Day in the life: an engineer
Ghada Elsheikh is a senior electrical engineer.
She talks to the Lowdown about making herself heard in a male-dominated industry and the importance of diversity in engineering.
About me…
After finishing my undergraduate degree in Kuwait, I moved to Nottingham in the UK, to get a Master’s degree in electrical engineering. I then moved to London to start my professional career. I am an electrical engineering consultant working in the building services sector with experience in data centres, commercial, fit-out and residential projects and hands on experience in data centre operations.
I wanted to go into this career because …
Many reasons. Of course, I have always enjoyed problem solving and challenges that stimulate my brain and keep me on my toes, but also to change the status quo. Engineering is considered a male dominated industry. Not a lot of girls applied to study electrical power systems at university, so naturally, I did! I am proud to be the first engineer in a family of medical practitioners.
A typical day for me …
No day is the same. I usually start by checking my emails and catching up with the team. Some days can be full of back-to-back meetings, others can be focused on calculations or report writing. In my current role, I am heavily involved in designing electrical distribution systems within Data centres. This role involves liaising with the clients, vendors and contractors. Towards the end of a project, I do regular site visits to witness testing and commissioning to ensure smooth project handovers
The most challenging thing about my career is …
Time management can be challenging when you have multiple projects running simultaneously. In addition, electrical engineering covers and wide range of topics, from electrical distribution to lightning protection, lighting, fire detection and much more! Keeping up to date with developments in all of those fields is a challenge.
Diversity in engineering is important because …
We deal with international clients and a diverse team bring a variety of skills that enable us to better understand the requirements and deliver work of high quality and standards. Diversity within the team also brings different perspectives and this is a huge help for developing innovative solutions as a team.
Perceptions of engineering are changing …
There is a huge push nowadays for more graduates, regardless of age or gender, in engineering. Companies and individuals are becoming more engaged in STEM activities and in promoting the important role that engineering and technology play in our everyday lives.
The biggest challenges I’ve faced in my career …
Making sure I am heard. So often I find myself in meetings with more senior male counterparts. I must make sure that I am technically competent to prove myself and be trusted.
The best career advice I’ve received was….
“Know your worth, you are better than you think you are”.
The advice I’d give to women going into engineering is …
Be confident, ambitious and aim high. Don’t let unpleasant comments get to you.
Don’t compromise on the quality of your work and it will be noticed.
Give back to the community. Becoming a STEM ambassador or volunteering with an institution is an easy and fun way to give back and encourage more students to pursuit a career in engineering.
The three qualities I think you need for this career are …
A passion for knowledge. We come across many challenges that require in-depth research to solve a specific problem. One never stops learning in this industry
Good communication skills. You need to be a confident speaker and comfortable presenting in any environment.
Great attention to detail. We cannot afford to make mistakes in our industry.
The best thing about my job …
Witnessing a building being handed over. Nothing beats walking next to a building years later and saying, “I designed this”.
What I do to switch off …
Outside work I am an adrenaline junkie, a passionate scuba diver and a rookie traveller.
