Advice and insights from 7 of Alcoa's women engineers

We canvased several of Alcoa’s own in honor of International Women in Engineering Day and asked them what inspired them to become engineers – and what advice they’d give women just coming into the field.

They all had a love for math or science, a knack for problem-solving and a clear, creative way of expressing their ideas.

They all are engineers, of course. We canvased several of Alcoa’s own in honor of International Women in Engineering Day, which fell this year on Sunday, June 23. We asked them what inspired them to become engineers – and what advice they’d give women just coming into the field.

“My advice when entering the workforce is to learn as much as you can about what it takes to run the business that you are in, alongside honing your skills in your chosen engineering field,” said Britt Butler, Plant Manager at the Portland Smelter. “Gaining knowledge in business financial performance is coined the ‘missing 33%’ for women, so learning this will make you infinitely more successful.”

Some of the women engineers had decades of experience, while others were just starting out in their careers. When asked about their proudest moment or achievement at Alcoa, they listed both concrete examples and the more abstract rewards that come with a career in engineering.

“I thought about this one a lot and I have come the conclusion it is not one single moment for me,” said Freyja Viðarsdóttir, Potrooms Process Owner in Fjarðaal. “It is the moment when you find someone at your desk asking for your advice or support and you get to be the person who they seek for those things.

“That is what makes me proud every time it happens.”

In addition to Britt and Freyja, we heard from Brígida Costa, Forest Engineer at Poços de Caldas; Jamie Delgado, Senior Manufacturing Electrical Engineer at Portland; Maren Seljenes Lauritzen, Environmental Manager at Mosjøen; Fabiana da Costa Monteiro, Junior Maintenance Manager at Alumar Port; and Ester Silva, Junior Mine Production Manager in Juruti. Below are excerpts from their answers.

What advice would you give to women just entering the workforce as engineers?

Britt Butler: My advice when entering the workforce is to learn as much as you can about what it takes to run the business that you are in, alongside honing your skills in your chosen engineering field. Gaining knowledge in business financial performance is coined the “missing 33%” for women, so learning this will make you infinitely more successful. y
Brígida Costa: First and foremost, trust in your abilities and invest time in learning and improving technical skills. A career in engineering can be challenging, but remember that obstacles are part of professional growth. As women, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive environment by advocating for equal opportunities.
Jamie Delgado: Ask as many questions as needed and never assume.
Maren Seljenes Lauritzen: The first years are tough when you can't lean on any experience. Things get a lot easier when you are some years in. Remember that :)
Fabiana da Costa Monteiro: Dedicate yourself as much as possible to developing your skills, as the job market needs the differences that only women have.
Ester Silva: Never doubt your potential. Several challenges will certainly arise and they will make you think about who you are. At this moment, remember your entire trajectory and your target. You are not in this position by chance, you earned it. Just do your best and believe in your potential.
Freyja Viðarsdóttir: Be yourself and embrace it when you let yourself think outside of the box. That is when the magic happens.

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

Britt Butler: Engineering was an obvious choice for me. I am a natural problem-solver and had a strong interest in chemistry at school. Metallurgy was my engineering field of specialty because it combined chemistry and engineering design.
Brígida Costa: Since I was a child, I grew up surrounded by greenery and always enjoyed being in nature. In high school, I discovered the field of forestry and fell in love with the breadth of the profession and the opportunity to work in areas such as environmental conservation, natural resources, and sustainable forest management.
Jamie Delgado: My favorite subjects at high school were maths and science. I grew up in a small mining town and I looked in a careers book for a job that played to my strengths and pays well to give independence and freedom to explore the world.
Maren Seljenes Lauritzen: It was a bit random. I liked chemistry in high school and then found a master's program in industrial chemistry (a type of engineering program in Norway) that I applied to and really liked.
Fabiana da Costa Monteiro: I started in the maintenance area on a technical course in mechanical maintenance, influenced by my brother. My passion for the area sparked an interest in going further, and that's when I decided to study Mechanical Engineering.
Ester Silva: I am the first person in my family to graduate. Despite having a humble origin, I always saw education as the door to greater heights. During high school I had the opportunity to see my skills more focused on science and mathematics, influencing me to do engineering.
Freyja Viðarsdóttir: To pinpoint one thing is nearly impossible, but I guess the inspiration can greatly be contributed to the feeling you get when you are doing something fun and on top of that it is practical. That is engineering from my perspective. I have also been told that I should host a podcast named “My opinion with Freyja” and I guess I figured engineering would be a great platform for sharing my view on things.

