Today is the third post in honor of International Women’s Day. This installment features engineer Lori G.
Who inspired you to become an Engineer?
While no one I knew was an engineer, I grew up with a dad who realized that I had a talent for math and problem-solving. He often made sure to include me on any of his projects around the house that required use of those skills. Later in high school, I had a computer programming teacher that also recognized my natural skill in programming and pushed me to pursue it. It was the two of them that made it clear that this was something I could do.
A piece of advice for aspiring young female Engineers?
You will likely have imposter syndrome for most of your career. Ignore it and speak up and share your thoughts and ideas. You do not have to be an expert in every field to have a valid opinion or new idea.
What has been most rewarding to you in your journey?
Speaking to the users of the software I’ve created. Knowing that I’ve helped create a product that they enjoy using is very rewarding.
How you balance all of the demands on your time?
I’ve had to be honest with myself, my managers and friends and family on what I need in order to meet my goals. It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to accomplish everything asked of me, but I’ve realized that it’s okay to admit that I can not always do it all. This has made it easier to accomplish the things that are most important to me.
