expresso 14 - en

expresso 14 | winter 2018

Was there a mentor, or other major influence, that helped guide your career? Priscilla : Nothing is more valuable to me than listening and learning from others. Hearing their lessons learned and what they would do differently makes me think about what I would do in their place. Deborah : I agree. To add to that, I’ve also been fortunate to be surrounded by leaders who allow employees to shine and be rewarded based on their efforts and achievements. That has had a big influence on how I approach my job, and on how I work with others. What barriers do you still see for women, in engineering or business in general, and what can be done about it? Stephanie : Perceptions of gender appropriate education and career options, the “what do you want to be when you grow up?” question, start at a very young age. We all need to encourage and support STEM related programs for young girls to know that this a career where they will find success, endless challenges and enjoyment. Sarah : That’s true. It’s also important to note that diversity – whether you’re talking gender, race, or accessibility – it doesn’t happen by itself. We must make purposeful efforts across all levels of the organization. That’s why I’m truly proud to say that I work for EXP. There’s more work to do, but we’ve made such meaningful strides in a short time towards a more diverse workforce.

What role do you feel you play in overcoming those barriers? Stephanie : I’m passionate about mentorship, professional development and advocacy. I want to help others find avenues for their personal and professional growth. As a mentor, it’s important to share my experiences, give advice, and support other women to have the confidence and ambition to seek out opportunities for growth and leadership. Deborah : Well said, Stephanie. Personally, I try to reach out through networking opportunities and encourage people to apply their talents at EXP. Within my team, I always encourage everyone to speak up in meetings, offer their ideas and contribute to their highest potential. Priscilla : In recent years, many law schools have seen an increase in female enrollment. In private practice and in-house, women are being recognized and promoted more and more often as senior leaders. I expect similar progress in engineering. With more focus on STEM at an early age, more girls will be given the opportunity and encouragement to explore and choose engineering as a career. Sarah : That’s right, we’re also seeing the number of females graduating from university-level engineering programs increase in recent years, but disproportionately more women still leave the profession early in their careers. Our industry needs to evolve and shift its focus to encourage women to build and develop their careers in engineering, particularly consulting engineering. This might include flexible work policies, job sharing, etc. What’s your outlook for the future of women in engineering?

The struggle for work/life is a recurring theme in many of the interviews. What would be your advice for women entering the industry? Deborah : To me, finding balance comes from being organized and choosing how to use your time. Understand that you will need to make sacrifices and compromise. Regardless of how much time you spend at work or at home, I believe children benefit from having parents who enjoy what they are doing. Priscilla : Absolutely, Deborah, you can’t do everything. Well, maybe you can with no sleep, but I have had to learn to humbly accept my own limitations. This actually helps me prioritize better and not be afraid to ask for help.

contributors: Priscilla Ahn Eliza Martinez Avilès Julie Beauséjour

Ashley Brown Phil Desmarais Viviane Donay Ivan Dvorak Mark Dvorak

Thank you to our panelists for providing us with the benefit of their insights, perspectives and experiences. We hope that the discussion expands and continues as more women start and grow their careers in this exciting and rewarding industry.

Donna Floerchinger Marie-Hélène Fortin Marie-Julie Garneau Sandra Homola Rebecca Huang Stephanie Hunt Megan King Emmanuelle Landry Marie-Hélène Laneville Ysela Love Isabelle Mireault Lisa Moore

Vero Rabemanana Rachael Sampson Sarah Skinner Margot Smeenk Nancy Stern Nataliya Tkach Deborah Walters Chantal Wing