Don’t be afraid to say ‘I’m great at this’; learn everything you can from your colleagues, both junior and senior, and remember that women have an extremely valuable contribution to make.
Top advice from our engineering stars of today’s International Women’s Day celebrations: Project Manager Emma Wood and Flood Risk and Drainage Engineer Phoebe Ryding, both in our Birmingham office.
Emma Wood
What was your career path, how did you get to where you are today?
My career path is not typical of the engineering sector, I actually have a BA in Media & Society. My degree taught me that the message you give is defined by those receiving it, not what you say.
When I graduated, I struggled to find a role in something I wanted to do. I ended up with a job as an Accounts & Admin trainee for a shipping firm – this was firmly due to my aptitude for maths and logical thinking. When I relocated to the Midlands I took an accounts type role at a large Engineering firm. From there I moved within the company to an internal relations role, and then to project accounts. I stayed in the same team for the next 6 years working my way up to Project Manager. Most of learning how to do my job was from those around me, for which I am very grateful – don’t underestimate what your colleagues know, both junior & senior!
I moved to PJA 12 months ago. I wanted to work here primarily because we are a company who prides themselves on excellent delivery to clients; and I love to feel proud of my job.
The thing I enjoy most about engineering project management is that it is solution-based problem-solving. I feel I achieve something (if only small) every day and I am always learning.
What do you think is your greatest achievement within your career to date?
I’m not great at defining achievements, but my proudest moment was when former colleagues asked me to join them at PJA, and I knew I had made an impact on them.
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
Don’t be afraid to stand up and say ‘I’m great at this’.
Ask your family (particularly grandparents if you can) what they think you are good at if you are not sure.
Whatever you decide to do, you can always change your mind.
Phoebe Ryding
What was your career path, how did you get to where you are today?
Throughout school I had a keen interest in the environment. My favourite subject was always geography and I completed my degree in Geography in 2016. Throughout my degree the modules I enjoyed the most related to River Catchments and Water Processes and Quality. This degree enabled me to travel to places such as Columbia where I researched water environments in the Amazon. It was this research that led me to explore a career in Water Management and ultimately in the engineering sector.
I have now been in the industry for 4 ½ years and worked to develop myself professionally during this time. I have jumped at opportunities to undertake a huge variety of both public and private sector work. I welcomed opportunities to work with Lead Local Flood Authorities developing policy as well as working with private developers to shape the way the water will be managed in new developments across the UK.
What is your greatest achievement within your career?
My greatest achievement is seeing a project I have worked on go from drawings on my desk to construction out on site. It is highly rewarding to see the time, hard work and attention to detail that I put into planning of water schemes come to fruition. I have recently enjoyed being able to attend site visits for a river realignment scheme which I played a part in designing. Going out on site to see different elements physically installed has been an invaluable experience and helped me to develop my skills for future schemes.
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
I think it’s really important for women to be aware that there are vast and varied types of opportunities within the engineering industry. These are career paths that are interesting, valued and worth pursuing. Diversity will strengthen the industry and help us to provide better designed developments for the future. Women have an extremely valuable contribution to make to all aspects of engineering.
There are already so many fantastic female role models that I look up to and have worked with over my short time in the sector. It is so important to get more young women into the industry to become future role models and leaders within engineering.
