On the occasion of Women in Engineering Day, we had the pleasure of interviewing our star safety officer, Satabdi. She is a safety officer and currently works in our contract packaging division representing MVS ACMEI at customer sites. Here’s an exciting interview that tells us about the journey of a woman engineer in today’s world who is inspired to motivate women in her field.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to MVS ACMEI Technologies Pvt Ltd and my mentor and supervisors. I am deeply thankful for the opportunity they provided, their considerate support and guidance, and the confidence they placed in me, allowing me to grow and contribute meaningfully.”
Satabdi,
Safety Officer, MVS ACMEI.
Interview
What is it like being the only woman engineer on the team? What drove you to choose this career?
Answer: Growing up in a household with parents who had shared goals and worked tirelessly to achieve them, I was encouraged from a young age to think big, be resilient, pursue my dreams, and never give up, “even as a woman.” Their unwavering support was the strongest reason I became the first woman in my family to study Mechanical Engineering, a field traditionally dominated by men.
What inspired and motivated you during your course and career at MVS ACMEI?
Answer: Initially, I felt a bit lost, but gradually I realized that being an engineer is about much more than math. It’s about being humble, innovative, creative, and most of all about having leadership qualities, that is what takes you ahead. It involves communicating effectively with people from various backgrounds and fields and working together as a team. I enjoy the part where I get to integrate experts from different fields into a single project and take responsibility for safety performance. Joining MVS ACMEI has made me realize, there are countless career possibilities for a female engineer who dares to think outside the box.
Can you share some challenges or milestones in your career that changed your perspective?
Answer: Joining MVS ACMEI was the first milestone in my career, it is the first company in the steel-making industry where I faced the challenge of working in operations, maintenance, and dispatch -all together as a safety engineer. I received technical training from my mentor, boss, and seniors, which helped me improve myself and my team technically.
Do you have any advice for aspiring women? Are women still often told this isn't their field?
Answer: Absolutely! As the only woman on the shop floor, I want to advise women that breaking barriers in the mechanical industry has been a long and challenging journey, but it is gaining momentum. Historically, this industry has been male-dominated, with women facing numerous obstacles. However, times are changing, and women are breaking barriers, shattering stereotypes, and making significant strides in various roles. Today, women hold meaningful positions such as engineers, sales representatives, managers, and equipment operators in the mechanical industries. These women are proving to be skilled and capable, bringing fresh perspectives and diverse ideas to the table, and inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in the industry and strive for success.
What is the future of women in engineering?
Answer: Women’s contributions to engineering extend beyond technical expertise; they inspire and empower the next generation of female engineers. Through mentorship programs, outreach initiatives, and community engagement efforts, women engineers are nurturing the talents of young women and girls interested in STEM fields. Recognizing these efforts is crucial for promoting and inspiring more women to enter engineering. Women in Engineering Day is a powerful platform that acknowledges and celebrates these achievements inspiring future generations to pursue engineering careers.
Thank You, Satabdi, you are inspiring! Here’s a fun question for you- tell us about your favorite project.
Answer: I enjoy doing my work every day, so all of it is fun for me. But my favorite part is my recent achievements- I achieved a continuous four-star rating in the CSM Audit with the highest marks, placing first in JCAPCPL for the year 2023-24. I received the best safety performance reward recognition at JCAPCPL within TATA STEEL premises, elevating MVS ACMEI to the top position and highest ranking among all vendor partners at the JCAPCPL site.
This interview with our woman engineer has been nothing short of thrilling! We feel incredibly proud and inspired by her spirit and look up to her work ethic each day!
Satabdi and all the women like her at MVS ACMEI are strong, smart, and unstoppable! Here’s to honoring women in engineering!