ENGEO would like to acknowledge the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science. We are proud to acknowledge these four women who help lead and inspire their fellow staff members each day. Here’s what these women have to say about following a career in science.
Jeanine leads ENGEO’s San Jose office where she predominately serves tech-oriented projects in the South Bay.
When did you discover an interest in science?
I did an elementary school project on Julia Morgan, an iconic architect who worked at Hearst Castle, and she sparked my journey into architecture and later engineering.
How did you know you wanted to pursue a career in STEM?
I gravitated towards math and science subjects early in my academic career. I enjoyed the numbers and problem-solving aspects.
What do you find most interesting about the work you do now?
Engineering, specifically geotechnical engineering, is an evolving field so inherently we are on a lifelong learning journey. We are constantly challenging what we think we know to be true in the spirit of providing the “best” solutions.
What does being a woman in STEM mean to you?
Above all, I feel proud. I have a lot of pride in serving communities near and far as an engineer. I am very grateful that I have had incredible mentors along my journey so far and I am inspired to do my part in paying it forward.
Erika has been an environmental consultant for 20 years and now manages ENGEO’s five New Zealand offices.
When did you discover an interest in science?
As a kid, I loved being outdoors, hiking, skiing, and playing sports, which meant I had a great appreciation for the natural environment.
How did you know you wanted to pursue a career in STEM?
Given my personal interests, I thought a career in environmental engineering would fit well as I enjoyed math and science and thought I could put those skills to good use helping to solve environmental issues!
What do you find most interesting about the work you do now?
Solving problems for clients, using not just technical knowledge but also an understanding of the client’s needs and overarching project details and constraints. I have the most fun on a project when we can tackle a problem from an angle where all stakeholders (including the environment) win!
What does being a woman in STEM mean to you?
I recognize that other women in the field are more likely to look to me for advice and as a role model, which is a great honor!
Victoria is an associate in ENGEO’s San Diego office, her work experience includes civil engineering, construction management, and environmental compliance.
When did you discover an interest in science?
My interest in science started in middle school. I always enjoyed the interactive labs that were part of our science classes, and I think that made me want to continue learning more about these topics.
How did you know you wanted to pursue a career in STEM?
By the time I was in high school, I knew I wanted a career in STEM, but I didn’t have a clear direction on what degree or profession I wanted to pursue. I was interested in engineering, environmental science, and sustainability. I was able to explore these interests in college during my undergraduate and graduate studies.
What do you find most interesting about the work you do now?
As a civil engineer, I love being able to apply my skills and knowledge to create innovative solutions and make a positive impact in my community. At ENGEO, we work on a variety of projects and across many disciplines within civil engineering. The challenge to continue to learn and grow is one of the aspects of my work that I find both interesting and rewarding.
What does being a woman in STEM mean to you?
When I reflect on what it means to be a woman in STEM, I think about all the women that have come before me, broken down stereotypes, and paved the way for all the STEM opportunities I’ve had in school and in my career. Women in STEM are innovators, leaders, and role models for others. Personally, I find inspiration in my grandmother’s story about the challenges she had entering a STEM-focused career. When my grandmother was in college, she was denied admittance into a dental hygienist program, not due to a lack of qualifications, but because the program had already met its “quota” of women candidates. At this point, she had already completed several semesters of science courses to satisfy the prerequisites of the program. Instead of letting this rejection derail her passion for science and helping others, my grandmother used the skills and knowledge she gained from the prerequisite coursework as the foundation for her degree and her career in speech and language pathology. The determination, leadership, and positivity she demonstrated embody what it means to me to be a woman in STEM.
Yanet is an associate in ENGEO’s San Jose office and manages a variety of project types including master-planned and mixed-use developments.
When did you discover an interest in science?
I have been interested in math and science for as long as I can remember. At home, I used to spend time playing with bugs and building mud castles (funny foreshadowing of my future career).
How did you know you wanted to pursue a career in STEM?
I knew I wanted to pursue a career in STEM when I took my first physics class in 10th grade. I’m very practical, so to me an interest in physics logically led to pursuing a career in engineering.
What do you find most interesting about the work you do now?
I love that each project brings unique design considerations and geotechnical challenges. We’re always working towards identifying the most robust engineering solution that is both cost-effective and practical to implement. This requires a lot of creativity and collaboration.
What does being a woman in STEM mean to you?
Being a woman in STEM means demonstrating that there isn’t a stereotype of who an engineer is. The field of engineering invites innovation and critical thinking and those are not qualities dependent on gender. I encourage other women entering the STEM field to do so with the confidence that they are equally capable and talented.
