THE LONG INTERVIEW

Marisa Kurimbokus on Imposter Syndrome and Rewiring the Future

From turning cereal boxes into childhood inventions to leading the charge in net-zero battery tech, Raeon's Head of Engineering discusses overcoming the confidence gap, the true value of diverse viewpoints, and how accessible technology is levelling the playing field for tomorrow's innovators.

TOM BROOKS (Interviewer): To get us started, could you introduce yourself? Who are you, and what is your role here at Raeon?

MARISA KURIMBOKUS (Interviewee): My name is Marisa Kurimbokus, and I am the Head of Engineering here at Raeon. I oversee our research, development, and design activities—basically everything right up to the handover to our manufacturing team. Beyond that, I support our customers from the very early stages of scoping a project all the way through to providing on-site support when things are up and running.

TB: You joined us at an early stage and took a risk on Raeon, which we greatly appreciate. Going back to your background, your path into engineering wasn't exactly a straight line. You initially planned to become a maths teacher until a friend dragged you to an engineering lecture. Looking back, what was it about that lecture—or engineering itself—that captured your imagination and caused you to change paths?

MK: I initially thought about becoming a maths teacher simply because I loved maths and science, and I genuinely wanted to help people. I wanted to share my passion for those subjects. As a kid, I didn't really know what else was out there. Doctors, teachers, dentists—those are the professions you see day-to-day. Engineers operate more in the background. But once I discovered engineering, it embodied everything I was looking for. I wanted to use science to create real change. When I realised it wasn't just fixing cars—that it was highly creative, combining the high-level problem-solving I loved with the joy I had turning cereal boxes into inventions as a five-year-old—it captured my imagination completely. I knew it was exactly where I belonged.

TB: Was this lecture between school and university?

MK: Yes, we had just finished our GCSEs. A friend needed a lift to Cambridge and didn't want to go by herself, so she dragged me along. It happened to be a talk comparing computer science and engineering. I learned a little bit about both that day, and honestly, I never looked back.

"If we want true diversity and inclusion, we have to actually include people, not just hire them to hit a quota. We need diverse viewpoints because those perspectives fundamentally make our products better."

TB: Engineering is a massive sector, and you must have been aware of it at school. Why hadn't you considered it as a career route before that point?

MK: It really comes down to that old saying: "you can't be what you can't see." When you look at how engineers are portrayed in the media or in cartoons, they’re usually the guys fixing your boiler or working as car mechanics. Even at the highest level, they’re shown fitting tires onto Formula One cars. They aren't typically portrayed as creative or innovative; the focus is always on getting your hands dirty rather than the high-level problem-solving side. I’m very passionate about changing that perception. Yes, there are days when you're standing in the rain in a hard hat, but for many engineers, the reality of the job is entirely different.

TB: There are many different facets to engineering—some stay focused on pure design, while others divert into project management or operations. After this realisation, you went to Cambridge University to study engineering. You’ve mentioned previously that coming from a family of non-professional immigrant parents, the blueprint for a corporate engineering career wasn't laid out for you. How did you navigate breaking into the industry after graduation?

MK: Building a strong network made a massive difference. At university, I joined an extracurricular team called Cambridge University Eco Racing, where we designed and raced solar-powered vehicles across Australia. It was a brilliant way to meet like-minded engineers. One of our main sponsors was Jaguar Land Rover, and I met their chief engineer of body engineering quite early on. He was a Cambridge alumnus and a huge champion for our team. He was actually the one who dragged me into the world of automotive, and his mentorship helped guide my early career.

TB: By the time you finished your studies at Cambridge, did you already have a clear interest in Jaguar Land Rover and established contacts there?

MK: It wasn't until the very end of my fourth year that I decided on this specific path. The beauty of my degree was its general foundation—we covered electronics, civil, and mechanical engineering before specialising. By my final year, I had specialised in aerodynamics and thermodynamics. Having made those industry connections, I realised that all the theoretical maths and fluid dynamics simulations I enjoyed at university could directly apply to a real, exciting career in automotive.

TB: Returning to your upbringing, did you face any cultural barriers or harbour concerns about joining the engineering world?

MK: There were definitely barriers to entry. The main one was simply not coming from a professional family. Things I consider basic now—like how to write a good CV or navigate UCAS—were completely foreign to my parents. Coming from a working-class background, there was never an expectation that I’d go to university; my parents just hoped I'd finish my GCSEs and find a stable job. Taking out student loans to pursue a degree felt like a huge financial risk. However, I always had their unconditional support. It never felt like an insurmountable barrier, just the next challenge we had to overcome together.

TB: Drawing from that experience, how are you helping the next generation? Is there anything we can do better as an industry, or even as a business?

MK: That experience is exactly why I'm so passionate about mentoring. I know first-hand that not everyone has the luxury of someone to hold their hand, or even supportive parents to back their career choices. I devote time to mentoring students at my old college to give back. I want to say to them, "You may not have the privilege or the network that others have, but let me share my experience and help guide you." The industry has many great initiatives focused on this, but we have to keep actively lifting up the next generation of STEM learners.

TB: Moving beyond university, you've worked for major engineering companies like Jaguar Land Rover and Triumph. You then joined Raeon, one of the smallest companies you've worked for, at a very early stage. You could have added value to any business—why take a chance on us, and how does the startup environment compare?

MK: My core passion has always been the ability to make a positive impact in the world, and I’ve focused my career entirely on net-zero and climate change technologies. Raeon was a huge draw because we’re filling an essential gap: helping companies electrify their products when they otherwise couldn't afford custom battery solutions.

