On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022 on February 11, from Ferrovial’s digital area we asked several of our female colleagues around the world about what had been their motivations when studying a career in STEM. These were their answers:
María Belén Rubio González, IT Business Manager at Ferrovial Construcción
Why did you decide to pursue a career in STEM? Was there someone close to you who inspired you?
Since I was a child, I had a preference for subjects that made you “reason” over those that required memorization. I loved mathematics, physics, chemistry, programming, technical design… so when I had to choose a major in high school I had it clear. From there I was torn between math and architecture, but I had such a great professor in COU that I decided on math.
How can we get girls more interested in pursuing a career in STEM?
I think that, in the case of Science and Technology subjects, it is very important to have a teacher who motivates and knows how to transmit the magic of thinking. It is true that these careers don’t have as good perception as others, they don’t seem as sophisticated. We should insist on how rewarding it is.
Náyade de la Rasilla Sainz, I-77 Express Operations & Maintenance Manager
What advice would you give to a young woman who is just starting out in her career in this field?
I would definitely encourage any girl/woman to develop their career in whatever field they are most interested in. Being curious and having interest about something is the best way of being motivated and devote most of your time to that.
Ana Puebla Tomás, Financial Analys at Cintra
What advice would you give to a young woman who is just starting out in her career in this field?
Cultivate the skills that make you shine and keep improving your weaker ones – ask questions and don’t think this is annoying. Project confidence in all you do and always and treat every assignment as the biggest of your career.
Alba M. Corrales Gallego, Senior Project Manager
What do you enjoy most about working with numbers/this aspect of your current role?
What I enjoy the most about working as an engineer is that every day is a challenge where you never stop learning: based on engineering we are able to make the impossible, possible.
Miriam García, Analista del departamento de Plan de Negocio e Innovación
Why did you decide to pursue a career in STEM? (e.g.) Was there someone close to you who inspired you?
I decided to study Engineering because the subjects that interested me the most were Physics, Technology, and Maths. I loved numbers and solving problems. I must admit that I had excellent Mathematics teachers who really motivated me and made me feel empowered, as I could face and solve any problem that was proposed to me. They indeed share much of the blame for my decision.
How can we get girls more interested in pursuing a career in STEM?
From my experience, I believe that teachers play a key role in encouraging girls to pursue a career in STEM. If they present numbers and science as a tool to understand the biggest challenges we face as a society and inspire girls to contribute and come up with new solutions, I am sure that we will see more women in this field.
Saja-Rosa Mahtat, Audit and Inspection Manager
Why did you decide to pursue a career in STEM? (e.g.) Was there someone close to you who inspired you?
I decided to join STEM in order to represent women in the industry, and inspire the young female talent to consider a career in construction, it was also very important to me to convey that a career in construction doesn’t necessarily require an engineering degree, and that there are exciting roles within the industry, such as roles in consents, procurement , environment and many more.
What advice would you give to a young woman who is just starting out in her career in this field?
At the early stages of your career, and as you go through it, you’ll go through ups and downs, don’t let this shake your confidence, as everyone goes through this learning curve, let your experiences both negative and positive be a source of strength. Be confident and bold, believe in yourself, protect your values, and don’t ever let anyone dim your light. Dream big and know your worth.
Rebeca Gómez González, Structural Design Manager – Design Service
Why did you decide to pursue a career in STEM? (e.g.) Was there someone close to you who inspired you?
When I was a kid, I always liked mathematics and graphics at the school. At the same time one of my passions was the outdoor activities, as hiking and enjoying the nature: valleys, creeks…
I thought that studying civil engineering would come across these two passions: as I’d be building new highways, bridges, dams, in remote places that will improve the quality of the people in some villages.
It took me sometime to decide what to study, as no one in my family was developing a professional career as an engineer. But I decided to give it a try and I don’t regret at all my decision! The challenges I faced along the way enhanced my character.
I missed to have some references, as they would have helped me to face better the struggles during the path, but this also helped me to enhance my character as an engineer.
What do you enjoy most about working with numbers/this aspect of your current role?
I’m working on the design team and one of the most enjoyable moments is when you can develop a design that is going to be built by the same company. Sometimes you can also be involved during the construction and to see how the 3D model or drawings are finally constructed.
I also enjoy working with a team, although you work with numbers in your computer, you have to coordinate with other people of the same team or other disciplines, and this helps to see other experiences and to grow as a person.
What advice would you give to a young woman who is just starting out in her career in this field?
The first year of a STEM career is very similar in different mathematical careers. It is a big change in your life. This new path is a challenge with successes and struggles, but you need to be enthusiasm and to keep going. During this first year is important to look for opportunities that help you to meet people from the same university, from your same course and from later courses, as this will help you to be motivated. Don’t forget, that you can also be a reference from other peers!
Savanna Magee, Project Manager for our SH 146 project in Houston
How can we get girls more interested in pursuing a career in STEM?
It’s up to us in the industry to show what’s available to young people, and that construction isn’t just for boys. There are so many aspects of construction that women can get involved with. When I was growing up and even going into college, I didn’t realize that these career paths in construction existed. It’s important for us to reach out to schools where young people are starting to think about what they want to do when they grow up.
What advice would you give to a young woman who is just starting out in her career in this field?
Don’t be intimidated if you go into a room or an office and there aren’t many people that look like you. Show up and be confident – you have been given that presence and opportunity for a reason. Keep your head up, be yourself, and bring all of the things that make you unique to the table. Those around you may be hesitant at first, but being able to bring a fresh mindset is a huge advantage for a team and company.
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