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Introba Celebrates International Women's Day 2023

Introba Celebrates International Women's Day 2023

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3 women at event celebrating international women's day

Introba proudly celebrates International Women's Day this year on March 8, 2023. We honor the women of the firm who continue to shape the built environment through problem-solving, developing cutting-edge digital solutions, emerging innovations, and industry-leading sustainability strategies. Through a diversity of thought leadership and supporting female staff to show up as their authentic selves, Introba seeks to empower women to mentor and become changemakers and build lasting legacies of impact and excellence.  

This year, the United Nations Women's theme for International Women's Day is Cracking the Code, highlighting the role that bold, transformative ideas, inclusive technologies, and accessible education can play in combatting discrimination and the marginalization of women globally.

With this theme in mind, we invite you to learn more about our female thought leaders and their individual journeys in the interviews below:

Mary Casey Principal Sustainability Australia
Mary Casey
Principal, Sydney

When did you join Introba?

I joined the Australian sustainability team in the Sydney office in September 2021.

What inspired you to become a sustainability consultant?

I always thought I was going to be an artist when I was a teenager, but I began to realize it could be a solitary life, and I wasn't sure it was for me. I wanted to be involved in something that was bigger than me. Architecture seemed like a good fit.

In learning how to design with climate and pay attention to vernacular responses, I began to understand how my work could help express the relationship between the land and the things I was designing. It wasn’t called that at the time, but that was really the beginning of my interest in sustainability. The decision to move into sustainability consulting came about from a sense of urgency about communicating these ideas as broadly as possible (this was the late-90s/early 2000s), and I thought I would do a short stint in spreading the word and then get back to architecture. 

What personal traits or characteristics have helped you succeed in this position?

Curiosity and care. I think if you are going to be a design professional, you need to be comfortable with the feeling, "I have no idea," and let that lead to, "Let me play with it and see what emerges," rather than feel the need to have an answer on the spot. Deep care for life - in all its forms, humans included, but not the only form to consider – is essential to my being able to work effectively.  

What technical skills have helped you advance in your career?

A combination of an interest in continual development and a general ability to identify a skill that I, the team, or the client needs and the diligence to acquire it. 3D CAD, for example, was a key enabler. Or reading up on LEED and Green Star, or voracious reading on how human brains work.

Who have been mentors and advisors in your career?

My first boss in architecture, Bill Lacey, taught me how to create a real team ethos and always have a sense of humor. When asking people to work long hours or meet tight deadlines, it is important to keep it fun. My first boss in project management, Clive Chandler, taught me that it’s important to have a plan but that you can’t anticipate everything. Every project will go sideways in a way you didn’t expect, and every curve ball brings something to learn.

My guide in stakeholder engagement, Frank Lyons, taught me the importance of empathy and patience – you are a human working with humans, and it’s going to get messy. But the most impactful has been Heather Bain and Carol Sanford, who are guiding me in developing myself as a human being and how to work with others in this way.

What advice would you give young professionals who are interested in a position such as yours?

I am always skeptical of advice, so you should probably ignore this bit and figure it out for yourself. For me, it was better to be a jack of all trades in the early part of my career. Try to get a broad understanding of everything involved in this job. Once you understand it end-to-end, you will find the part that lights you up and then focus on that. And then don’t be afraid to change because different things are appealing at certain points in your life.

What do you most like about working at Introba?

I get the opportunity to work with passionate, creative people around a purpose that deeply aligns with my purpose for life.

Nika Parsa USW Operations Director
Nika Parsa
USW Operations Director, Los Angeles

When did you join Introba?

I joined the company in April 2014, so I have been with Introba for almost nine years.

What inspired you to become a consultant?

My dad and my uncle.

What personal traits or characteristics have helped you succeed in this position?

Resilience, accountability, and being a team player.

What technical skills have helped you advance in your career?

Understanding the translation from design to real-life application.

Who have been mentors and advisors in your career?

Jose Luis Vargas, who was the director of the Educational Opportunity Program at CSUN, and John Gautrey.

What advice would you give young professionals who are interested in a position such as yours?

My advice to young professionals is to have an entrepreneurial mindset. Make the most of the opportunities and learn from setbacks instead of letting them, or anyone, dampen your spirit. Find your strengths, work hard, and be someone that people can count on.  

What is one thing the engineering industry can do to encourage more women into its ranks?

We need more women in leadership positions.

What do you most like about working at Introba?

I love the people I work with. After almost nine years, they have become like family.  

Rossella Perniola
Rossella Perniola
Senior Mechanical Engineer, London

When did you join Introba?

I joined Introba in October 2021.

What inspired you to become an engineer?

It was my interest in renewables that drew me to engineering and the desire to make a positive impact on the world.

What personal traits or characteristics have helped you succeed in this position?

Curiosity and attention to detail.

What technical skills have helped you advance in your career?

Problem-solving with a positive attitude, and studying and being able to apply the regulations and standards.

Who have been mentors and advisors in your career?

Ebrahim Salehi, James Quiggin, and now the whole company!

What advice would you give young professionals who are interested in a position such as yours?

Never stop asking questions!

What is one thing the engineering industry can do to encourage more women into its ranks?

I came from a non-scientific high school, so it was challenging for me to embrace engineering in university without the fear of failing. We need to communicate that there is nothing to be scared about, the things you don’t know (for me, technical design) you learn at university.

We all just need a little bit of encouragement.

What do you most like about working at Introba?

The openness to new ideas and R&D.

Christy Cavataio
Christy Cavataio
US Regional Director, St Louis

When did you join Introba?

I joined Introba in November 2022, a very exciting time for the company.

What inspired you to become an engineer?

