International Women in Engineering Day: Celebrating Our #EngineeringHeroes
Today is International Women in Engineering Day and at Carrier, we’re proud to recognize the accomplishments of our women engineers. They’re trailblazers, innovators, and problem-solvers. Without them, so much would not be possible. Margaret Ingels was the first female engineer at Carrier and one of the first female mechanical engineers in the United States. In her honor, Carrier created the Margaret Ingels Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering, recognizing significant contributions in the field of engineering. Nominees were recognized in four categories: technical excellence, leadership, innovation, and business impact. Congratulations to the 2021 Margaret Ingels Award recipients Pratibha Kothakota, Haiping Ding, Sophie Mille, and Stella Oggianu. Read on to learn what they had to say when we asked them about their careers and passions.
Margaret Ingels Award for Leadership in Engineering – Pratibha Kothakota
Fire & Security, South Asia
Who do you hope to inspire toward a career in engineering and how?
Pratibha: “I hope to inspire every student who looks forward to making the world a better place to live.”
How do you apply the principles of healthy, safe & sustainable building and cold chain solutions?
Pratibha: “Engineering, when applied consciously, without adversely impacting the environment and ecosystems, is bound to drive great benefits for humankind. In particular, cold chain solutions and fire safety systems are already bringing so much value to so many lives. I feel proud to be part of it.”
Margaret Ingels Award for Technical Excellence in Engineering – Haiping Ding
HVAC, North Asia
The 2021 theme of INWED is #EngineeringHeroes. Who was your hero that steered you toward a career in engineering? How did they inspire you?
Haiping: “My first hero is Dr. Willis Carrier, the founder of our company. 100 years ago, he invented the first centrifugal chiller in the world, and made the large-scale cooling possible for modern buildings in the new century. My major was Turbomachinery in graduate school, and I was lucky to join Carrier as a centrifugal chiller engineer in 2005. Then, I met many heroes who have guided me and inspired me on this journey. They all believe in making a more efficient centrifugal chiller, through a constant pursuit of Engineering and Innovation. Their great passion ignites me, their undefeated spirit encourages me, and their wisdom of bridging technology and engineering inspires me.”
Margaret Ingels Award for Innovation in Engineering – Stella Oggianu
Carrier Global, Americas
Who do you hope to inspire toward a career in engineering and how?
Stella: “I hope to inspire by the legitimacy of my actions. My actions represent who I am, what I believe in, and what my values are. Hence, when it relates to a career in engineering, if a person has a true vocation towards any engineering field, being a role model of what can be achieved as an engineer and encouraging them to pursue their true vocation is my way to approach people: provide an example and inspire by doing. Moreover, words can be powerful, if they are legitimate. Providing foundational backgrounds of the vast number of engineering fields, impact to society, and the varieties of jobs that an engineer can have is very useful for young people.”
Margaret Ingels Award for Business Impact in Engineering – Sophie Mille
Refrigeration, Europe
Who do you hope to inspire toward a career in engineering and how?
Sophie: “At my level, I would like to encourage younger people to follow their aspirations regardless of gender, race, or family circumstances to pave their way in engineering.”
The 2021 theme of INWED is #EngineeringHeroes. Who was your hero that steered you toward a career in engineering? How did they inspire you?
Sophie: “There were many figures in my life who have contributed in different ways in my choice to become an engineer: people like family members and teachers, but also well-known figures like Marie Curie. What inspired me is their relentless passion, conviction, and the meaningful impact of their work.”
Although Margaret Ingels was the first woman engineer at Carrier, she is certainly not the last. Her accomplishments helped pave the way for others to make their mark. Women are essential to the field of STEM and Carrier sees and values their achievements not only today, but every day.
Carrier remains steadfast in its goal to be a company that creates a workplace that is truly and genuinely inclusive – one that inspires and encourages everyone, everywhere to bring their authentic selves to work each day. In 2020, Carrier launched a focused, Diversity & Inclusion strategy to create a more inclusive environment. To learn more about Carrier’s commitment to an inclusive workplace, visit https://www.corporate.carrier.com/corporate-responsibility/social-impact/our-employees/.