High-Profile recently caught up with Gabriella Ross about her role as project engineer I at e2 Engineers, and the challenges and rewards of working in a male-dominated field.

High-Profile: What originally drew you to structural engineering, and when did you realize this was something you could truly see yourself doing?

Gabriella Ross: I went into college knowing that civil engineering was the route I was going, but I never had a true concentration in mind. I think as I went through the courses and got an understanding for the types of civil jobs out there, structural was the one that stood out to me the most. I think I was drawn to structural engineering because of the variety of projects you will get to work on. I did not want to get a job that I got easily bored of because I was working on the same thing every day. I also wanted to have a career that made an impact on people and their communities, which I think structural engineers do.

HP: Now that you’ re about a year into your career, what’ s been the biggest surprise compared to what you expected coming out of school?

GR: The biggest surprise so far has been the amount of knowledge I have gained

Gabriella Ross

just within the time I have been working. When I came out of college I had learned the basics, but spending time in the field and with my fellow engineers every day, I have learned a plethora of information that will continue to grow my entire career. In college, my calc 4 professor told us that we were at college to learn how to learn, meaning we were there to show off our drive of wanting to get more knowledge and learn more skills to succeed in our lives.

HP: Can you think of a moment— on a project, in the field, or even a small win— when you thought, okay, I can do this?

GR: I think the feeling of“ I can do this”

comes and goes, but one of the first feelings of that for me was when Scott used a picture of one of the first drawings I had done in a presentation he was giving. Seeing that and getting kudos on it really boosted my morale and gave me a sense of belonging.

HP: What’ s been the steepest learning curve so far, and how did you work through it?

GR: The steepest learning curve so far has been trying to balance the amount of work and projects I am on. I have gotten a better system of trying to delegate days or specific time within a day to working on stuff so the projects can all move forward.

HP: How has your confidence changed since your first few weeks on the job?

GR: I came into this job with the worst case of imposter syndrome, but as time has gone on and I have been able to use the skills I learned in school, I have been feeling a bit of the weight lifted. I was also super intimidated going into this because engineering is a male-dominated field and I feel like most engineers like to gloat that they are superior and know more than everyone. At e2, I have had such a wonderful experience with everyone and have never felt intimidated by the

engineers here. If anything, the amount of“ thanks” and“ good jobs” everyone gives out – it really does boost my confidence.

HP: What has your experience been like as a woman entering the structural engineering industry?

GR: My experience hasn’ t been too bad as I have just started off, but getting here was hard. College is when you really understand how much of a maledominated career engineering really is – when you are in a class of 30 people and you take a look around to see you are the only woman in the class. It’ s intimidating but also lights this fire inside to keep going. There is something to be said about wanting to pursue a“ man’ s job.” Women continue to prove every day that they belong and my experience is only a fraction of that. It is so early into my career and my experiences are little, but I hope that someday young girls look up to me and know that they can do this too.

HP: Have there been people— mentors, teammates, or role models— who’ ve really shaped your first year? What did they do that made a difference?

GR: I can’ t say there has been one person who shaped me, but the people at e2 have

continued to page 23