Research indicates many girls start losing interest in STEM fields in middle school. Is there anything or anyone you credit with helping you maintain your interests at that age? What advice would you give to young girls passionate about math and science?

Britt Butler: My advice for girls considering maths and science at school is to explore work possibilities in industries that wow you with their technical innovation and see your passion soar. My interest in a STEM-related career started with career advice on options available at university that matched my area of strengths. I was part of a large cohort of girls studying STEM subjects through school and we kept each other going.
Brígida Costa: In high school, maintaining interest can be challenging, but seeking inspiration from people in the field — such as other female engineers and scientists — can help. Also, try to connect math and science to everyday life through practical applications and problem-solving, such as logic games and mathematical challenges. For young girls passionate about these areas, I emphasize believing in yourselves — you are capable.
Jamie Delgado: Keep on learning. Sometimes the problems are straightforward and easy to resolve, and sometimes you may need to look at it from different angles or obtain more information to solve it. It may take longer and be more difficult but usually these problems are the ones you remember and find more rewarding.
Maren Seljenes Lauritzen: I usually credit one of my mathematics teachers. He taught my class from age 13-15. He was very patient and encouraging and gave us a lot of assignments that he made specially for us (like doing statistics on a municipal election result)! Basically I would tell girls: go for it! This is an area with so many opportunities.
Fabiana da Costa Monteiro: In my opinion, many women lose interest because they don't believe there will be opportunities in these areas. They need to understand that nowadays women have the freedom to be whatever they want, as long as they are prepared to work in the area of interest.
Ester Silva: My biggest inspiration has always been my older sister. She always helped me and advised me when I needed it during these most delicate periods. It's not easy, but look at inspiring women around you. Maybe some of them haven't had the same opportunity you're having, but they've always dreamed of living it. Do this for yourself and for them, as your path will inspire other girls too.
Freyja Viðarsdóttir: I would always give credit to the teachers. It is incredible how much impact they can have In your interest and what path you might choose to take. I was fortunate to have supportive, creative and kind teachers around me and I can only wish more girls get to be that lucky. Maybe this is not an advice but I would say being good at something is one thing but to have passion is another and if you have found that in math or science you should give it its time because nothing beats passion.

What is your proudest moment or accomplishment at Alcoa?

Britt Butler: My proudest moment at Alcoa was announcing a long-term power contract that secures my site’s future for another decade. My proudest accomplishment has been transforming the Portland operation to foster teamwork, collaboration, and engagement; a stronger recovery from curtailment through plant investment; and achieving safe and stable operations during our ramp up phase.
Brígida Costa: Recently, our team made significant progress in rehabilitating the mines, improving quality and reducing maintenance costs. Additionally, I’m very proud to have completed my master’s degree, with the study’s application focused on rehabilitated areas at Alcoa Poços de Caldas.
Jamie Delgado: I am proud of a number of accomplishments throughout my career to date. I have worked at four different Alcoa sites and have had a range of technical and leadership roles all with different goals and responsibilities, which has given different moments / accomplishments that I’m proud of.
Maren Seljenes Lauritzen: As a process engineer it was finding a recycling solution for spent refractory from the baking furnaces.
Fabiana da Costa Monteiro: My greatest achievement at Alcoa is working in the maintenance area, which I love, working with people committed to the same purpose and having a career vision.
Ester Silva: My journey at Alcoa makes me very proud. I started my career as an intern in 2020, learning and growing in my career. During this period there was a project that really impacted me. I led a project focused on improving the rehabilitation of mined areas in Juruti, through lean 6 sigma. It was an incredible feeling to contribute to sustainable mining in the Amazon Rainforest.
Freyja Viðarsdóttir: I thought about this one a lot and I have come the conclusion it is not one single moment for me. It is the moment when you find someone at your desk asking for your advice or support and you get to be the person who they seek for those things. That is what makes me proud every time it happens.