On June 23rd, the world comes together to recognise International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), a global campaign that aims to raise awareness about the remarkable achievements of women in engineering and inspire future generations to pursue careers in this traditionally male-dominated field. This day serves as a platform to acknowledge the vital contributions of women engineers, highlighting their innovative ideas, technical expertise, and transformative impact on society.
In honor of INWED, we interviewed three extraordinary M J Quinn colleagues who have made significant strides in their engineering careers. Each of them brings a unique perspective to the table, showcasing the diverse opportunities available within the engineering industry.
First, we have Telecoms Trainer, Lauren Shead, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in training aspiring engineers. Her passion for mentoring and empowering young minds has played a crucial role in breaking down barriers in our training academy.
As a woman in the engineering field, what specific steps have you taken to navigate and overcome any gender-related challenges or biases you may have encountered? I think it’s all about mindset. No matter what career you choose in life, there will always be challenges along the way. It’s important to disregard any negative opinions or expressions because the good days will always outweigh the bad!
How can we ensure that young girls and women are aware of the opportunities available to them in engineering? By spreading the word! Engineering isn’t for everyone, it takes a particular person to make a great engineer, regardless of gender. It’s all about attitude and behaviours alongside problem-solving and being dedicated.
Do you think there are any misconceptions or stereotypes about women in engineering? People may have their own opinions but the world is changing and it’s not like it was many years ago. There will be people out there who have their own opinions and ideas but that doesn’t mean they are right.
Considering the theme this year is safety, what steps can individuals and society as a whole take to create a safer and more inclusive environment for women in engineering? I think by speaking to one another and helping each other out wherever possible! We’re all one big team and everyone comes to work to feel safe. Only we can encourage and help support that 😊
Finally, what message would you like to send to young women considering a career in engineering? Take the opportunity with both hands! Engineering is an amazing industry and there’s so much to learn. It is forever developing and it is a brilliant career!
Next, we have Service Delivery Director, Kate Allen, an accomplished professional in the field of service delivery. With her exceptional leadership skills, she has not only excelled in her career but also paved the way for other women to thrive in traditionally male-dominated roles.
As a woman in the engineering field, what specific steps have you taken to navigate and overcome any gender-related challenges or biases you may have encountered? The engineering field is very male-dominated, and this can be intimidating for a woman whatever level or role. It is not always easy to feel confident when you feel different and are often treated differently by the people around you. I think the best way that you can overcome this is to understand that your differences are your strengths. Throughout my career, I have always had a mentor who I can speak to help give me confidence and recognise my strengths and this is something I always advocate for women to do if they want to progress into more senior roles.
How can we ensure that young girls and women are aware of the opportunities available to them in engineering? There are so many talented women who would make exceptional engineers but they may be held back by their confidence in coming into a male-dominated sector.
Engineering was not something that I initially thought about going into. I have always been an Operational Manager but would have never thought that I could apply it to leading a large-scale engineering operation. As soon as a joined MJ Quinn I realised what a huge gap and opportunity there is for women in this field. We need to encourage young women to think about this as a career and this is in our hands. It is our responsibility to mentor and encourage young women to be confident in this environment and into having the confidence to progress. We need to represent women by showcasing our own female engineers and managers as role models for the future generation.
Do you think there are any misconceptions or stereotypes about women in engineering? One misconception that I see is that women are not physically able to do engineering roles. It always gives me a sense of pride when I see our female engineers and trainers running rings around some of the male engineers! We very often get feedback from customers when they have had their line installed by a female with positive recognition of how nice it was to see a female in this role.
Considering the theme this year is safety, what steps can individuals and society as a whole take to create a safer and more inclusive environment for women in engineering? Safety is paramount in engineering, and we put this before anything. I think we need to ensure that we have equipment that suits all physicality, no matter what gender. For example, we offer all of our engineers lighter ladders that a lot of women will use and also men. We are also conscious about all of our engineer’s lone working but especially women and our control team manages this daily through duty of care checks throughout the day.
Finally, what message would you like to send to young women considering a career in engineering? There are so many opportunities for women in engineering. We are massively under-represented from all levels and this brings with it uncapped opportunities for women in this sector. If you want to go into this sector go for it!
Lastly, we have the Head of Recruitment and Communications, Stef Brown, an experienced and accomplished professional with over 9 years of expertise at M J Quinn. Throughout her career, she has developed an understanding of the business, its dynamics, and the intricacies of the engineering industry. Her leadership serves as an inspiration to others and highlights the importance of cultivating a positive culture within organisations.
As a woman in the engineering field, what specific steps have you taken to navigate and overcome any gender-related challenges or biases you may have encountered? I have learnt my craft and educated myself about our industry, enabling me to feel comfortable conversing with anyone at any level regardless of my or their gender.
How can we ensure that young girls and women are aware of the opportunities available to them in engineering? I think we need to promote the great career opportunities there are within the engineering sector. We also need to educate the future workforce on how vital telecommunications is to everyone’s daily life and how you can make a real and tangible difference working in this field. Working with schools and colleges to showcase what is out there is a must. Community outreach is also extremely important, talking to working-aged women who are looking for a career change but may not have considered engineering.
Do you think there are any misconceptions or stereotypes about women in engineering? I think there are misconceptions that engineering is a dirty, physical job and because of this, women wouldn’t be interested in working in this field. This couldn’t be further from the truth, yes there are physical elements and yes a lot of work is outdoors, underground and overhead however this shouldn’t and doesn’t put women off. As an industry we have new technologies aiding our engineers to work faster and smarter year on year.
Considering the theme this year is safety, what steps can individuals and society as a whole take to create a safer and more inclusive environment for women in engineering? Take the time to understand the risk factors that can affect women in the workplace and address them.
Finally, what message would you like to send to young women considering a career in engineering? Go for it! It’s an ever-changing industry with lots of opportunities, you will never be bored that’s for sure.
