Emma Zhang while working in Generation Maintenance at Revelstoke Generating Station.
The power of mentorship and community
In honour of International Women in Engineering Day on June 23, we chatted with three engineers-in-training (EITs) – Katie Seifert, Megan Yang and Emma Zhang – to learn more about their paths into engineering, and the meaningful role mentorship has played along the way.
Why did you choose engineering?
Katie: Funnily enough, I sort of stumbled into engineering. In high school, I lacked confidence in my abilities in classes like physics and math, and my physics teacher definitely deserves credit for giving me the push I needed and jump starting my interest in sciences and engineering.
I remember sitting in physics 11 at the end of the year looking at the application for the AP 12 physics class and thinking I probably wasn’t good enough to join. I asked my teacher what sort of average one would need to join and he point-blank replied that I should be in that class. That little push gave me confidence and challenged me, showing that I really did enjoy those sorts of classes.
Going into Grade 12, I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do at university. I knew I wanted something with some security and good job prospects, and I enjoyed the advanced sciences classes in school. I sat down with a university brochure and a pen and started by crossing out all the programs I knew I didn’t want to do. When I finished crossing things out, I was left with two options: engineering or sciences. I liked the idea of applying science to real world problems, as well as the emphasis that engineering has on helping society and the creative problem solving it involves, so engineering it was.
When I was in first year university, I thought I wanted to go into chemical engineering, however when I took the physics class focusing on electrical engineering, I found I really liked it and had a bit of a knack for it. What really cemented it for me was that I had an opportunity to work in Powertech’s High Current Lab as an intern after my first year. The opportunity to see the electrical testing up close and get to know the various components of the power grid really sold me on electrical engineering. That job was my first introduction into the industry and I loved it. My colleagues were incredibly patient, teaching me the basics of electrical engineering and all the equipment we were seeing, and I really enjoyed the hands-on aspect of the work. I did a few more internships along the way and those roles are what got me into the industry, but that first job at Powertech is what led me to want to join BC Hydro’s engineering-in-training program.
Megan: As a child, I loved taking things apart and putting them back together to see how they worked. My father was a mechanical engineer and encouraged my curiosity, teaching me how different systems and components worked together to make magic happen. As I grew older, I developed many interests – woodworking, fashion design, graphic arts, creative writing…but my parents convinced me that engineering would provide the most job security and would therefore be the best option. After all, I enjoyed and excelled in math and physics, so what could go wrong?
A lot, apparently. I got into UBC Engineering, but life events got in the way and I didn’t get into my first choice (mechanical engineering). For the first time in my life, I felt like a failure. I started electrical engineering with a lot of resentment while dealing with a myriad of health issues, and boy was that a rough time! It took a couple years to re-ignite the passion I once had, but I eventually graduated and made it to BC Hydro as an EIT. It was quite a rollercoaster to get here, but I’m happy now.
Emma: I chose engineering because I was drawn to its blend of logic, creativity and real-world impact. It’s a fascinating field that combines theory with practicality, giving me the opportunity to work on projects that can make a tangible difference in the world.
Growing up, I was a naturally curious kid. I had always been eager to learn how the world works. By high school, I found myself considering several career paths as I explored what to pursue at university. At the time, I had an amazing physics teacher who used to be an electrical engineer. I would often speak with her after class to hear about her experiences in engineering. Through those conversations, I developed an interest in studying engineering and gained a deeper appreciation for the important role engineers play in shaping our modern world. I will always be grateful for her guidance and credit her with motivating me to pursue engineering.
Katie and Megan at Puntledge Generating Station
A place of support and connection
Mazana Armstrong, acting director, Transmission Engineering, has been the mentor of a women’s group at BC Hydro for over two years with Emma as chair and co-founder and Katie and Megan recently joining as co-chairs. The group itself is one that fosters and encourages connections amongst women – many in the engineering field – by providing space to join together and learn from one another.
“The meet-ups gave me an opportunity to connect with other women at BC Hydro who have faced their own share of hardships in their journey to get here,” says Megan. “There’s mutual respect and understanding between everyone, and it’s a safe place to share stories and experiences.”
The group meets on a monthly basis for discussions in a supportive atmosphere where members can ask questions and gain valuable guidance.
“I work in a field role, which has a statistically pretty low ratio of women to men,” says Katie. “This has always meant that it can be hard to find a mentor whom you relate to and understands the unique challenges of being a woman in this sort of role. In university and beyond, I saw and experienced some level of sexism as a woman in a historically male-dominated industry. While a lot of work has been done to progress towards equality, I believe there's always more work to be done. To me, this group is part of that.”
The group hopes that by providing this space for women, it might make them more comfortable in the industry, as well as inspire a future generation.
“I hope more women join us in the future to share experiences, support one another, and help shape a welcoming and empowering community within BC Hydro,” says Emma.
