How to Thrive as a Woman in STEM
What inspired you to begin a career in STEM?
It can be daunting to begin a career in a field, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), where women have historically been underrepresented. So, what inspired these women to begin a career in STEM? For Afaf Musa, PE, and Ybette Ochoa, it was seeing the issues in the environment around them and wanting to be a part of the solution.
“What really got me interested in the water industry was my upbringing in Jordan where having clean water readily available for people is still not an option," said Afaf. “I wanted to become part of that solution and help communities around the world.” Now a water resources engineer, she is doing just that. Similarly, Ybette was inspired by the transportation challenges she saw in Peru. “With a new transit line, you can improve the quality of so many lives. I knew that becoming a civil engineer and having an impact in my community was something that I wanted to do,” she explained.
Is work-life balance a myth?
“I’ve always thought ‘work-life balance’ wasn’t very good terminology because it assumes that everything always has to be equal and that’s not the case,” said Julia Forgas. “Sometimes work gets more of you and sometimes personal life gets more of you, and as long as that’s an intentional decision, then you can make it work.”
Our panel agreed with this notion. “You have to decide what work-life balance looks like for you,” added Dr. Kylie Bradley. “Whether you’re a mother or a guy, it’s about showing up, being confident in your convictions and setting those boundaries so people don’t take advantage.” According to Afaf, the work-life balance changes every week, but "it's not a mathematical equation that you have to follow." Fortunately, a flexible work schedule allows them to get the job done both at work and at home, while having fun!
How have you seen technology change the way you work?
Since CDM Smith was founded in 1947, we have continued to reinvest in our people, tools and technology to find better solutions. Judy Nishimoto, PE, who has been with the firm for more than 20 years, can attest to this. “Technology has advanced so greatly," said Judy. "The improvements that the executives within the company have made to update our systems and software and provide us new tools continue to have a tremendous effect."
Technology continues to make a real difference in improving the quality and efficiency of our work. Ybette added, “For transportation, what we do has changed tremendously. It’s no longer about building more lanes, or building more capacity on roads; it is now making our infrastructure more sustainable, safer and more adaptable to new technology like connected vehicles." See what they had to say about innovations that are transforming the water and transportation industries.
What does success look like to you?
In our industry, success is often measured by client satisfaction and projects delivered on-schedule and within budget. As Kylie said, “It’s getting the right team on board to make sure the client understands that you have the technology, wisdom and intelligence to be able to deliver to their objectives.”
Legendary client service doesn't happen over night. As Afaf noted, CDM Smith has been analyzing and enhancing project delivery and quality management year after year to develop better, more consistent processes. CDM Smith is committed to improving our ability to deliver quality work, on-time, every time by investing in people, systems and tools. This commitment to quality is key to successful projects and happy clients.
How can we encourage more women to join the STEM workforce?
Some of the ways CDM Smith is helping to close the gender gap are internship and co-op opportunities, mentorships, supportive programs and comprehensive benefits. Judy joined CDM Smith as a co-op student at Northeastern University and has since taken advantage of tuition assistance, a flexible work schedule, adoption assistance and relocation assistance.
Women shouldn’t have to choose between a career and raising a family. Our New Parent Transition Program is something that Afaf took advantage of. “When life surprised me with twin boys, I thought my career was over," said Afaf. "When I got back from maternity leave, I realized quickly that I couldn’t work full-time and I got on a reduced work schedule for two years. That was the best decision I’ve made for myself and for my kids, and the support that CDM Smith offered me during that time was priceless.”
A Short Sit-Down With Julia, Ybette, and Afaf
