Key points
As a female engineer and founder of a venture-backed startup in Silicon Valley, I frequently receive requests to speak with other female engineers and founders. It’s not uncommon for these conversations to centre around common challenges faced, how to progress from one stage of a career to another, or lessons learned along the way in an industry that is still dominated by male engineers.
According to the US Census, despite making up 47% of the working population, women represent only 27% of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce, and less than 20% of those female STEM workers are engineers.
There are a variety of reasons why this is the case, but that will not be my focus here. There are countless articles written on the subject which are easily obtainable and worth investigating. Rather than focus on why this is the case, my goal is to share how female engineers can best pursue, excel, and lead in the engineering field.
Before Committing to an Engineering Degree
First and foremost know that you can become whatever you choose to be and that the only person getting in the way is YOU. Remember to have the determination and will to truly pursue engineering if that’s what you aspire and never let anyone tell you otherwise. This will be a far more challenging path but if you have the grit and drive to envision this future, then the world is yours to conquer.
STEM programs around the world are having a profound impact on introducing engineering-related professions to students at an early age. There is no doubt that programs supported by both industry and government agencies are having a positive impact. In addition, educational institutions have made it a priority to focus on gender balance in STEM-related programs. This can help shape you and help assess if this is where your interests and passion lie.
These programs play a critical role in promoting engineering education and increasing female participation in STEM-related fields of study. As these programs become more commonplace, aspiring female engineers should take full advantage of them as early as possible.
Early engagement is critical and is often available either through formalised STEM programs in public schools, magnet schools, or private schools focused on STEM education. The adoption of a higher number of women in these programmes also creates a strong peer-to-peer culture of women in technical fields which builds a support system from the very beginning.
However, early exposure is not enough. Aspiring female engineers must also take full advantage of university degree programmes and ancillary opportunities. One should not only pursue an engineering degree but also look for internship opportunities (many of these are often paid now unlike when I was studying), on-campus clubs, research opportunities, and other ways to get exposure to the field of engineering.
In addition to gaining valuable experience, this also allows aspiring engineers to build a network in the engineering community at large. Aiming to gain more internship experience is key in also self-evaluating the fit in the type of field you will succeed in, leading to greater self-confidence. Most women struggle with confidence related to their technical skills in a group environment and internships are a great way to build experience.
Even if these internships and other connections don’t directly lead to post-grad employment, they become a differentiator when competing with other engineering students for entry-level employment. In addition, the experience gained will often set you apart from peers once you have started with a particular company.
Starting Out as an Engineer
It’s not uncommon for young grads starting out (regardless of their gender or profession) to assume that they will be judged solely on merit. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. There is no doubt that merit is a critical component of success. However, merit-based performance is table stakes. So, the real question is, what sets you apart from the other top performers?
My advice, in particular to young female engineers, is to focus on not only producing great work but also building a network of people that you trust and respect. Look for people who you admire and are in roles that you would like to have one day.
If you want to be a mother and worry about continuing to be an engineer, remember that you absolutely can juggle both and look for successful female engineers who are mums and speak to them to ease your mind. You are not alone in whatever you want to achieve, so reach out for help.
Asking for support is a strength and not a vulnerability as being self-aware to know who and when to ask for help is a talent by itself. If you want to start to build a company one day, look for female founders in engineering fields who have become entrepreneurs to connect with. Mentors can be an invaluable part of this journey.
All of that being said, one piece of advice about networking is to have a purpose. Know what you want to get out of the conversation of the relationship. Come to the table prepared with goals, questions, and ideal outcomes. Unless you know what you want to get from the relationship, you’ll likely get just that – nothing.
In fact, here’s a great article about how to effectively network with successful entrepreneurs, engineers, and business leaders.
With several aspects of these pieces in mind, I founded a group called W.IN.S (Women’s INner Strength) – a group that focuses on empowering women with the sole purpose to recognise their inner strength and help each one of us achieve our true potential.
Making a Change or Founding a Company
Ideally, by the time you want to make a career change – whether that be building a company, becoming a full-time mother, or simply shifting course to a new occupation – you’ve built a strong and diverse network of quality people. People who have been in your shoes and have walked the path before you.
If that’s the case (and I certainly hope that it is) then you will have a strong foundation. You will have a group of people with whom you have built strong relationships and you will be able to lean on them for counsel and advice as you evaluate your next step.
When I decided to found and build KETOS, I was able to lean on people like early angel investors, several successful women who became my advisors after a strong career run. They helped me not only evaluate the market, the technology, and the business opportunity, but they also helped me evaluate whether or not I was personally ready to take on the challenge of inventing new technology, building a company, raising money, leading teams, and winning customers. Their advice proved to be invaluable and I would not be where I am today without each of them.
Motherhood and Family
All that being said, the most important thing is believing in yourself. Regardless of what you choose, ultimately, you have decided what is most important. In some cases, women choose to pursue their careers with relentless drive and commitment – and that is their only focus.
Some women choose to walk away from successful careers and raise a family. There is nothing wrong with either choice. However, and this is worth emphasising, THOSE ARE NOT THE ONLY TWO OPTIONS. It is, in fact, possible to pursue a career with relentless drive and commitment and raise healthy, well-adjusted children.
Too many times in my career, I have seen women feel the pressure to pursue one or the other, and that pressure can come from anywhere – employers, investors, and even family members.
My advice is to choose the path that will make you the most fulfilled and engaged. When you’re fulfilled and fully engaged – both you and the people around you benefit.
My mother was a housewife raising two children while working as a tutor part time to support our family. However both my sister and I have very demanding careers and are both mothers. I was challenged with several questions around motherhood, pregnancy and balancing life as the CEO of the company.
However, it gives me great joy in sharing that anyone who doubts you is not the right partner for your team or company as an investor. I’m a strong believer now that as a mum, you become even more efficient about your time and if you thought it wasn’t possible, you just proved yourself wrong as it sure is.
It's also a great opportunity to be in a role of influence as a board member, Founder, CEO, and a female engineer and set the stage for all who are working in your company from both a leadership as well as an individual contributor role to know that everything is possible and everything is absolutely acceptable. It's all about resolving mental stigma, assumptions and decades of bad perceptions.
One last note to share with all my fellow engineers and aspiring power girls out there, “What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create. – Buddha.”
Don’t let your power to succeed reside in anyone’s hands. Stay strong in surrounding yourself with positive, motivational, inspirational people who can provide you feedback to grow, improve, blossom and pay it forward for many others like you.
