#LatinaGeeks partnered with Autodesk on August 2nd for an insightful and inspiring panel “Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women in Engineering.”
Our Empowering Women in Engineering Panel featured Maria Lamas from Autodesk as moderator and 4 incredibly inspiring women who shared their career journeys and experiences with the community!
Here are some of the highlights from our lovely panel Q&A:
Joselyn Molina
“I always felt that I didn’t belong with my peers and didn’t fit the mold. I just literally blazed my own trail and in doing that I stumbled, but I learned and I wish that I can share my learned experiences with the next generation…Remember and honor your roots. Your integrity and authenticity will allow you to stretch beyond that invisible line that you have drawn for yourself. You are where you are because you deserve it and because you have earned it.
Diana Iracheta
On creating her own community of Latina Engineers: “Maybe at work I was the only Latina, but then I had a group that I could go back to after work…You might still be very few numbers, but there are people out there like you and you might be struggling but you will be able to find someone that you can relate to.”
Joanna Cook
On the importance of mentorship, “There was a mentor involved in every one of those [key turning career points], from having someone help me change the career to having someone help me understand and see that I’m in the wrong place…I really think there is nothing more important than having those mentors inside and outside the company…nothing like having your own little team behind you.”
Martha Ball
“Keep pushing forward. Sometimes we will fall on our face. Sometimes we will face many challenges. Sometimes we will feel discouraged to be in this field…just remember and repeat to yourself why you started this journey, what are the goals and dreams you are trying to achieve and keep pushing forward. It is not the fall but how you recover from the fall. And always celebrate the successes.”
Special thanks to our moderator and panelists and for the excellent partnership and support from Autodesk!
Be sure to follow Autodesk on their social media accounts:
