President of Women in Engineering offers advice to incoming students

"Say yes to the opportunities that come your way – no matter how random they may seem at first."

athina smiling

Athina Law

What attracted you to the field of engineering?

When I was exploring career paths where I could use my strengths in math and science, engineering stood out for offering the largest breadth opportunities.

I also believed that an engineering degree would equip me with specialized skills that would be harder to acquire later on. 

For example, I could imagine getting an engineering degree and eventually working in a field not related to engineering, like business – whereas trying to do the reverse would be much harder. I had also studied robotics, programming and engineering in high school and enjoyed hands-on design projects and working through the design cycle to test ideas and add in new features.

 

Why did you choose electrical engineering?

I started out in the pre-biomedical engineering first year option. However, I didn’t particularly enjoy the wet labs, so I shifted to electrical engineering with the biomedical option, where I can work on medical devices—having an impact on health care while working with cutting-edge devices.

biomedical engineering first year option

electrical engineeringbiomedical option

 

What are some highlights of your experience at UBC?

Group projects are great for making friends and learning how to work through technical challenges. In terms of courses, I particularly enjoyed Electrical Engineering Design Studio (ELEC 291) where we learned about the many ways biomedical technology relies on electrical engineering. We applied this learning in labs where we designed and built projects that really helped to deepen our understanding. 

 

Why did you get involved in Women in Engineering?

I went to an all-girls high school and know firsthand how important it is to have women in STEM uplifting other women in STEM, the value of having role models and allies.

I joined Women in Engineering in first year and have continued to be involved ever since, most recently as President. Women are still a considerable minority in engineering; some program areas, like mining and electrical engineering have very few women, and as you move into industry, the number of women also drops off. I find that having more women represented in the field can help raise awareness among all students that you can be yourself and you don’t have to fit into certain expectations.

I encourage students to get involved in WIE events– we’re one of the most active EDI clubs on campus and we run all sorts of initiatives from potlucks around community engagement and professional development activities in collaboration with sponsors to our annual industry mentorship night.

Women in Engineering

 

Tell us about your co-op experiences. 

I spent a summer working as a mechanical, electrical and plumbing intern for Arup, a civil engineering consultancy. I was working in their Hong Kong office because I wanted to gain some international experience. It was a great opportunity to explore the city and learn from my co-workers who had worked all over the world on some fascinating projects.

This summer I am working for Accenture as a strategy analyst. 

I am working on a project to expand access to technology for women in rural communities and evolving a large retail brand’s technology selection to facilitate growth.

 

Have you learned new ways of thinking as a result of your engineering education?

Definitely. I have learned how to break problems down into their granular components as a starting point for determining what steps are needed to achieve a final goal. Engineering has also taught me to consider the risks associated with each step and how to mitigate them. I apply this approach to areas beyond engineering, such as when planning events for Women in Engineering or other clubs I am involved in. Being in engineering has also strengthened my project management skills and ability to think strategically. 

 

Any advice for incoming students?

Say yes to the opportunities that come your way – no matter how random they may seem at first. Some of my best memories are from side quests completely unrelated to my academics or what I thought I would be doing in university – I promise you won’t regret a moment of spontaneity. 

Electrical engineering student working on her circuit board

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineers impact almost every aspect of our lives. They make essential medical equipment, design wireless communications networks, predict earthquakes, and invent new ways to generate and conserve energy.

Electrical Engineering

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