🎉 Happy International Women in Engineering Day, from #TeamBSE! 🎉
To mark this occasion, we asked Catherine Woodward and Shalmali Kakade: “What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering?”
Their responses highlight some common themes: stay curious, seek out mentors and supportive networks, gain as much practical experience as possible, and never let self-doubt stand in the way of your ambitions.
Catherine said:
“If you are a young woman considering engineering as a career, I would suggest you find a group of women already in engineering and keep in touch.
Make sure you get as much practical experience as possible. You may need to push for this because lots of people think that women cannot manage on site.
One of the big issues can be the lack of female company, so make the most of any women you can find, including women who you have regular contact with who may not be engineers.
And enjoy the ride.
It can be very creative if you let it.“
Shalmali said:
“Engineering is a career built on curiosity, innovation, and the drive to make a meaningful impact.
Don’t let misconceptions or self-doubt hold you back—no one starts out knowing everything.
Stay confident, keep asking questions, seek guidance from those around you, and embrace every opportunity to grow.
The unique perspectives and ideas you bring are what help shape better solutions for the future.”
While challenges remain, engineering offers the opportunity to be creative, solve meaningful problems, and help shape a better future. We encourage young women with an interest in engineering to explore the many opportunities the profession has to offer.
We’re proud to have talented women engineers as part of #TeamBSE. Catherine and Shalmali are just two of the many people who contribute to making BSE a diverse, innovative, and rewarding place to work. 💜