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News  |  Mar 08, 2023  |  Anne Keener

Arora Celebrates International Women’s Day 2023

  • 2023 International Women's Day

Arora Engineers (Arora) and its subsidiary companies are proud to celebrate International Women’s Day! Since 1911, International Women’s Day is a global day marked annually on March 8th to celebrate the social, cultural, and economic achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating, educating, and raising awareness raise for women’s equality.

For International Women’s Day 2023, the global campaign theme is “Embrace Equity,” aiming to challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. As a minority owned, second-generation family business, diversity and inclusion is at the core of Arora’s values. This is not only shown at the top level, but throughout the firm with nearly 50% of our staff being minority or female. Arora prides itself on being a positive and consistent force in developing talented teams including an experienced network of minority- and women-owned businesses as our partners. Arora also is proud to support a variety of organizations working to create a more supportive and inclusive AEC industry such as Women in Transportation (WTS) International, ElevateHer, and the Society of Women Engineers.

We would like to thank all the incredible women on our team for their continuous hard work and dedication every day. Learn more about some of the talented women who work at Arora below:

Chen, Carol Carol Chen, EIT, LEED AP BD+C, Mechanical Designer: “Some advice I have for prospective female engineers considering entering the field is to complete an internship, especially when you do not know if engineering is right for you. If you completed your internship and felt that engineering is not right for you, finish your engineering degree anyway. By the time you complete your internship, you are already halfway to earning your engineering degree, so there is no sense in stopping now. Many employers are willing to hire candidates with engineering degrees, regardless of any amount of related experience. Earning an engineering degree proves the recipient is resourceful, hardworking, and capable of problem-solving. There is no need to feel pigeonholed because the type of engineering degree you earned does not necessarily dictate the career choice you’ll ultimately choose. Most importantly, no matter what you decide to do, be fully invested in that decision. Regardless of gender, every decision is a bad decision if you don’t believe in it.”

O Brien, Chanel Chanel O’Brien, ACE, Airfield Electrical Designer: “I hope that my involvement in this industry attracts more young women to aviation and that they are brave enough to share their visions for the industry. Half of the customers airlines service are women, and we cannot properly cater to them if they aren’t part of the conversation. I am incredibly lucky to work for an organization that views their female colleagues as valued members of the organization instead of just a box they check.”

Guzewski, DonnaDonna Guzewski, PE, LEED Green Associate, Plumbing Discipline Lead“Advice I would give to my younger self is to take the time to travel more and experience other places. Another piece of advice would be to get proficient in another language!”

 

Weiss, Mary BethMary Beth Weiss, Creative Director: “Graphic design/creative work has come a long way since I first entered this field many years ago. I am always excited about new tools and trends! I look forward to better, faster technology and software that help me to be creative and work more efficiently.”

 

Michigan, AnastaciaAnastacia Michigan, PE, LEED Green Associate, Sr. Mechanical Designer: “Growing up, I loved problem solving and design, so I had always known that I wanted to go into some type of engineering discipline. Mechanical Engineering really allows for creativity in problem solving because every project poses a unique set of challenges. No two buildings are exactly the same, so there are many possible solutions for the MEP design. It’s interesting to work with a client and learn about their needs to figure out what’s best for them and their space. I’m also passionate about green design and how our design can help offset environmental impacts. One piece of advice I would give to my fellow female engineers is you will never be able to learn everything about your discipline, and you will always need to ask questions. There truly are no dumb questions, so you should never be afraid to ask about something, especially if it influences your design. It’s much easier to adjust something mid-design than realizing at the end that you have restart because you weren’t clear on something.”

Furey, Christine Christine Furey, Multimedia Communications Specialist: “Advice I would tell my younger self is to continue projecting confidence in all you do and practice fearlessness. There have been times where I doubted myself and my abilities, often becoming my own worst enemy. I have learned over the years to put away all self-doubts, be confident in what you can accomplish, and accept your success. It is key to truly believe the positive feedback you get from your managers, clients, and colleagues, and do not apologize or downplay it. Continue to advocate for yourself!”

Keener, Anne Anne Keener, Marketing Coordinator: “I really enjoy working with so many different teams and interacting with staff on special events, conferences, and proposals. I also have the opportunity to connect with our new hires which is a great way to meet our new staff. Working across departments helps me feel connected to our projects and initiatives. The marketing team here is above and beyond willing to help, share ideas, and coach as needed. Working with a supportive team makes all the difference in the day-to-day workload and staying on track. I am comfortable asking questions and honestly appreciate my entire team; Adam Matt Beth Christyn, Christine and Jenna – you are the best! A great team is the result of great leadership!”

Binder, ChristynChristyn Binder, Marketing Content Specialist: “The thing I am most excited about in the future of our industry is the woman-identifying trailblazers (who make up only 27% of the AEC workforce) forging new and exciting paths in the industry! Seeing women lead engineering and construction practices and every level of local, state, and federal government is a powerful reminder of how far we have come and how much work we have yet to do – but because of them, and in honor of them, our future is bright! This yet another reason I am proud to work at Arora, because we serve as an incubator for some of the most talented, dynamic women in the industry who I am excited to continue to grow and innovate alongside.”

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