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Everyone’s journey into their careers are different. 

We spoke to Process Engineer, Heather Williams, and learnt how she overcame some challenges to get to where she is today; as a successful Engineer for WSP. 

Here’s what she had to say… 

Why did you choose a career path in STEM?

I choose a career path in STEM because I liked solving problems, building things, and ultimately I was good at it.  

When it came to degree I asked the question what could I do with the qualifications I had. With a bit of research and a couple of visits to departments I was sold on Chemical Engineer. 

Have there been any challenges? If so what?

My biggest challenge was overcoming the stigma of being dyslexic.

My school years were hampered with people telling me, ‘it was going to be tough for someone like me to go into STEM’ and maybe I should ‘consider something else.’

But I didn’t want to do anything else, and eventually I stopped listening to those people.

I’m not limited because the spelling of some words isn’t instinctive, I simply think differently.

STEM needs people to think differently. You cannot solve a problem if everyone in the room thinks the same.

Everyone has weaknesses, being dyslexic is not mine.

What piece of advice would you give to young women who are thinking of going into a career like yours?

Say Yes! Don’t doubt yourself, don’t put yourself down, take every opportunity and make the best you can out of it. 

 I’ve have built my career on saying yes to opportunities and then working out how to do it.

• Saying yes to a place on a Chemical Engineering Degree at the University of the West of Scotland (through clearing) despite not knowing where it was, lead to me achieving a First Class Honours degree and made lifelong friends in a City and Country I will always love.
• Saying yes to a summer placement at WSP meant I had to take a suitcase to my final undergraduate exam, and lead to sponsorship through a Masters and permanent job with a great team of people. 
• Saying yes to attending an IChemE event in London lead to me forming the National Young Members Committee and being asked to sit on the IChemE UK Board.

 Saying Yes to something can be scaring, but it forces you to challenge yourself

What does being a woman in stem mean to you?

Being a woman in STEM means for me is no different to being a man in STEM.

I strongly believe that we need to stop thinking that being a woman is something special or different.

You follow your path, you make decisions based on what you want to do and you do it. 

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The only way is up from here, with over 50,000 women in engineering professional roles, almost double the number 10 years ago, is a real positive sign that more inspirational women like Heather, are making all the difference.  

An inspiring story, we hope young females can share Heather’s strength and determination to pave the way into their STEM job. 

Read more about Heather’s journey as a 2020 NEPIC Young Achiever Winner, here. 

WISE.

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