

As a professional PostgreSQL trainer and meetup speaker,I have regularly conducted internal and external sessions focused on PostgreSQL architecture, performance tuning, high availability, and real-world production troubleshooting.I’ve also actively mentored and motivated teams to upskill, encouraging certification paths, hands-on labs, and participation in PostgreSQL community events.

(II)  Have you faced any challenges in your work with PostgreSQL, and how did you overcome them?

Managing more than 7,000 PostgreSQL databases, some reaching 7 TB, was a major operational challenge. I led initiatives to adopt open-source monitoring solutions and build automation for backups, health checks, failovers, and maintenance activities. This not only stabilized large environments but also dramatically reduced manual effort and on-call pressure for the team.

Community Involvement:

Providing trainings for enthusiastic DBA’s to learn PostgreSQLn

(II) Can you share your experience with mentoring or supporting other women in the PostgreSQL ecosystem?

Very interested to provided trainings especially to women  

Insights and Advice:

Balancing motherhood and a tech career is challenging, but with proper planning it becomes a beautiful journey. My advice to women is to build strong PostgreSQL fundamentals, embrace automation, seek mentorship, and never doubt that they belong in technology.

(II)  Are there any resources (books, courses, forums) you’d recommend to someone looking to deepen their PostgreSQL knowledge?

https://www.postgresql.org/

Looking Forward:

PostgreSQL + AI = POWERFUL Technology 

(II)  Do you have any upcoming projects or goals within the PostgreSQL community that you can share?

Going forward, my focus within the PostgreSQL community is on knowledge sharing, mentorship, and scalable best practices drawn from real-world enterprise environments.

One of my key goals is to expand structured PostgreSQL training and mentorship programs, especially for developers and DBAs transitioning into managing large-scale, mission-critical systems.

Personal Reflection:

A network that supports career growth, especially for women in technology

(II)  How do you balance your professional and personal life, especially in a field that is constantly evolving?

Balancing career, family, and personal commitments can be challenging—I’ve experienced this myself as a mother. But with planning, confidence, and the courage to ask for support, it truly can be a beautiful journey. Don’t pause your growth waiting for the “perfect time”; growth happens step by step.

Message to the Community:

To the women who are already part of the PostgreSQL community—or who are thinking about joining—you belong here. Do not underestimate your ability to manage complex systems, make critical decisions, and lead technical change. Database management is not just about technology; it’s about responsibility, resilience, and trust.