Have you ever wondered what an engineer’s day-to-day work life looks like? According to three leading engineers at Sonoco—who just happen to be female—every day can be a little different.
In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day, these female leaders shared details about what inspired them to pursue engineering, why they’re passionate about their work, how engineering helps them make an impact and what advice they’d offer those interested in a future in engineering.
Marielle Berin, Technical & Development Engineer
1. What or who sparked your interest in engineering?
I’m more of an artistic person by nature, so in high school I wanted to sign up for a photography class. My network engineering dad didn’t agree and, without my knowledge, signed me up for an engineering design elective.
I quickly learned that engineering is basically a cross between art, mathematics and science. With my technical mindset and love for music and the visual arts, the engineering design process combined my abilities and passions and made me realize that engineering is what I wanted to do with my life.
2. What does working in STEM mean to you?
I feel very lucky to get paid to fulfill my dream and work with a team of diverse thinkers, who bring unique strengths and ways of thinking.
I especially appreciate the women on my team. They’re a big source of inspiration and bring different experiences that uniquely contribute to each project. As a recently added Sonoco Technical & Development (T&D) team member, I really value being able to easily ask questions and bounce ideas off people who are looking at things from different perspectives.
3. How have your engineering skills helped you make a difference?
When I went to college, I joined and eventually became the president of an after-school club that designed engineering projects for kindergarten through eighth grade students. My own experience of not knowing how my creative skills were useful for engineering inspired me to explain to others, especially young girls, how their skills and perspectives are valuable for the engineering field.
Today, I’m still figuring out how to make a difference as I conduct trials for specific products and processes. But as we say on the T&D team, ‘There’s no such thing as a failed trial.’ Every single trial I run and every piece of data I collect helps tell a story. Even if the results aren’t what I hoped for, I’m still learning things I can benefit from later. Numbers don’t determine success, but learning from every single trial does.
4. What advice would you offer to those interested in an engineering career?
I think falling into imposter syndrome is easy, especially for women in large companies. I’ve felt it before when working on teams where hearing other perspectives is unfamiliar or less encouraged.
Keep reminding yourself that you were hired because you brought something to the team that wasn’t there. That’s your strength, so don’t let others make you feel small for it.
Courtney Conti, Environmental Engineer
1. What or who sparked your interest in engineering?
I've always been interested in understanding how things work and solving problems. Those interests eventually led me to environmental science and environmental compliance, where I combined my technical problem-solving abilities with protecting the environment and helping facilities operate responsibly.
2. What does working in STEM mean to you?
For me, it means using data and critical thinking to solve real-world problems. Within environmental compliance, that practice often means finding solutions that protect both the environment and the business.
3. How have your engineering skills helped you make a difference?
My role enables me to help facilities understand and comply with environmental regulations, identify opportunities for improvement and reduce environmental risk. Even small improvements can have a meaningful impact when it comes to environmental compliance.
4. What advice would you offer to those interested in an engineering career?
Don't worry if your career path doesn't look exactly like you expected. Engineering and STEM careers are broader than many people realize. Stay curious, ask questions and be willing to learn from people with different backgrounds and experiences.
Heather Latham, Packaging Engineer
1. What or who sparked your interest in engineering?
I always did very well in math and science classes in school. As a high school junior, a chemistry teacher suggested I attend the South Carolina Physics Scholars Institute hosted by Francis Marion University. The week-long event exposed high school students to various physics workshops and activities. I fell in love with the fun, science-packed sessions, seeing all the cool equipment that could be built and interacted with. It made a lasting impression on me and later led me to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.
2. What does working in STEM mean to you?
I get to do work that I enjoy every day. I’m immensely satisfied and challenged. My natural problem-solving abilities and creativity help me produce meaningful ideas, results and deliverables. Being good at what I do confirms that this is where I belong and where my potential is fully realized.
3. How have your engineering skills helped you make a difference?
Engineering can be applied to almost every area of life. With a creative, intuitive and practical mindset, I've had the opportunity to contribute meaningful ideas and solutions, regularly provide a different viewpoint and communicate ideas to those without an engineering background. When identifying the root cause of a problem or developing a solution, my detail-oriented and perceptive instincts have helped teams and projects succeed.
4. What advice would you offer to those interested in an engineering career?
Engineering requires a special mindset. You will experience adversity, face challenges and fail, but the rewards and gratification far outweigh the obstacles.
Focus on finding an engineering discipline you are passionate about. This approach not only helps you be successful but also helps you stay satisfied in your career.
