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Patricia obtained a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Mining and Geoengineering from AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow, Poland, with major in Industrial Ventilation and Air Conditioning. She joined WT Group's Aquatics Practice in 2018 as a dynamic project management / engineering professional, leveraging strength in mechanical engineering as well as planning, coordination and execution of complex residential and commercial construction projects.
Initially working as a Project Engineer, she was responsible for developing construction and permit aquatic engineering drawings, including equipment selection and sizing, layout, filtration systems, piping layout and plans. Patricia now manages commercial aquatics projects from design through construction by working closely with clients, architects, and other consultants.
Engineering studies provide the basis for logical, precise and engineering-based thinking. It also teaches how to build models and structures and counting. Thanks to this, engineers understand industry, technology and economy, opening up a variety of career opportunities. From electrical and civil engineering to mechanical and biomedical engineering, an engineering degree offers many career possibilities. Engineers routinely deal with large, complex structures, and they know how to creatively solve problems. In my opinion, it is much easier for an engineer to educate themself in the field of economics than for an economist to acquire engineering knowledge.
Earlier, it was believed that becoming an engineer is a "typically male" profession, definitely "not for women," because women are born sensitive humanists. A teacher, pedagogue, psychologist, a doctor or a lawyer - this is the right direction of education and activities for a woman. If it's a technical major, it's at most architecture, which also requires a certain sensitivity. However, a construction worker, a mechatronics engineer or an electrical engineer? No way. A woman in a hard hat, leading a crew of tough construction workers? Ridiculous!
I have noticed that this stereotyped thinking has been changing. After decades of masculinization at technical universities, they are increasingly being chosen as educational pathways by women as well. Also, employers are no longer reluctant to hire an “engineer in heels." The days when you needed a hard hand and strength to do it are gone. The processes are now automated; you need more professional knowledge than gladiator muscles. And today’s employers are often also women! They know that a female engineer can run the project and crew at least as effectively as your male engineer. In addition, she is sometimes more creative, inventive and self-possessed. The weaker sex? Nonsense! If necessary, the female engineer will grab a shovel and a jackhammer. And the aforementioned "teams of tough guys" often soften under the caring hand of the engineer. In addition, they many times try harder, wanting to impress the "manager" in a masculine way.
In my opinion, it is not gender that predetermines being a good engineer, but competence and a strong character. In engineering work, analytical skills and a broad, critical look at the issues under consideration are certainly important. It is crutial to combine your technical knowledge with an understanding of the business aspects of the designed solutions. However, I think that regardless of the industry, the basis for success is to derive satisfaction from what you do. Work diligently and with commitment; develop your competencies. And most importantly - do not be afraid of new challenges - if you are afraid to take risks and leave your comfort zone, it will be harder for you to achieve your dream of professional success.
I've always felt more of a scientific mind than a humanist. Hammering "rules" and memorizing hundreds of pages of textbooks is not for me. Of course, sometimes I had to memorize something, but it is important to explain scientific facts logically, which was a feature of my major.
When applying to the university, I looked through many technical studies. After a deeper analysis of what might await me after a given field of study, I applied for environmental engineering. In this respect, environmental engineering really offers a lot of possibilities. A graduate of this course can work in a design office, in agencies of various types, and in municipal enterprises. He or she can also stay at the university and conduct scientific and didactic activities, and also work in the construction field as an engineer or construction manager.
We’re always working to very tight deadlines, which adds a lot of pressure to the job. We need to produce consistently high-quality work at a fast pace, which is a big challenge, but this is what keeps clients coming back to us. However, by working together as a team we get a lot more done than we would when working separately.
I can just simply say, go for it! I myself have this professional title and I am proud of it. Today, engineers are partly humanists, they are creative, and they must have the appropriate knowledge to create new technological and technical solutions. They must also understand the needs of society - so that these new solutions serve people in the best possible ways.
A modern engineer holds a great deal of responsibility. What we do physically changes the environment in which we function, changes our cities, our way of transport, and the way of transmitting information.
