June 23rd is International Women in Engineering Day (IWED), a day when we celebrate female engineers, champion diversity in the field and encourage more women of all ages to take up careers in engineering. The theme of this year’s IWED is inventors and innovators – something our team has an abundance of.
Here at Acro, we are lucky to have some amazing female engineers on our team. Today we talk to Madalina Dobre and Kabita Gurung who give us some insight into their roles within Acro.
Madalina, can you please introduce yourself.
My name is Madalina Dobre, I am 28 years old, and I live in Rugby.
What is your role at Acro?
I work as a design engineer in the electrical team.
As my job titles suggests, on a daily basis I design components for our aircraft seats that are compliant with the relevant requirements.
Who influenced you growing up and how did you become interested in engineering?
Growing up I was mainly influenced by my parents. My family have a technical orientated background and so throughout my childhood I was immersed in the technical side of things and more inclined to learn about and decipher technical things more than anything else.
What do you enjoy about engineering in Acro?
What I really love about working at Acro is the constant chance to improve, to be a better version of yourself day after day. In essence, Acro for me is what I hoped and expected from an engineering job, with an environment which stimulates growing and learning.
Since you joined Acro, what are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my first customer project being delivered successfully.
Does Acro help you develop your engineering skills and expertise?
I consider Acro my second family and so like any family it supports and encourages me to develop and grow. I am lucky because at Acro I have the right support to succeed and achieve my long-term career goals.
What advice would you give to other women who are thinking about a career in engineering?
My advice for any women or young girls who are thinking about a career in engineering is to believe in their capabilities, be committed and constantly drive for more. They should take on the most challenging technical role they can, explore and never stop learning.
What tips do you have for women working in male dominated environments?
This is the time for us, as women, to balance the engineering environment. It is a time for us to show our remarkable qualities and characteristics, and working together with our male colleagues, we will certainly produce greater outcomes.
A few beneficial tips for women to keep in mind would be, regardless of the domain you are planning to work, be brave and keen to explore. Plus, work hard and learn every day.
Outside Acro, what are your hobbies?
I am passionate about brain science; I love long walks and anything to do with wellbeing activities. I also love to spend quality time with my loved ones.
Kabita, can you please introduce yourself.
My name is Kabita Gurung, I am 28 and I live in Rugby.
Tell us about your job and working in Acro?
I am a certification engineer here at Acro, which means that I work to certify new products and obtain Technical Standard Orders (TSO) letters. I also do documentation reviews, solving any certification issues with customer deliverables or in service.
Who influenced you growing up and how did you become interested in Engineering?
Rather than a person it was school subjects that piqued my interest – my love for physics and maths drove me to pursue an engineering career. Honestly, I was in dilemma about my career choice while at school, but while sitting my GCSE and A level exams my interest in physics and maths increased and I found myself enjoying these more than any other subjects. So, I decided to pursue career in engineering.
What do you enjoy about engineering in Acro?
It is very challenging environment to be in and there is so much to learn and opportunities to grow. The most enjoyable aspect is the collaborative effort from everyone and the support we all provide for each other.
Since you joined Acro, what are you most proud of?
I am most proud to be part of the amazing team and be the integral member of that team delivering our great products to our customers.
Does Acro help you develop in Engineering?
Since joining ACRO on a graduate scheme as graduate certification engineer to being a full certification engineer, I have not only learned and grew in terms of professional skills, but also the soft skills. I still find myself learning every day and ACRO guides and supports me through that.
What advice would you give to other women and young girls who are thinking about a career in engineering?
My advice is to always “believe in yourself”. As cringe as it may sound, there is nothing you cannot do if you believe in yourself.
It may be daunting to think you are minority working in male dominated environment, but do not let that stop you. Your strong ambition and thirst to take on challenges will help you to grow and be successful.
What tips do you have for working in male dominated environments?
Do not be afraid to voice your opinions. Always look for opportunities to share and learn from each other. Make yourself present and be heard at every opportunity, regardless of who and where you are.
Outside Acro what are your hobbies?
I am homebody so I love spending quality time in the comfort of my home with my family. I also watch movies or foreign language shows (Korean, Japanese etc.) which I enjoy as it not only entertains me, but it also helps me to learn the language and culture.
Thanks to Madalina and Kabita for these valuable insights into their careers and love of engineering.
Here at Acro, we are committed to supporting our team and providing the right support to help women in engineering realise their potential.
If you are starting your career in engineering, or looking to take a new step forward, visit our careers page for our latest opportunities.
