Associate Director, Pharma & Life Sciences, Consult, UK
At school I had a passion for maths, chemistry and physics and so pursuing a career in chemical engineering seemed like a natural progression for me. Even at the age of 18, I was asked quite often, ‘Why do you want to do that? It doesn’t seem like a career for a girl to get into’. But I think there are a lot of misconceptions about engineering. In reality, it’s interesting, ever-changing and can open the door to a wide scope of industries and roles. My perseverance in pursuing this career has paid off and when I think about the journey I’ve made from my first day as the only female engineer in an office to now, I’m so happy to see that the door is now wide open to young woman today, who want to pursue a similar path.
When I first started my career, there were too few female role models at all levels, from junior engineer, to middle and senior management. But companies like Mace have been working hard to change this. Promoting ways to ensure a more diverse and inclusive workforce, pave the way for the future and not let unconscious bias inform in recruitment or promotions.
My proudest achievement since joining Mace is getting the IChemE company training scheme reaccredited, which is an important part of our plans at Mace to attract and retain the best people in the industry.
Strong analytical and logical thinkers, as well as being organised, visionary, creative and persistent to get the job done!
My top tips are:
1. Stay true to yourself: learn from others but don't change yourself. Get to know yourself and what you’re best at. Don’t change to fit into the norm – be you!I’m so pleased to see Mace embrace diversity of experience and expertise across projects. Diverse groups of people of different ages, backgrounds, skills, knowledge and thoughts can bring new and innovative perspectives to the table. We shouldn’t be constrained by the assumed limitations and norms of our own professional world. A multiplicity of perspectives can spark creativity and help organisations spot and seize new opportunities.