Accelerating Action for Women in Engineering: Natalia Golovacheva’s Journey

In celebration of International Women's Day, we’re excited to share the inspiring story of Natalia G. , a Senior Test Engineer at Tait, who is passionate about accelerating action for women in engineering. Natalia's journey highlights how early exposure to problem-solving and critical thinking, combined with strong support systems, can empower women to build successful careers in STEM.?

Discovering a Passion for STEM?

Natalia's first graduate role was at Intel in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, where she joined a 50/50 gender-balanced team as an Application Developer. She enjoyed her time here so much it secured her commitment to software engineering as a career.?Her passion for technology was ignited in secondary school, with the support of an encouraging computer science teacher who inspired her to take on challenges beyond the classroom.?

One of which was a cross-school competition, where Natalia wrote one of her first programs to solve quadratic polynomial equations, with her teacher assisting her with how to chart the results from this program, an experience that built her confidence and curiosity. Her programming teacher also left a lasting impression, reminding her: “Don’t be afraid to try as it’s not going to blow up.”?

Both individuals' guidance cemented to Natalia that “Trying leads to learning and that letters on the blue screen?can become a graph?and solve a problem.” ?

The Impact of Early Exposure?

Natalia’s childhood was filled with problem-solving games and hands-on learning. Long bus commutes with her mother were turned into opportunities for critical thinking, playing code-breaking games like “Bulls and Cows.”?

Her family life also nurtured her curiosity. Her grandfather built intricate toy furniture from metal cans, and her father crafted life-sized furniture by hand, exposing her to resourcefulness and creativity. Her mother also graduated from the science faculty and alongside the arrival of personal computers, Natalia’s curiosity grew, leading her to experiment with hardware and software from a young age.?

A Philosophy for Encouraging Curiosity?

Natalia believes that early exposure to new experiences is key to considering them as career options: “How would you say it is the right choice if you haven’t tried?”?

As a parent, Natalia applies this philosophy at home. She challenges her children with more advanced toys and games, promoting collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. A friend's advice to “treat kids as if they were a year older” helps her nurture their growing minds.?

Creating Pathways for Future Female Engineers

Natalia emphasizes the important roles of parents, schools, and after-school activities in nurturing STEM skills, especially for women. She suggests:?

• STEM toys and games that promote hands-on learning.?

• Leveraging digital resources, like online courses and interactive websites.?

• Providing strong support systems and safe spaces for experimentation, where failure is part of the learning process.?

By creating these opportunities, Natalia believes we can inspire more young women to pursue engineering careers, contributing to a more diverse and innovative industry.?

Article written by: Abigail Brown Marketing Coordinator, Tait Communications.

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