By Andrea Parra
The gender distribution in the North American automotive industry has historically been biased with women being significantly underrepresented. Women comprise only a quarter of the automotive manufacturing workforce. Despite some progress, they still face challenges in entering and advancing in the industry.
Women, however, are increasingly making their mark in this traditionally male-dominated sector, particularly in STEM roles. The University of Waterloo & Lambton College Battery Workforce Challenge team strives to create a team culture that values diversity and fosters a supportive environment for all genders.
Let’s hear from three remarkable women at different stages of their careers that are making substantial contributions to the University of Waterloo & Lambton College BattChallenge team and the automotive industry, setting examples for the upcoming generation of female talent.
Meet Justine Engelke, intern
Justine Engelke is a second year nanotechnology engineering student at the University of Waterloo. She is completing her internship with the Waterloo & Lambton BattChallenge team.
A fun fact about her is that she majored in drama in high school. Growing up in Waterloo, Canada, she was able to tour the University of Waterloo at a young age, which exposed her to the opportunities STEM can provide.
Her interest in studying nanotechnology dates back to ninth grade after attending Take Your Kid to Work Day with her dad. On that day, Engelke discovered that nanotechnology was an emerging field, sparking her enthusiasm to apply her degree towards projects that nobody else has worked on yet.
Engelke built her academic path in STEM from a completely different background. She went to an arts high school majoring in productions technology and drama, which involved graphic design and 3D and stop-motion animation. She also took lots of STEM courses in high school as an alternative interest for post-secondary studies.
Engelke’s passion for STEM was fueled by her strong aptitude and genuine enjoyment of mathematics. Despite her focus on STEM, Engelke maintains her passion for drama and the arts, participating in extracurricular activities such as cheerleading and ballet.
Engelke believes it’s vital for women to inspire the next generation of engineers by joining the workforce and demonstrating that they can achieve remarkable things in life. Regardless of whether young girls pursue STEM careers, showcasing women’s significant roles can empower them to excel in any chosen field.
For Engelke, STEM is all about innovation and regardless of gender identity, we can all work together to solve problems and create better technologies for the future.
Engelke’s involvement with the Waterloo & Lambton BattChallenge team has been a great learning experience so far despite this being her first time working in a professional battery lab-testing environment. She has acquired hands-on skills, analytical abilities and knowledge in battery software, providing valuable, practical applications of her education.
“My advice for the women in this challenge is to keep trying when you encounter problems,” Engelke said. “Whenever I hit a roadblock attempting a task, I am determined to keep trying until I can complete it successfully.”
“Some of the best advice I have received in engineering is that the best engineers are not necessarily the smartest, but the most stubborn!” Engelke added.
Meet Grace Parra, project manager
Grace Parra is the project manager for the Waterloo & Lambton BattChallenge team and a University of Waterloo master’s student studying chemical engineering.
A curious fact about Parra is that she was born in the middle of the world – in Ecuador. Her interests involve connecting with different cultures and learning various languages. Parra has already mastered the art of communication in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. She’s a polyglot in the making!
Fueled by her endless curiosity, Parra found engineering to be the perfect path for her career. Here she gets the chance to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life situations and despite the challenges of studying and working in engineering, the opportunity to solve everyday problems makes it all worthwhile for her.
Through her academic and professional journey, Parra has gained valuable insights into engineering, research and education. She earned her bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the Escuela Politécnica Nacional University, renowned engineering university in Quito, Ecuador.
Here, Parra actively participated in an undergraduate research project to find innovative uses for native Ecuadorian crops. Her contribution involved the development of a textile coating using modified achira starch.
Embarking on her professional path, teaching in academia became a fundamental part of her career. Starting as a teaching assistant, Parra developed laboratory expertise by supervising the Textile Technology laboratories. Transitioning to a laboratory technician, Parra found joy in explaining practical heat transfer classes. She truly believes in making a difference through education.
For Parra, embracing workforce diversity unlocks higher aspirations, with each individual contributing unique skills to strengthen the team. In particular, the industry stands to gain valuable insights and fresh ideas from the inclusion of women.
