Hi Everybody! Happy fall semester of school! I’m sorry that I haven’t posted on here in three weeks. I didn’t post because I wanted to start off my sophomore year in high school with good grades. Don’t worry! I will be posting regularly on here once every week, so make sure that you are checking your email and Live Life The Girl Way’s Twitter often. I always have the newest posts and news on there.
Today I have an interview for all of you. I was blessed enough to receive this interview from an awesome blogger and Water Engineer called Andromeda DuMont. I encourage all of you to read this interview and to be inspired by what she has to say! If any of you are interested, here is a link to her Blog. Click HERE to be redirected to her website or simply type in: Andromedadumont.com . Without further ado, here is the interview!
1.Why did you choose your career?
I’ve always loved problem solving and fixing things. When I was in high school I participated in all of the STEM programs – robotics, programming, you name it. I also had engineers in my life so I knew what the work hours and conditions would be like.
2.Did people ever tell you that your career was not meant for women, and what kept you going?
Never. I’ve definitely come up against sexism and situations that were a direct result of my being a woman but I don’t think anyone has ever had the guts to tell me that because I’m a woman I couldn’t do it.
3.Were you ever afraid that you wouldn’t succeed in becoming an engineer, and how did you overcome it?
I struggled with some of my classes in undergrad, especially Calculus 1. Because those classes are necessary for an engineering degree, I knew I had to pass them. There’s no other option. So I took extra lessons, built a study group, and switched to doing the classes in the summer when I could fully focus on that material alone. Almost everyone struggles through an engineering degree at some point — even me, an otherwise A+ student. Engineering builds an endurance and grit that’s necessary to be solving our global challenges. It’s perseverance through the difficult parts that make us uniquely qualified for this career.
4.What advice would you give to aspiring young women that are struggling with self doubt?
Find a network that you connect with and can be honest with. Have meetups (coffee, chats, hygge) where you leave your egos at the door and know that you’re there just to support each other. It’s scientifically proven that people who look at challenges with a friend by their side see it as less steep. Your brain thinks it’s easier the closer you are with the people around you. A couple of the “happiness researchers” have information on this that’s pretty cool to read if you’re interested.
5.What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership?
Perfectionism. I just finished a blog post about this. Some of the skills which we rely on hold us back at the leadership level. Perfectionism is one of them. Girls get lots of positive reinforcement for perfect work which means that society expects it of us, more so than with men, and we expect it of ourselves. We’ll take less risks and not go for the really hard things that will develop us into leaders. You have to make mistakes to learn. Try to build that into your goals each semester. What will you try and fail at? If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough.
6.As a woman in science and technology what are some of the ways you feel women impact the field in positive ways?
I have had amazing mentors throughout my career, a lot of them female! Women have a different perspective than men do. People of color have a different perspective. They come to conclusions in unique ways so it’s important to have their voices at the table. In my company, I can name a handful of women leaders that have shaped projects and teams in a way no one else could. This has a domino effect on their design, projects, and ultimately our communities as I work in the public sector.
7.What advice would you give to young women trying to break into engineering and technology fields?
There’s space for everyone! We’re seeing so many more women in leadership roles than before. The rate is still low and we’re still underrepresented but we’re slowly moving that needle.
8.What is some the advice you share with young women entering a male dominated profession?
Some days will be hard. You’ll need male and female allies and you’ll need to be loud about the challenges you face. If you’re quiet then people don’t know what’s happening and they can’t help to course correct. Be prepared to ask for help when you need it.
9.As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career?
I am a very young project manager. Often times I am managing teams of incredibly talented, older white men. They are not used to being told “no” by a young woman. This year has especially been hard with some of my current projects and current teams. I often have to remind and remind my teams that I do have a background in groundwater engineering and that I don’t need to be senior to be able to manage a budget. During these conversations I normally bring a mentor (someone older or male) that these engineers respect. I don’t have the privilege of immediately having respect — I have to earn it and reearn it every week. It’s an unconscious bias that as an industry it is slow to chisel through.
10.What advice would you give to young girls aspiring to be leaders in their fields?
Everyone has hard days and different people deal with them different ways. For me, I like to analyze through them. I talk them through with my best friends, partners, therapist, mentors, and peers at work. Being emotionally well is just as critical as being physically well. Make sure you take care of your whole self, especially on the days where you’re so busy you feel like you just don’t have time for it.
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Post written by Lilynator (A.K.A Lily)
(picture taken from engineergirl.org)
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It was a pleasure talking with you. Much luck in your future endeavors.
Thank you so much! I am glad that I had the opportunity to interview you! I wish you the best of luck in everything that comes your way!
I found this interview through Andi’s website – the questions you’ve asked are insightful and I appreciate that.
Keep goin strong! Good to keep up those grades 🙂
Yes Ma’am I will keep working hard! Thank you!
Thank You Lilla!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you Natalie!
Thank you!
Like!! I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. The article has truly peaked my interest.