Why are YOU an engineer?

I get asked this question quite often at networking and social events especially by my counterparts. I’ve noticed that no one seems to ask my male colleagues the same question. I can understand why they ask me the this question in particular; I’m young, energetic, feminine, and seem to be pretty extroverted for an engineer and in particular a female engineer. But, the real question they are asking is why are you working for a start-up as an engineer? Most start-ups in the initial stages are composed of young male engineers perhaps in their 20s or early 30s, who are willing to devote countless hours to coding, and give up nights and weekends with loved ones or other personal interests in order to build the product. There are also many women in start-ups who are just as committed to the team and engendering the product, but their jobs are usually more customer facing. So why am I willing to give up my youth and vitality to set in front of a machine for 8+ hours a day, and engage myself in a pretty cerebral career, which involves many long hours of thinking and little to no human contact?

For the following reasons. First and foremost, I enjoy improving the quality of human life. The corollary to doing this is through the process of thinking creatively and solving problems that affect men everyday. Finally, working at a start-up gives me the freedom to design and create an entity that will improve man’s life. These reasons answer why I’m an engineer at a start-up, but not why I’m a charismatic female engineer at a start-up?

Being an intellectual and dynamic are not mutually exclusive traits; think of all the successful entrepreneurs who are both innovative, and have magnetic personalities that draw us into using the products they have created. Furthermore, when someone is passionate about her work or hobby she overlooks the amount of time and energy spent while doing it, the risks involved in pursuing it, and being lonely because she’s engrossed in it. Her enthusiasm for it is conveyed by her excitement when talking about it with friends, loved ones, and acquaintances, because its what gives meaning and purpose to her existence. This is may not be as self-evident in the field of engineering compared to sports, where athletes show great will power and dedication to the achieving their end of goals of improving their skills and winning. But I think these are all traits that are independent of one’s gender and vocation, and are derived from just being a person who has found something they love to do.

Still think I am an anomaly? Perhaps I am just another bubbly broad who enjoys coding 🙂

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