Whether we aspire to be a leading academic or a corporate tycoon, very few of us could travel our career path without a bit of navigational guidance from those who have gone before us – leaders who inspire or motivate us, merely be example.
Last month, the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering asked female engineers in Ontario to identify outstanding role models who have influenced their careers. Nearly a third of the thirty women selected for an online feature were alumni or faculty from U of T Engineering:
- Adrian Coombs (CivE 8T9)
- Diana Facchini (MSE 0T2, MASc 0T5)
- Linda Gowman (MechE 8T7, MIE PhD 9T6)
- Jessica Li (ChemE 1T3)
- Rachelle McCann (ChemE 1T3)
- Sarah Oliveira (ElecE 0T5)
- Associate Professor Milica Radisic (ChemE, IBBME)
- Marisa Sterling (ChemE 9T1)
- MIE Chair and Professor Jean Zu
Like many of women profiled, Professor Milica Radisic encouraged young girls to join her field: “As an engineer, you will never be bored, there is always something new going on and new things that one can learn.”
Other role models said that potential mentors are all around us, and sometimes it had to be up to a mentee to establish a productive relationship with them.
“What was difficult for me was how to ask for help,” said alumna Marisa Sterling, who has run for provincial office and seeks to be the first female engineer elected in Ontario. “This went against what I had been taught at a young age – to solve my own problems and prove my abilities myself.”
Browse all 30 female engineers chosen.
Interested in becoming a mentor yourself?
Find out how you can help guide U of T Engineering undergraduates in the Skule Mentoring Program.
