Podcast: Changing perceptions of engineering and technology

Engineers are problem-solvers, they help technology to have impact and to transform the everyday.?However, the roles of those working in engineering and technology is ever-changing, while perceptions of what it means to work in this space seem to stay the same.??

To mark this?year’s?International Women in Engineering Day?(23rd?June),?I?sat down with three key members of my team;?Vicky Worthington, a Senior Design Engineer from Medium Voltage Products; Julie Pegg, who heads up Strategy and Business Excellence; and Tannaz Taleb, who is Head of Tendering and Proposals, to talk about their experiences working in the sector.??

This podcast episode is part of Siemens’ celebration of?International Women?In?Engineering Day (INWED)?this Wednesday 23rd?June,?which is a global event by the Women’s Engineering Society. The day aims to?highlight the instrumental work of women working in this space,?in what has often been?perceived?to be a male-dominated field.??

In this?interview, Julie, Vicky and Tannaz share their journeys into this field, how they arrived at Siemens, and how their experiences of work have changed over their careers.??The full podcast can be found here:?https://www.spreaker.com/user/siemenspodcast/siemens-experiences-in-engineering??

Career beginnings and joining Siemens?

Q: How did you first start in your careers at Siemens??

Julie: ‘’I started at?Shell, training to be an accountant but soon found I preferred working with people to numbers. The opportunity arose to join the HR teams at Siemens where I was fortunate?enough to be sponsored to attend the University of Salford to complete?my?CIPD?course.?I was asked to take over maternity cover when my manager at the time was off and so?I took a massive leap of faith and took on the role. It was a key turning point in my career and I never looked back, I got new confidence and experience and went from strength to strength.’’??

Tannaz: ‘’I finished my business IT Management?degree,?and I had a friend working at Siemens. They mentioned an admin role which I successfully got. My manager spotted that I had potential and encouraged me to go to college to complete electrical engineering courses which led me to where I am today.’’?

Vicky: ‘’Similar to Tannaz, my manager saw the potential in me and sent me off to college at 30 where I studied, even while having two young kids, and got me to where I am. I’m now a senior engineer within the DS business which I’m fiercely proud of.’’?

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Q:?How did your background and family influence your career choices??

Tannaz: ‘’I was actually encouraged by my parents not to pursue the technology?route,?but I chose to study it?later on?while at Siemens.’’?

Vicky:?‘’I come from a family of female role models, my sister is an electrician and I’m an engineer. I wasn’t great at school, that side of academics wasn’t for?me,?but I have always liked maths. I like that it’s right or wrong and there’s no grey area.?That is a big part of my passion for engineering now but it’s not something I set out to do when I was 16.’’??

Julie: ‘’I’d driven past?Siemens for?years?in Didsbury,?so it was amazing to finally go inside. That wonder hasn’t worn off because my job has constantly changed so going to Siemens and pursuing this has always been very exciting.’’?

Vicky: ‘’I had an idea that Siemens was on this pedestal of greatness with genius engineers. I can’t tell you how daunting it was to walk into a room of middle-aged men who I’d thought of as a group of almost untouchable geniuses. I come from a council house, a very working-class upbringing and it took a few months to feel comfortable in their presence as I came to?realise?they were just a normal bunch of people. I feel like since I joined the organisation and broke that mould of middle-aged men that we’ve really expanded, brining young and more diverse people into the team. The mature graduate programme has really helped give manager’s confidence that people like me are worth investing in.’’?

Life at Siemens?

Q: Can you tell us how Siemens is different today than it was when you first joined??

Julie: ‘’I’ve been here over 20 years and I can tell you that the pace is much faster now, thanks to the technology we have. Change is the norm. Nothing stands still. There is a lot more diversity of thought and ideas and we welcome that change.’’?

Q:?What makes a good leader and what behaviours do you expect from a leader??

Vicky: ‘’My leader has been the same for the last 12 years. He’s approachable, he leads by example, he shows empathy. You’ve made it as a leader if people want to follow you and be on your team and I absolutely do.’’?

Julie: ‘’I’d agree, they?have to?be genuine and take an interest. They should be able to support while also knowing when to delegate.’’?

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Diversity and Inclusion?

Q:?There are many?organisations?that recognise the value of a diverse workforce, one that has a growth mindset. Do you see examples today of growth mindset in our business??

Julie: ‘’I work across the business and I see great examples of growth mindset, from improvement projects to the passion that people show. I hope with time that this becomes part of the day job and something that we just do.’’?

Vicky: ‘’I think we’re?really?good?at innovation and at expressing ideas about what we can do better. We’re quick to change and try new ideas, that’s a great attitude that?we have as?engineers?at Siemens.?The organisation enables us to?work in this way,?which is proof of growth mindset.’’?

Tannaz: ‘’I think we’ve done a great job of?improving?diversity and inclusion in recent years, we have a variety of genders, ages, cultures across all roles in the workforce. There is always the opportunity to grow and improve but it’s great to see how far we’ve come.’’??

Advice for the next generation of engineers?

Q: What would you say to a young person interested in pursuing jobs?similar to?yours??

Julie: ‘’I’d say just go for it. You get to work with people, processes, tools and really have a varied role. At 16, I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to be really, so I’d say make the most of the resources?that are out there for careers advice. Try and get some exposure, get that work experience placement. Do your research and do your best to get there.’’?

Tannaz: ‘’I would have ignored my mum and gone with what I was best at straight away, which was the technology route. Do what you enjoy.’’?

Vicky: ‘’I would always say believe in yourself. Be confident and be honest and you’ll make it.’’?

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For more information, and further stories on the women contributing to our success, or to learn more about engineering roles at Siemens, please visit:?https://new.siemens.com/uk/en/company/jobs/life-at-siemens/women-in-engineering.html?