30572_Kao Data Critical Careers_Pages - Flipbook - Page 83
Are opportunities for success different for women
in your 昀椀eld?
What advice would you give to young female
engineers about the industry?
wouldn’t say the opportunities for success are inherently different. Sure,
there might be some unconscious bias in the engineering world, but I’ve
also been fortunate to have direct line managers who provide me with the
same opportunities as anyone else on the team. I’ve learned the importance of
stepping up in a proactive manner.
would de昀椀nitely advise my younger self and any young women entering the 昀椀eld
to get involved in the data centre industry as early as possible. It might seem like
a narrow 昀椀eld from the outside, but it’s actually a vast playground for growth, skill
development, and even leadership roles. Initially, when considering engineering careers,
sectors like aerospace, automobile, and oil and gas come to mind because they’re the
well-known engineering 昀椀elds with lots of expertise. Data centres should be added to
that list.
I
From my days as a lecturer to my research associate roles and in the industry, I
remind myself to approach my managers and proactively seek opportunities. It’s
crucial because not everyone naturally recognises their biases. They might think
they’re offering the best opportunities equally, yet some imbalances can still exist.
So, I try to demonstrate my abilities and capabilities by ensuring any task I am
assigned is delivered as accurately as possible while still proactively asking for
opportunities to take on new challenges.
This approach has served me well over the years, along with being dynamic and
quick to learn, even when tasks are daunting and push me out of my comfort
zone. It’s through these actions that I’ve managed to carve out my path and push
for growth in a 昀椀eld where I might not otherwise stand out as different.
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I
Many don’t realise the breadth of opportunities within data centres until they’re
actually involved in the industry. It’s not just IT and electronics engineering based
roles; it encompasses a wide range of engineering disciplines, including thermo昀氀uid
engineering, product design, manufacturing, chemicals and materials sciences.
For young women, understanding that this 昀椀eld can offer a ful昀椀lling career path with
substantial personal development and career advancement is crucial. It’s also important
to grasp all aspects of their education—like how integral thermodynamics, heat transfer
and 昀氀uid mechanics can be, even if you’re primarily interested in product design. This
knowledge often comes on the job, but being aware of it early can give you a signi昀椀cant
advantage. Essentially, keep an open mind to all sectors, including data centres, and be
proactive in seeking opportunities to learn and grow within this diverse industry.