“Nobody knows where the next revolutionary idea will come from,” Parra said.
She has delved into the battery field by getting involved as a project manager for the Waterloo & Lambton BattChallenge team. This has been a great opportunity for her professional growth, providing Parra hands-on experience in the automotive industry.
And in return, Parra would like to motivate women to “dare to do something unconventional.”
“They’d be amazed at how far they can get!” Parra added.
Meet Candyce Allen, Stellantis mentor
Candyce Allen is Stellantis’ Sub-Discipline Engineering manager. She leads a team of engineers and engineering development leads who are responsible for the design, development and execution of underbody battery tray structures.
Throughout her career, Allen has worked on intriguing and innovative projects including early heated and cooled seats, military high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, or humvees, the first true torque-vectoring road departure mitigation sysem, evaporative light-scattering detectors for performance vehicles and the exterior bodies for some of Stellantis’ iconic vehicles.
She loves learning, welcomes challenges in her professional and personal life, and enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with loved ones, and spoiling the world’s greatest dog.
Allen’s career in STEM was propelled by the trust her high school counselor placed in her talent. She had always excelled in math and had a good understanding of the sciences.
“I’d initially planned on going into a financial career,” Allen said. “Since I didn’t see any women in engineering growing up, I never thought it was an option.”
But Allen’s high school counselor nominated her to attend a summer program for academically interested minorities at Kettering University, formally known as the General Motors Institute of Technology. This experience was her first introduction to engineering, and it came with its challenges.
Kettering University was one of the top engineering schools in the U.S. and Allen found herself in uncharted territory where information did not unfold easily. But from that, she learned how to study effectively and gained insights into how she processes information – two skills that continue to prove useful to this day.
Fearlessly raising her voice to seek help, Allen not only navigated her own challenges but also provided support to others in areas where she excelled. This incredible and humbling journey persisted until she proudly attained her bachelor’s in mechanical engineering with a concentration in automotive powertrain.
A few years later, Allen obtained her master’s in engineering management, which prepared her to lead engineering teams and grasp the various considerations involved in making informed business decisions.
Overall, navigating her professional path has come with its own challenges, but it has also been extremely rewarding.
“Being the only woman, the only person of color, or both, constantly was initially a bit intimidating,” Allen said. “It can still be a bit intimidating, but it is a motivation for me to make sure I create a path, so it is easier for other women to follow in my footsteps and eventually surpass me.”
Allen relies on a network of mentors for support and guidance while also mentoring others to pay it forward. Confident in her capabilities and deserving of her place, Allen remains unafraid to ask questions or seek assistance when needed. This blend of confidence and humility has proven instrumental in fostering successful collaborations with diverse individuals.
Allen emphasizes the need to be genuine about gender representation and believes that nobody should feel like a mere checkbox on a team, but rather a valued member, free from the need to prove themselves excessively.
Along with being genuine, gender representation also needs to be intentional until it becomes the norm. Being realistic about challenges, openly addressing personal biases, and recognizing that diverse life experiences do not diminish one’s qualifications and deserving opportunities are part of leveling the playing field for everyone.
Allen is relatively new to the battery field, but she asserts that the biggest enabler of growth is being open to learning and thinking flexibly. She advises using your voice without fear, sharing thoughts, opinions, ideas and asking questions as you may offer new perspectives or ask questions others hesitate to ask. Finally, she encourages embracing new challenges as growth often occurs outside one’s comfort zone.
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Resilience, innovation and progress
In conclusion, the journey of women in STEM reflects resilience, innovation and progress. As we celebrate the progress made in gender representation, it is crucial to recognize the ongoing challenges and the need for sustained efforts in fostering inclusivity.
Let us continue breaking barriers, supporting one another and inspiring the next generation of women in male-dominated industries.
The Waterloo & Lambton BattChallenge team appreciates and applauds the efforts of all women working alongside us. Your contribution matters! Share stories, mentor and champion diversity. Together, let us amplify women’s voices in STEM for a more equitable and innovative future.