Joining at such an early stage was also incredibly exciting. In massive corporations, progress is often slowed by bureaucracy. Here, I have the ability to directly shape the technology, build the team, and establish agile processes without unnecessary red tape. We can harness our own common sense to know what's necessary for safety and what we can do away with to remain innovative.

TB: For anyone considering joining a company at this early stage, is the experience meeting your expectations so far?

MK: It’s been hugely rewarding. In a startup, every single person and every idea matters. For young engineers especially, getting this level of responsibility and influence across an entire company is rare. You get to directly shape the products, the marketing, the processes, and even stand on show stands to present your work. I’m the sort of person who wants to go home exhausted but knowing it was worth it—like running a marathon—rather than just turning a handle from nine to five.

"Women statistically experience imposter syndrome far more than men. If a job description has ten requirements and we only meet nine, we often assume we aren't qualified... We need to say, 'I hit 50% of these points—what's the worst that can happen?'"

TB: Our mission here is to democratise access to custom batteries across various industries, reducing development costs and lead times. Given your background in traditional mass production, how different is it to build a design and manufacturing process that requires this level of flexibility?

MK: Like all engineering, it's just another problem to solve! I love that Raeon's technology is designed to be as standardised as possible while offering maximum flexibility where it counts. Our enclosures share a similar core architecture, but they offer immense packaging flexibility. The same goes for our flow-lock resin technology—we can adapt to different cell chemistries and sizes without entirely reinventing the wheel. It’s a huge manufacturing challenge to deal with such variety efficiently, but figuring out how to do it in a scalable, cost-effective way is exactly what makes the job so exciting.

TB: In 2024, you were crowned the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year. You've spoken frequently about wanting women to bring their 'whole selves' to engineering, including soft skills like compassion. Why is this holistic approach so important for the industry?

MK: I remember sitting in a meeting as a graduate on a marketing placement, and an engineer casually suggested raising the price of a car to cover an expensive part, assuming the "rich customers" wouldn't care. Five minutes later, that same engineer was on the phone arguing with his car insurer over a minor premium increase. It highlighted a massive disconnect: as engineers, we often take off our "customer hats" when we get to work. If we want true diversity and inclusion—which studies prove increases productivity and profits—we have to actually include people, not just hire them to hit a quota. We need diverse viewpoints because those perspectives fundamentally make our products better. When I buy a car, I’m looking at technical specs, but I’m also asking: is it safe for a child? Can a pram fit in the boot? If I’m thinking that, our customers are too. We have to bring our whole selves, soft skills and all, into our design process to truly meet our users' needs.

TB: Imposter syndrome is something many engineers—especially women—face in this industry. Having felt isolated early in your own career, what advice would you give to young engineers dealing with these feelings?

MK: Women statistically experience imposter syndrome far more than men. If a job description has ten requirements and we only meet nine, we often assume we aren't qualified. A man might hit five and apply anyway. A teacher at my all-girls school used to say, "Sometimes I think women should start thinking more like men," and he was absolutely right about this. We need to say, "I hit 50% of these points—what's the worst that can happen?" I actually had a huge bout of imposter syndrome when applying for my current role at Raeon. I told my husband they’d laugh at my CV because I lacked direct battery experience. He reminded me that I’m a fast learner, and told me to let them decide if I was suitable rather than ruling myself out. So I went for it, and now I get to learn something new every single day. My advice is to go in with an open mind about yourself and your capabilities. Surround yourself with people who bolster your confidence, and just go for it.

TB: Moving towards the end of our chat—you're building a team here at Raeon. Looking at the young engineers coming through the ranks, what gives you the most hope for the industry's future?

MK: It’s incredible to see the passion from this new generation, and I think it's largely fuelled by the digital resources they now have access to. Today, if you want to explore CAD, you can buy a 3D printer for £150 and prototype designs right in your bedroom. You don't need a fancy degree to understand how an electrification system works; you can learn the fundamentals on YouTube. I love seeing new graduates come in fuelled by something they saw online, asking, "How does this actually work? Can we do more of this?" They aren't limited to what they were taught in a lecture hall.

TB: I completely agree. Ten years ago, you'd interview graduates and ask them to demonstrate what they'd built, and often they had limited practical experience of tangible projects to show because there wasn't much they could do from home, or opportunities were limited. Now, candidates arrive at interviews having created their own 3D-printed jet engines or custom software. This accessibility unlocks doors at a much earlier age, and the possibilities are escalating incredibly fast.

MK: Exactly. I once had a conversation at a career fair with a woman who said it was "nice to see young people interested in cars." I had a bit of a go at her! I told her we have to recognise that millennials and Gen Z often live in city apartments. I grew up in a terraced house. Where on earth do you keep a car to tinker with it? We certainly didn't have space; we had to park our only car on the street. We didn't have a garage or a private driveway to make things.

So having these desktop-sized technologies that are now cost-effective makes a massive difference. You don't need to be wealthy with a big house and a private workshop to be a hobbyist anymore. You can do it from your laptop at home, which completely levels the playing field.

"The engineering industry is incredibly broad. You will find your niche in places you didn't even know existed, so always say yes to new opportunities."

TB: Finally, with International Women's Day on the 8th of March: if you could send a message back to the teenage Marisa who thought her only option was teaching maths, what would you tell her about the world she is about to build?

MK: I’d tell her: you're going to love it. Go in with a completely open mind. When I started at Cambridge, I was adamant I’d never do civil engineering or automotive. I thought buildings sounded boring, and I had zero passion for cars. But a brilliant lecturer led me to a placement in civil engineering, and joining the eco-racing society entirely shifted my perspective on automotive—which became my career. I actually ended up marrying the guy who got me into it! The engineering industry is incredibly broad. You will find your niche in places you didn't even expect or know existed. Say yes to opportunities, and definitely don't let imposter syndrome hold you back.