She maintains her work-life balance by spending as much time as possible behind the wheel of her boat. With her two children both in technical programs in university, she doesn’t hesitate to urge young people to recognize the range of opportunities available to those who graduate with an engineering degree. “Many of us have stayed in engineering for our entire careers, but many also choose a different line of work,” says Stephanie. “Having an engineering degree really provides you with opportunities. It’s a hard four years, but well worth the work.” n Stephanie Powers
Engineering – Personal Approach It was a simple yet telling detail that set McMaster apart when Stephanie Powers (Chem Eng 1985) was considering where to go to school. Other universities had sent her acceptance letters addressed to her applicant number, but the letter from Mac addressed her by name. “I liked the more personal approach,” she says. “I also liked the idea of going to a smaller university with smaller-sized classrooms and the campus all contained. “I chose engineering because I wanted a professional career, wanted to complete my education in four years, and believed that there would be job opportunities once I completed the program.” Opting to specialize in Chemical Engineering, a smaller program that had recently been transformed with the integration of computers, Stephanie recalls a close group of about 35 students who knew each other and their professors well. “I fondly remember Dr. Don Woods,” she recalls. “His courses dealt with the softer side of engineering and ultimately provided me with more tools in my career than the technical courses. “ Nearly 30 years after graduation, Stephanie is now Vice President of Engineering Strategy for Ontario Power Generation (OPG). It’s a job that keeps her involved in a wide array of nuclear engineering challenges, including strategic planning, improvement programs, staff training, and industry changes. 4 The MacEngineer
A World-Wide Vision of Success When Arif H. Somji (El.Eng.&Mgmt.’95) says Mac Engineering opened a world of opportunities for him, he’s not kidding. Currently based out of Arizona, USA, Arif has leveraged his degree into a consulting business that offers high-tech engineering and telecommunications solutions to multi national companies. “My career has taken me around the world,” says Arif, who believes today’s students should keep their eyes open to prospects beyond Canada’s borders.
As the owner of AHS Peak Consulting, Arif provides clients with a variety of globally-focused marketing, product management and business development services. The wide-ranging skill set he uses daily was developed during his years at McMaster, where he says he learned to problem-solve, work effectively as part of a team and to “learn and re-learn, constantly, consistently and with speed.” The importance of skills in time management and focus were also honed during his earliest university days. “It was very shortly after frosh week, as we hit full-steam with course-work and labs, that I had to figure out how I was going to optimally manage my time to get through the program,” he says. Despite the program’s challenging workload, Arif says he always felt the school’s caring faculty and support staff truly wanted to see all engineering students succeed. As an avid supporter of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math), Arif volunteers in a number of initiatives and networking events to promote STEM’s advancement. He encourages young people to recognize the importance of these disciplines for their future.
Arif H. Somji
“Consider how you can contribute globally or on an international scale, if that is your choice,” he suggests. “We all know how the world’s economies have become globally connected. Practically speaking, this means your career will likely involve doing business across multiple regions and dealing with a multitude of cultures, laws, and business and technical practices.”
“It’s no secret that many of the world’s challenges – from energy, climate change and food security, to global health, transportation, and even interplanetary exploration – will require ingenious minds capable of analyzing and working across disciplines” he says. n