Celebrating women working in STEM
From Mechanical Engineer at Bombardier to Section Chief with Airbus, Sabrina Gomez Vila has achieved great heights in the aviation industry
According to Shamila Nair-Bedouelle (external link) , UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, “...gender equality will be one of the building blocks of a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.” She added, “...we need to ensure women and girls study science and engineering in the same proportions as their male counterparts, [and], once women graduate and integrate into the workforce, it is free of stereotyping or discrimination.”
To celebrate and support women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), three FEAS alumnae share how they break barriers, inspire other women to join these fields and carry on the work of women who came before them.
Sabrina Gomez Vila is on a mission to support women and girls in STEM
As a FEAS student, Sabrina Gomez Vila, Aerospace Engineering '16, served as the Toronto Met Formula Racing (external link, opens in new window) design team manager for three years. When she first joined, she was one of the only women on the team, a circumstance she immediately knew had to change. Very quickly, the team started recruiting more women. “Seeing the low female representation on the team motivated me to volunteer with Women in Engineering (WIE) (opens in new window) , a student group dedicated to providing resources for women-identifying engineering students,” said Vila.
Supporting other women is part of Vila’s mission and why she continues working with WIE communities and serving as a mentor for Build a Dream (external link, opens in new window) , FemSTEAM (external link, opens in new window) and See it, Be it, STEM it (external link, opens in new window) . Additionally, she co-founded Ripple Studios (external link) to inspire students through fun and educational video games to consider a career in STEM.
From working as a Maintenance Engineer at Bombardier to her current position as Section Chief, A220 Fleet Performance with Airbus, Sabrina Gomez Vila has succeeded as an aerospace engineer in the aviation industry. “My engineering experiences at the university set me apart in my career and every project I have worked on.”
Tanzina Nowshin, a Mechanical Designer at Quasar Consulting Group, carries on the work of the women who broke barriers before her
Tanzina Nowshin, Mechanical Engineering '20, found the low female representation among her engineering classmates discouraging as an undergraduate. However, she created lasting bonds with female peers by representing FEAS in key roles at Engineers Without Borders (EWB) (opens in new window) , Ryerson International Hyperloop (external link, opens in new window) , the Ryerson Senate (opens in new window) , as a Campus Engagement Ambassador and engineering frosh leader for many years. “These student groups naturally attracted people who valued diversity and inclusivity and created safe spaces for women,” said Nowshin.
“Incorporating specific workshops and training sessions dedicated to gender and identity helped raise awareness of barriers that womxn in STEM may face and solutions to combat them.” As a Mechanical Designer with Quasar Consulting Group, Nowshin is grateful to work for a firm that values inclusivity and has initiatives to retain women engineers within the industry. “If diversity isn’t at the forefront of engineering, there will be a lack of representation in designs and solutions,” said Nowshin.
“We still have some way to go,” she added, “but as a woman of colour working in the industry, I am aware of the progress and opportunities that exist for me due to sacrifices and contributions made by powerful women who came before me.”
Seanna Thomas, an Intern Architect at 1080 Architecture, Planning + Interiors, uses her unique perspective to design with empathy and understanding
As an undergraduate student, Seanna Thomas, Architectural Science ‘13, volunteered in The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) Freedom by Design™ (external link, opens in new window) community service program. There, she designed barrier-free solutions for a residential unit. “As my first experience with accessible design, this was a lesson in valuing diversity and witnessing the real-world impacts of effective, client-centred design,” said Thomas.
This experience was pivotal to her career. “I discovered that my unique perspective as a female designer could shape my professional career into an architecture of empathy and understanding,” said Thomas. Currently working as an Intern Architect in inclusive, barrier-free and accessible design, Thomas is a certified professional with the Rick Hansen Foundation.
Thomas’s biggest career challenge has been navigating licensure and the promotional climb while caring for her newborn son. “I experienced many pauses in my path to licensure, causing my title to remain stagnant even though my work experience has progressed,” said Thomas. The result is often an appearance of being steps behind her male counterparts.
“It is important for women to recognize the reward in dedication, hard work and perseverance,” said Thomas. For her, the first step toward building a supportive network of female leaders is being vulnerable by sharing experiences and navigational strategies.