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Women in Engineering: My journey into Engineering
In a world where expectations greatly outweigh encouragement, the need for women to share their journeys has become increasingly important.
In this blog, I talk through my personal decisions, the challenges, and successes associated with joining industries such as engineering and technology — with the ultimate goal of empowering other women to do the same.
View the full blog post here.
1. My journey into engineering.
I am a Chemical Engineer by trade, having recently swapped my hat for that of a Software Engineer at Credera.
Growing up, I wanted to be an artist. During high school, I fell in love with science and problem-solving — but never lost my desire to express myself. Wanting to combine both passions in my future career, I chose to enter the world of engineering.
I was not always into coding and for the longest time, I feared it. I was always encouraged to explore science but was discouraged from coding. I had grown to understand that programming was considered too difficult for me (ouch!). So, I steered clear of it. It was only in the final year of my undergraduate degree that I felt empowered to use programming outside of lectures. My partner and peers were kind and patient, dedicating time to help build my understanding and confidence.
When I completed my seven-year journey, I found a job posting for a graduate programme in Software Development/Engineering at Credera and I just knew I had to apply for the post. Did programming still scare me? The answer was yes— but I knew it would be worth it.; It meant that I would never have to give up my creative interests to pursue the more logic-based ones. I would always be able to combine creative and logical thinking — a rarity in career types.
2. Challenges faced along the way.
Being a woman in tech can be incredibly difficult. The questions, assumptions, discouragement, worry, and the discrimination. Every woman has their own journey and disappointment that comes along with it.
I have faced a lot of resistance when it comes to the career choices I have made. The questions and concerns about working within a male- dominated field have been frequent. The fact that the job was messy and physically intensive was a subject of concern for many (except me, I loved it!). Of course, the questions about whether there was time for me to start a family, and have the appropriate work hours to raise them, were also thrown out there.
Despite the negative experiences, — I found that the joy and satisfaction that came with doing something challenging greatly outweighed the disappointment or frustration felt along the way. Joining Credera was life changing for me — the challenges I now face are more aligned with skills development.
Having had no real prior tech knowledge or experience, I have always been able to reach out to my peers when I needed to soundboard or was confused. Looking back at the decisions I have made, I would not change a thing. The skills I learned in chemical engineering are still applicable to my day-to-day role. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t follow the path that I did.
3. My advice to other girls and women.
People will always have other goals and dreams in mind for you — and you may feel pressure to pursue what others prioritise and deem appropriate. Do what makes you happy, and if you do not know what that is yet, I implore you to take your time figuring that out. Do not let social norms and expectations rush you or your dreams.