What advice would you give to a young woman considering a career in engineering?

Question

What advice would you give to a young woman considering a career in engineering?

I would say to ANY young woman considering a career in engineering - DO IT! You will not be sorry! I have had a wonderful career that has allowed me to see the world and do wonderful things to help change the world. I would also tell them to not be afraid of math and science. This is sometimes a barrier to women and it should not be. Math is all about LOGIC. Science helps explain nature and the way the world works. This should be a natural fit for all women! The image of engineering as men with pocket protectors is dead! We now have women in space, women in technology, women as leading doctors and physicists and yes, women in multiple engineering disciplines building roads, bridges, and skyscrapers and even software applications that change the way we work and live. I would tell any young women to stop and think about what you want to do. If you want to sit at a desk and take orders from a boss and go home early everyday and party, engineering is probably not for you. But if you want a career that will challenge you, that will take you to places you have never been before, and give you the opportunity to take your unique talent to help change the world for the better, YOU SHOULD BECOME AN ENGINEER. Engineers are not monolithic. We are everywhere. A career in engineering can open the door to many opportunities as it has in my life. The sky is the limit and your unique potential is the driving force. What I love about engineering is that it never gets old. What I did in the '80s is not what I am doing today. Today, I am constantly thinking about how to make things better, cheaper and more efficient. I am thinking about things like climate change, energy solutions and advanced technologies that will help corporations become more efficient and effective. ENGINEERING IS POWER. I have the ability to influence the direction of my own life. I am not dependent - others depend on me. Choosing a career in engineering was one of the best and most important decisions in my life.