Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day
Interview with Elixabete Egaña
In a company like ours, engineering roles play a vital part. This applies to product engineering, development and design; process and production engineering; quality control; logistics; and management and sales roles, amongst others. Statistics show that an increasing number of women are pursuing careers and taking up roles in engineering.
Every year we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day by highlighting the female engineers in our company. To date, many women have shared what inspired them to become engineers.
Joining us this year is Elixabete Egaña, a Development Engineer in the Locks Engineering department.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
I wasn’t always sure I wanted to study engineering; I was curious about various fields. Although I’ve always enjoyed design, understanding how things work, and technical drawing was one of my favourite subjects. My sister, who studied engineering, was also a huge influence on me. In my case, I chose to study Industrial Design and Product Development Engineering, a degree that combines functionality with creativity.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
It’s inspiring to see how a new concept or product improvement gradually takes shape, and to be part of that process. Throughout the various stages of a project, I particularly enjoy prototyping and testing, and it’s very rewarding when the results are successful. I also learn a great deal from my colleagues; everyone has a different way of thinking.
What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a career in engineering?
I believe the most important thing is to focus on the path you have chosen for your own reasons, without letting yourself be swayed by stereotypes. The career can be demanding at times, but the rewards are well worth it. More and more women are taking on key roles in engineering, and it is the responsibility of future generations to maintain and build on that progress.
Elixabete Egaña’s story highlights the value that female engineers bring to our company: passion, creativity, commitment and technical insight. Her story, like that of many others, reminds us that engineering has no gender, but it does have a purpose: to turn ideas into solutions that improve people’s lives.