International Women in Engineering Day
Happy International Women in Engineering Day! Observed each year on June 23rd, this day is dedicated to honoring the achievements of female engineers around the world. Engineering is a profession built on innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving, and women continue to play an essential role in shaping the future of the industry. French & Parrello Associates (FPA) recognizes the success of its female engineers and is proud to celebrate this year by highlighting their unique perspectives.
In recognition of International Women in Engineering Day, we asked several of FPA’s female engineers to share their thoughts on their careers, the experiences that have shaped them, and the advice they would offer to aspiring engineers. Their responses provide insight into the opportunities, rewards, and impact of a career in engineering while highlighting the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive industry.
Join us as we celebrate the female engineers of FPA and the valuable contributions they make every day.
Christine McLaughlin, PE
Project Manager | Bridges
What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering?
Look for mentors and peers! Nothing can get you through a hard time quite like talking to someone who’s been there. Finding people you trust makes going to work every day something to look forward to.
What is one project, accomplishment, or experience you’re particularly proud of?
It always makes me happy when a young engineer says “Oh I know you from *insert professional society here*”. Be it a young woman from WTS or a structural engineer from SEAMASS, I’ve tried to foster welcoming environments in the societies I’m a part of to encourage younger members to join and find the community that I so enjoy.
Project-wise, I was a lead engineer on a 1300′ bridge design in Lowell, MA. It’s gorgeous, and was my first time working with a landscape architect.
What skill has helped you most in your career?
Being able to understand what someone is trying to say and convey that information clearly to others. Similarly, being able to communicate with people of various backgrounds.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Knowing that the projects I work on today will improve the lives of others for years to come. Transportation engineering is a public service!
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about engineering or your role?
How much work and money and time and coordination goes into designing a bridge. We all see them being built, but the level of effort to create the final product is often far underestimated.
Bridget Guinan, EIT 
Senior Staff Engineer | Highway & Traffic
What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering?
You can be whatever you want to be with the right mindset and work ethic!
What skill has helped you most in your career?
I think willingness to learn has been the most valuable skill I’ve learned in my career. There is always more to learn and adapt to!
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing the real-world impact you have on people’s daily lives.
Shakthika Thevarajah 
Staff Engineer | Mechanical
What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering?
Don’t let the fear of not knowing something make you doubt yourself or your ability. Always be curious and ask questions, everyone starts somewhere!
What skill has helped you most in your career?
My tendency to write everything down in a notebook has been very useful during my time here. Not only does it help me stay organized with my timesheet, but I am able to quickly reference rules of thumb or notes from a previous project that would be applicable to my current project.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing a project progress from initials drafts to the final shop drawings ready to get constructed. It shows just how much attention is needed towards each detail and space, and how there is always something new to learn with advancing technology, code changes, and new types of equipment.
Jules Leone 
Senior Staff Engineer | Highway & Traffic
What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering?
Just keep going. No matter how hard the classes and the tests seem, it is all worth it in the end. The different things you learn in your job and the connections you make, make the hard days of getting here worth it!
What is one project, accomplishment, or experience you’re particularly proud of?
One project I am particularly proud of is Rt 94, Pleasant Valley Drive to Maple Grange Road in Vernon NJ. There were many late nights and working weekends to get the project done for its deadline and seeing the 238 sheet project get submitted was a really rewarding feeling.
What skill has helped you most in your career?
Asking for help. Never be afraid to ask for help and use all the resources available to you. Everyone has been in your shoes before and asking for help will only make the job a little easier for you.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing a project being constructed and seeing all the hard work pay off!
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about engineering or your role?
I wish more people knew how many different aspects of engineering there are and how many different roles play into the completion of one project.
Hannah Noorigian
Staff Engineer | Civil/Site
What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering?
One piece of advice that I would give to young women considering a career in engineering is never afraid to ask questions. Willingness to learn and improve your skills is one of the strongest traits to have when starting your career.
What skill has helped you most in your career?
One skill that has helped me most in my career is teamwork. Practicing good communication and working with colleagues together as a team, has helped projects run smoothly and efficiently.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is watching the plans become a reality. It is truly one of the most fulfilling experiences to watch all the hard work and dedication that goes into a project come to life.
Alicia Sperry 
Intern | Highway & Traffic
What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering?
If I had to give advice to young women considering a career in engineering, it would be to get involved with engineering organizations. They can help you make new connections and get a feel for what you might like or want to do. Also learn golf. Apparently, that’s not just a finance thing.
What is one project, accomplishment, or experience you’re particularly proud of?
I’m really proud of my experience with the ASHE New Jersey Student Competition. I was the project manager for my school’s team, and even though we were all freshman and sophomores, we made something really great, learned a lot, and had a fun time!
What skill has helped you most in your career?
I would say that my soft skills have helped me most in my career. I got my first internship through the connections I made at the ASHE New Jersey Student Competition. Of course, hard skills are important, but soft skills can help open doors.
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