Even though I started my career as an engineer, I  have always felt that my calling was to be a project manager. I love our industry, I thrive on building and facilitating teams, and I enjoy creating the environment for design.

What personal traits or characteristics have helped you succeed in this position?

Patience, being a quick learner, having curiosity, grace, friendliness, positivity, and strong business acumen.

What technical skills have helped you advance in your career?

Writing – both technical and marketing

Business knowledge – how to read the numbers and know what they mean

Design knowledge – how buildings go together.

Organizational skills

The ability to strategize

Team building

Who have been mentors and advisors in your career?

I have had so many. Particularly strong women in my family who are leaders in their fields. Prior bosses who were willing to coach me. Current colleagues in the industry - I am still learning.

What advice would you give young professionals interested in a position like yours?

Being a strong project manager or organizational leader requires knowing the business and your team. Take the time to understand our profession, how teams work, how to create relationships with clients, and how to be successful.

What is one thing the engineering industry can do to encourage more women into its ranks?

Be willing to learn from others – working with a diverse team constantly improves outcomes.

What do you most like about working at Introba?

The talent and our ability to think forward – it is amazing what we do.

Elisa Thompson Submission Coordinator
Elisa Thomson
Submissions Coordinator, Melbourne

When did you join Introba?

I joined the Melbourne office in 2012.

What are your most memorable projects?

South East Water Head Office. I was asked to print and bind 35 specs of around 200 - 300 pages each at 3 pm for next-day delivery. I am very happy that everything is now digital. It was a stressful experience, but I learned a lot.

What inspired you to become a proposal consultant?

My background is as a graphic artist in the TV industry. I enjoy the ability to create dynamic content and documents – it is challenging and satisfying. I joined the team as an office manager with marketing and proposal responsibilities. Over ten years here have pivoted into a full-time proposals role, allowing me to use my people management, marketing, and graphic design skills on a deeper level.

What personal traits or characteristics have helped you succeed in this position?

I’m easygoing but a hard worker.

Who have been mentors and advisors in your career?

My dad has always mentored me, as has my first boss, Chris Elliott. He gave me great advice and guided me early in my career, setting me up with a good work ethic.

What advice would you give young professionals interested in a position like yours?

Always think of ways that something can be done better. Don’t be afraid to offer suggestions.

What is one thing the engineering industry can do to encourage more women into its ranks?

Recognize the women in the industry now and celebrate more of what they do. Make them visible to the community to encourage others.

What do you most like about working at Introba?

The team I work with and the satisfaction I get in delivering an excellent proposal that plays a part in winning the project.

Kimberley Bartlett
Kimberley Bartlett
Lighting Design Consultant, London

When did you join Introba?

I’m coming up on a year with Introba, starting with the team in July 2022.

What inspired you to become an engineer?

I didn’t want to be an engineer in the beginning.  It never crossed my mind as I was focused on a career as a vet or a forensic scientist.  Things didn’t quite work out academically for me, so I ended up working in the lighting department of the local council and found that I was actually really good at engineering design and processes.  I went from strength to strength in the industry and am so glad that things didn’t work out with my initial career plans.  I don’t imagine I would have been half as successful a vet as I am a lighting engineer. I would probably end up with millions of animals too which would be interesting!

What personal traits or characteristics have helped you succeed in this position?

I am pretty sure I am undiagnosed neurodivergent, towards the ADHD and possibly autism side of the spectrum.  People with autistic traits in general seem to gravitate to careers in technical and engineering subjects due to their propensity to fixate on problems and to enjoy puzzles.  I very much identify with this as I have historically been the firefighter or fixer of the team.  When no one else can work out a solution, it ends up on my desk and I relish the challenge. Outside of this niche element I try to be approachable and accessible, my passion being in supporting others to be able to take their own initiative and to become great engineers.  This outlook has really helped me in my career, building teams around me that want to be good at their jobs and to continue helping the next generation.

What technical skills have helped you advance in your career?

In general, my discipline is incredibly niche so the skills I have learnt tend to be specific to light and lighting.  The main thing for me has been experience, the time taken to understand the workings of my discipline in its many forms and to gain that intangible feeling of knowing what is and is not correct at first glance.  That is a skill that takes a while to hone but it makes projects a lot simpler the more you understand.

Who have been mentors and advisors in your career?

So many people!  I was pretty oblivious as to what was going on when I was younger but looking back I had so much help and support from people around me who believed in me and wanted me to do well.  I am incredibly grateful for that.

What advice would you give young professionals who are interested in a position such as yours?

Understand your limits and your needs as a person. Take time each day to really think about what is important, which projects must be done, which can wait.  Talk to your team and your PMs to find out if that super urgent document must be there at noon or if it will sit in an inbox for 3 weeks because the client is on holiday. These conversations and understanding of yourself and your team will allow you to flow through work and to maintain a greater life balance.  Basically do your work, make sure you sleep well and take proper breaks and switch off when you are finished.

No matter how hard you work there will always be more, stamp down that imposter syndrome, you don’t have to prove why you are in the position you are in.  You already did by getting that position.

What is one thing the engineering industry can do to encourage more women into its ranks?

Work as a whole does seem to make things harder for women; your best years to progress, make a name for yourself and boost your career are usually the times that you would also be entering relationships and potentially wanting to raise tiny humans.  Strides are being made to encourage parents back to work, but the stigma still exists. We can combat this by highlighting women in higher positions within businesses to tell their story and show newcomers that there are people out there just like them, succeeding and feeling fulfilled.

What do you most like about working at Introba?

The people, definitely. Everyone is so nice!  From Bill all the way down to new starter apprentices, everyone is a lovely person that wants to help and support.  Coming out of three years working from home I was dreading being in an office again, but I honestly really like coming in now which is entirely thanks to the people around me.

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