For International Women in Engineering Day, we celebrate the incredible contributions of women in the engineering profession. This year's theme, "Enhanced by Engineering," highlights the many ways in which engineering has transformed the lives of women around the world.
This year, we asked some of our Horrocks employees about their experiences being a woman in this industry and what advice they have for young women who are interested in pursuing a future in engineering and technology.
Bhavya sai Vaishnavi Seetamsetti, PE
Project Manager
Dallas, Texas
Q. What advice do you have for young women interested in engineering?
If this is your passion and you love it, pursue it. There are so many opportunities in this field. Try to join student chapters of professional organizations and get a good mentor. Feel free to ask if you have a question or point of view about something. Do not stop learning; if you get constructive feedback, learn from it, too. Always be kind and respectful but still stand your ground. Go to professional organization networking events and reach out to them. There are so many good people in this field who are willing to mentor and help young engineers.
Adilen Martinez
Engineer-In-Training (EIT)
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Q. What is it like to be a woman in the engineering field?
Being a woman in the engineering field has its challenges but also has rewarding opportunities. We contribute valuable perspectives and skills to the profession, and while there may be instances of skepticism, overcoming these obstacles often leads to personal and professional growth and helps you understand your worth.
Q. What advice do you have for young women interested in engineering?
Consider challenges as opportunities. Every challenge presents a chance to learn new skills, develop creative solutions, and strengthen your confidence.
Carolyn Morehouse, PE
Senior Engineer
Salt Lake City, Utah
Q. How has engineering impacted or improved your life?
Engineering has improved my life because I am always learning new things. Civil and environmental engineers are continuously trying to make people’s lives a bit better while making the world cleaner (or at least trying to minimize impacts from society). It is not an easy task, and you need to really hear what others are telling you instead of trying to get the “right” answer.
Q. What advice do you have for young women interested in engineering?
An engineering degree is just the start of the journey. There are so many options that a young engineer can pursue. This is not exclusive to women; men too have so many options with an engineering degree.
Alyssa Casamento
Engineer-In-Training (EIT)
Denver, Colorado
Q. How has engineering impacted or improved your life?
I love solving unique problems. In my career, I get to be creative, use my passion for STEM, and learn something new every single day.
Q. What is it like to be a woman in the engineering field?
Empowering! I am surrounded by talented woman doing remarkable things who support each other in a male-dominated field.
Chelsea Weller
Traffic Engineer
San Diego, California
Q. How has engineering impacted or improved your life?
Q. What advice do you have for young women interested in engineering?
If you are interested in engineering, go for it and don’t let the lack of women in the field scare you. If there is a specific field of engineering you are interested in, find a female mentor that is already in the field to give you better insight and advice.
Jenna Price
Transportation Roadway Engineer-In-Training (EIT)
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Q. How has engineering impacted or improved your life?
Engineering is my world! I am an engineer by nature and by trade. I enjoy technical, challenging things in all areas of life, and I’ve been lucky in my career to find men who are willing to let me into the club. It’s awesome to practice problem solving skills every day. Makes me better in other areas of life.
Q. What advice do you have for young women interested in engineering?
Ladies have to practice speaking up for themselves, using a fact-based and direct communication style, tooting their own horn, and being LOUD about what they want and expect. Resume writing, firm boundaries, and confidence are key as well.
Katey Letham
Engineer-In-Training (EIT)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Q. What is it like to be a woman in the engineering field?
For me, being a woman in engineering has come with many looks of surprise & shock when I tell people I am an engineer. The response never gets old and always makes me giggle. I often find myself the only woman in a meeting full of men. With the right team, I have found value in bringing my unique strengths and talents to a project. I have also found some of my favorite friendships amongst other women engineers. It’s so nice to know others whose minds work like mine. Engineering has been a wonderful field to be in, and I hope to see more women in engineering in the future.
Jill Mosher
Program Management Procurement Engineer
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Q. What advice do you have for young women interested in engineering?
Success isn’t determined by chromosomes; work ethic will bring the respect that will lead to countless opportunities. If you think this is a field you want to pursue, do it! We need more people to take an interest, we are hurting for the technical expertise to help keep our aging infrastructure in a state of good repair.
Q. What is it like to be a woman in the engineering field?
I have found it to be very rewarding. It is a career path that engages my mind. I’m a problem solver and I love puzzles.
Mary MacGillvray
Drainage Intern
Salt Lake City, Utah
Q. What advice do you have for young women interested in engineering?
Try out all different types of engineering. There are so many different types of career pathways with great rewards that one can go down, so try them all. Many women I have talked to have wished later in their education that they had studied engineering because of all the possibilities there are in the field. There is a vast field of opportunity in this occupation!
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