When did your love of STEM begin?

It took me a while to decide on what to study in university. At first I didn't feel like there was any specific program that was really calling my name, and I didn't really know what it meant to be an engineer. I did know that I wanted to study something that would give me the tools to solve important problems. After doing some research I settled on engineering, partially because I loved math and knew engineering involved math. Through the process I never saw myself as a traditional engineer working for a big firm, but rather as a problem solver that could apply my engineering skills to climate problems.

What did you love most about study in your field of STEM?

The opportunity to do things differently and focus on innovation. I love that STEM applies to every field and aspect of our world. To me, STEM fields are about taking a logical approach to understanding and improving our world. For example, I love being focused on technology solutions to climate change; for someone else, their STEM focus could be to better understand how human brains function. I love the diversity and that there is guaranteed to be something for everyone. And if you haven't found your thing yet, STEM fields give you the understanding to be creative and invent your own focus.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in STEM?

Don't limit yourself to "traditional" career paths. Use your creativity to build a career that you're passionate about and apply your skills in ways that feel right for you, even if it's surprising to others.