by Giulliana Micheletto
Ahmed’s fascination with sustainability, coupled with her aptitude for math and science, led her to Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo post high school. As the first in her family to pursue a post-secondary education, she navigated the challenges of university life with full support from her peers and family.
“Through the whole transition from high school to university my parents were just super supportful in terms of just having someone to talk to; (…) They just wanted me to pursue a high demand career,” she recalls.
And so, she did. With environmental engineering jobs projected to grow 7% from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S Bureau of statistics, Ahmed entered a high demand field. With a field marked by high expectations, especially for women, who, according to Data USA, are outnumbered by men three to one.
Having lived that reality first at university, Ahmed shares what got her through it, I think having my female friends in my undergrad made it much easier for me to work in such a male dominated field; It made me aware of what I bring to the table (…) But I noticed the difference much more in my co-op placements.”
Ahmed recalls having most of her managers and people in higher positions as well as most of her colleagues in those companies, being men.
“You always feel like you have to stand out a bit more just so you can feel noticed.”
When talking about that topic, she shares that she has “high hopes for the future of females in engineering” as she has started to see more women being introduced into this field.
Last year, Ahmed made the decision to pivot her career, returning to university to pursue a master’s in building science at Toronto Metropolitan University, after working for two years at a consulting firm as an energy analyst.
“18 is such an early age to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life,” Ahmed reflects. “I have realized that instead of doing modelling on screen I would rather go on site and analyze exactly what is happening to the buildings and how construction works.”
Looking back, Ahmed, now 25, wishes she could offer her 18-year-old self a message of strength and perseverance.
“I wish I could tell her that her 25-year-old self will look back and be so glad she stuck with it. It will get tough, but you will get there, and you will have a good work-life balance and make your parents proud.”