A Tribute to Women in Engineering From a Non-Engineer
My mother, an MSc Zoology and science teacher, wanted me to be a STEM professional. She wanted me to study the sciences in high school. Even though I never wished to be an engineer, a doctor or a scientist, learning about these disciplines always fascinated me, theoretically.
My aspiration was different – all I wanted to do in life was to travel, write and change the world!
The first woman interested in engineering, I met as a child was my maternal grandmother. She never went to school but she was the perfect handy woman who could fix just about anything. She’d open any machine, examine it with such attention and in moments, present to you a perfectly working gadget. She certainly had the aptitude and the makings of a successful engineer only if she had the opportunity to pursue formally her interest in sciences and mechanical engineering.
Changing world
The landscape around us is fast evolving as we are now adapting to technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Chat GPT’s influence in our lives. Everything can be modelled on a screen, with precision and automation, as well as innovation has made engineering more efficient. Lifestyle diseases, increased mobility and connectivity, geo-political challenges are all the backdrop to our world today.
My mind is drawn to a memory that feels like a time capsule today. I was attending a graduation ceremony of the first female child to complete Grade 5 (Primary school) in a remote village in Rajasthan about 25 years ago. The children, especially the girls wanted to know about the airplane, which they referred to as ‘cheel gadi’ loosely translated to ‘eagle car’. I told them, how women are not only travelling alone but are flying and making the airplanes – their eyes lit up. Who knows if one of them made it to an engineering college or is flying a plane today?
Over the years, I continued to travel around the world, I met fascinating people from various walks of life, I realised there was an army of everyday heroes who are changing the world on a daily basis, one bridge at a time, one structure at a time, one design change at a time.
History is afloat with numerous women who shaped our world today. From Ada Lovelace, the world’s first computer programmer, Edith Clarke who invented the Clarke Calculator to Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha who is the first woman engineer of India, PK Thressia who became the first female chief engineer in Asia, and more recently Anuradha TKwho was the first woman satellite project director at ISRO, the list of trailblazers is long.
For every success story we know, there are countless women who fought hard in isolation, without support and often in sworn secrecy and disguised as a man to just put a foot in the door, solely reserved by the male counterparts. Although there are inspirational stories of women overcoming gender bias, family and societal expectations at home, the world is still taking longer than what is needed to change this bias to create an equitable working environment for women.
“From the dusty lanes of my village to digital blueprints of global infrastructure, becoming the first female engineer in my village was more than a milestone—it was a mission” says Neetu Jakhar, a colleague of mine who has not only pursued her own career but has inspired so many other young women into the engineering discipline. This isn’t an 18th century example but a contemporary of ours from today, much younger than I!
Another of my inspirational colleagues is Uvika Gupta, Senior Project Manager. While reflecting on her own career journey, she says, “Engineering isn’t just my profession—it’s my purpose. As the first woman engineer in my family and one of the few in my early career, I’ve walked a path filled with challenges, self-doubt, and the pressure to prove myself. But as the saying goes, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. Every obstacle became a lesson. Every small win built the confidence that fuels my journey today. Today, I’m proud to be a civil engineer and urban planner working at the intersection of purpose and progress—helping shape a more equitable, climate-resilient future through sustainable infrastructure and inclusive urban development.”
Being a Role Model
Ashley Taylor, who is the Managing Director for Mott MacDonald’s Global Delivery Services has had her own share of gender bias to overcome as a young woman engineer from Northern England. Today, as she leads hundreds of multi-disciplinary professionals from across geographies, she continues to use her personal example to mentor colleagues.
She reflects: “Whilst the world has changed in the 37 years I have been working as an engineer across the globe, the biases and expectations of what females should do in the workplace still exist sadly. When talking to other female engineers I share the experiences I have had particularly as a working mother with young children. I often talk to female engineers who don’t realise how talented they actually are and so encouraging them to believe in their full potential, is something I do a lot.”
The real challenge is that the overall workforce participation of women, especially in STEM disciplines remains low. We at Mott MacDonald in India are proud to have several talented women professionals across roles and designations.
Sandhya Vinod Krishnan is an Electrical and Electronics engineer by qualification. Over her 30+ years in the consulting engineering domain, she has contributed to major projects across industries including steel, Pharmaceuticals, oil and gas. In her career she says, “I make time to support those who seek my help—not just to guide them, but to empower them to find their own voice, take ownership of their growth, and step into new roles with confidence. To me, being a good role model isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about staying humble, being open to learning & evolving alongside others, and always acting in ways that positively impact the business.”
Kangana Bhatt, another colleague, a graduate process engineer is proud to be in what is perceived as a male dominant discipline. She says, “fewer women choose fields like chemical engineering—but when they see other women thriving in those roles, something shifts. That sense of “maybe, I can do that too” starts to grow. That visibility in work can be a powerful boost for other female engineers.”
Replacing tiaras with hard hats!
I was visiting my three year old niece recently and saw amidst her playthings a carpenters’ toolkit that she expertly demonstrated to me. From building a bridge to constructing a tall building, I was impressed to see that playtime for children is gender agnostic. This brief encounter gave me hope for what lay ahead for women. The future we nurture, will have capable men and women in equal numbers.
Together, we are a formidable force of multi-disciplinary professionals, engineering our children’s future.
Lakshmi Kaul
Lakshmi Kaul is Senior Vice President currently in South Asia, where she leverages over two decades of experience in business development, trade policy, education, microfinance and political campaign leadership. A champion of strategic partnerships, corporate social responsibility and ethics, Lakshmi drives impactful CSR initiatives across the region. With a deep commitment to nurturing growth and facilitating change, she delivers success stories through visionary leadership and collaborative innovation.
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