A spotlight on women in engineering
As we strive to create a Better World for all our people, fostering a culture where our colleagues feel empowered, respected, and inspired to make a difference is key.
Laura Ray is an Operational Excellence Manager at IMI Adaptas. Having attended engineering school over 30 years ago when the population of female engineers in the US was only 7%, Laura became part of a group who pioneered for women to enter the engineering and high technology sector.
After completing a Mechanical Engineering degree, Paula Takano joined IMI in 2017 as an intern. In 2019 Paula joined IMI’s Graduate Programme, gaining experience in R&D, Operations and HR before becoming a Project Leader on our specialist Climate Control team. Paula has also been involved in the build of our cutting-edge Customer Innovation Centre in Ljung.
Yogini Yogalingam joined IMI in 2012 as an IMI Graduate. Throughout her time at IMI, Yogi has worked in multiple countries, and multiple disciplines across IMI. After finishing the graduate programme, she built her career in Operations over the next 7 years and became part of the first Growth Accelerator at IMI in 2018 and currently works as a Growth Hub Manager.
Challenging complexity, being confident and having a growth mindset
We are continually investing in ways to reduce complexity across IMI, from simplifying our global manufacturing footprint, to finding innovative ways to better support our customers.
Laura emphasises the importance of finding ways to reduce complexity and being resourceful from a young age.
“Don’t spend too much time on a problem that could have easily been solved by using the resources around you and do not be afraid to use the resources available.”
What can happen when we reduce complexity?
>> Improved decision-making
>> Increased productivity
>> Cost reduction
>> Accelerated innovation
Market-led innovation is another key pillar in our purpose of delivering Breakthrough Engineering for Better World. At the heart of this is our innovation engine, Growth Hub, the embodiment of a growth mindset, where innovation and customer problem solving sits tightly at its core.
We want to make sure that all of our people understand the value of having a growth mindset.
Through undergoing training on self-limiting beliefs, our IMI graduate cohorts are encouraged to question their current mindset and challenge their thoughts in order to develop.
Laura reflects on the need to “keep moving with an open mind for self-improvement”, recognising the importance of having a growth mindset on a personal and company-wide level as a driving force and catalyst for innovation and collaborative thinking.
Confidence is crucial.
“Never be afraid. Never be afraid to try something new, never be afraid to speak up, and most importantly never be afraid to be true to yourself.” Says Yogi.
Three myths of the industry
Women are not strong enough to be in an engineering career.
“This is not true. Especially in my role as a Project Leader, listening to your team and communicating effectively is fundamental for the success of a project. You don’t need to be big or loud to get your point across. A lot has to do with resilience and trying different approaches to learn what works the best with different stakeholders” says Paula.
Women are not taken seriously in the engineering field.
Laura asserts that “this is not true today. Although I have often been the only female sitting at the table, I never felt that my opinion was not valued. When I have spoken up my opinions have always been respected”.
If you want to move up the ladder in this world, you need to be aggressive, or lead by fear, or prioritise working in a hierarchical manner.
“Whilst this might be one way to lead, the best leaders that I have seen and experienced are those that focus on achieving their goals with the collaboration and support of their colleagues and employees” says Yogi.
Inspiring the next generation of women in STEM
Through early exposure, highlighting role models, offering mentoring and support, and addressing stereotypes, we can help to inspire the next generation of innovators at IMI.
According to Yogi, “we need to spotlight, showcase and talk more about some of the great examples we have in female engineering, the impact they have on our society and wider world to inspire the younger female generation to join us on this exciting journey and be part of shaping our future”.
Laura suggests that through “through women mentoring women and girls, we can help to help create a support system and increase networking within the field”.
Early exposure to STEM professions can help ignite a passion for problem solving and innovation at a young age.
We should “bring young students to STEM professions so they can see the possibilities of a career in engineering” says Paula.
Yogi is an advocate for this, recently she visited Stormont School in the UK to share her experience as an engineer with students and give insight into how our Growth Hub is taking customer centered innovation to the next level.
Every April on Girls Day, a day of action that takes place across Europe to motivate girls into scientific professions, many of our sites open their doors to female students. By giving students hands on experience of a day in the life of an engineer at IMI, we are broadening their horizons to the possibilities of a career in STEM.
