Name: Diana Imel
College Majors: Biomedical engineering & mechanical engineering Profession: Team manager at Collins Aerospace Advice: Manage your priorities, don't put too much pressure on yourself, take care of yourself, surround yourself with a strong support system, learn from your failures, figure out the best way you learn, and don't be afraid to ask for help. |
Diana Imel's Story
Diana Imel works at Collins Aerospace. At the start of her career, much of her work involved the mechanical design of heat exchangers in aircraft air conditioning systems. Her day to day life involved modeling designs, manufacturing designs, troubleshooting with technicians, developing test procedures, performing tests, collecting data, improving the product, and more. She is proud of the patent and trade secrets she has developed. She enjoys being able to work on a product from start to finish.
Ms. Imel currently works for the same company, but now manages a team that provides technical support for customers within business units. She makes sure that everyone has the resources they need to do technical work, makes sure things run smoothly, and provides support for aerospace customers on behalf of the company’s business units. She enjoys working for a large company because there are so many different job opportunities to pursue. One very important thing that has stayed consistent in her career is teamwork. One needs to be able to bring their strengths to the table and collaborate with others.
In high school, Ms. Imel always enjoyed math and science and knew she wanted to pursue a STEM-related career. Her parents were very supportive of this decision and her mom encouraged her to do well in school. Ms. Imel’s dad is a civil engineer and so she had exposure to what an engineering career entailed. In her first year of college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she shifted her focus from civil engineering to biomedical engineering. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and then earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Ms. Imel notes that the academic learning environment in college is a big shift from what it’s like in high school. At the start of college, she preferred to study alone and wasn’t always comfortable asking for help. When she would ask for help, she wasn’t always taken seriously by the male teaching assistants. She found that joining study groups and building a supportive network helped her with her studies. She stresses the importance of not being afraid to ask questions and developing self-confidence. These skills will also be necessary in the workplace. In order to build the career you desire, you need to be able to self advocate.
Some suggestions Ms. Imel has to improve the representation of women in engineering is to encourage young girls to take math and science classes. The mindset that these classes are beyond difficult can be changed by making the classes fun and interesting. Creating a support system of peers and at home is also invaluable in building a student’s confidence. Furthermore, providing STEM-related clubs and activities in school will give students more opportunities to explore what they’re interested in.
Especially within the last decade, Ms. Imel has noticed a significant shift in improving the gender disparity in engineering. She believes that as the engineering field becomes more diverse, especially within leadership positions, unconscious bias will start to lessen. As more young people enter the engineering workforce with an awareness for gender, racial, and cultural equality, cultural changes will start to take place.
Advice Ms. Imel has for aspiring women engineers is to not put so much pressure on yourself. Don’t burden yourself with trying to be perfect or putting a long list of things on your to-do list. It’s crucial to manage your priorities and take care of yourself mentally. Surround yourself with a strong support system of friends and family. Figure out the best way that you learn and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remember that it’s okay if something doesn’t work the first time. Look at your failures as a learning opportunity. If you’re passionate about engineering, don’t be afraid to put in the hard work because it will help you become a stronger engineer.
Ms. Imel currently works for the same company, but now manages a team that provides technical support for customers within business units. She makes sure that everyone has the resources they need to do technical work, makes sure things run smoothly, and provides support for aerospace customers on behalf of the company’s business units. She enjoys working for a large company because there are so many different job opportunities to pursue. One very important thing that has stayed consistent in her career is teamwork. One needs to be able to bring their strengths to the table and collaborate with others.
In high school, Ms. Imel always enjoyed math and science and knew she wanted to pursue a STEM-related career. Her parents were very supportive of this decision and her mom encouraged her to do well in school. Ms. Imel’s dad is a civil engineer and so she had exposure to what an engineering career entailed. In her first year of college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she shifted her focus from civil engineering to biomedical engineering. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and then earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Ms. Imel notes that the academic learning environment in college is a big shift from what it’s like in high school. At the start of college, she preferred to study alone and wasn’t always comfortable asking for help. When she would ask for help, she wasn’t always taken seriously by the male teaching assistants. She found that joining study groups and building a supportive network helped her with her studies. She stresses the importance of not being afraid to ask questions and developing self-confidence. These skills will also be necessary in the workplace. In order to build the career you desire, you need to be able to self advocate.
Some suggestions Ms. Imel has to improve the representation of women in engineering is to encourage young girls to take math and science classes. The mindset that these classes are beyond difficult can be changed by making the classes fun and interesting. Creating a support system of peers and at home is also invaluable in building a student’s confidence. Furthermore, providing STEM-related clubs and activities in school will give students more opportunities to explore what they’re interested in.
Especially within the last decade, Ms. Imel has noticed a significant shift in improving the gender disparity in engineering. She believes that as the engineering field becomes more diverse, especially within leadership positions, unconscious bias will start to lessen. As more young people enter the engineering workforce with an awareness for gender, racial, and cultural equality, cultural changes will start to take place.
Advice Ms. Imel has for aspiring women engineers is to not put so much pressure on yourself. Don’t burden yourself with trying to be perfect or putting a long list of things on your to-do list. It’s crucial to manage your priorities and take care of yourself mentally. Surround yourself with a strong support system of friends and family. Figure out the best way that you learn and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remember that it’s okay if something doesn’t work the first time. Look at your failures as a learning opportunity. If you’re passionate about engineering, don’t be afraid to put in the hard work because it will help you become a stronger engineer.