Electrical and Electronics Engineering is an exciting field with a tremendous amount of knowledge to explore. Technology has always captivated me. My dad is a Mechanical Engineer, and he introduced me to the field.
I received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Uttar Pradesh Technical University in Lucknow, India. I enjoy taking part in extracurricular activities. I was in a class of 60 students, and only six students were female. Fortunately, the school’s department head was a woman—she was an excellent role model.
After graduating from college, I simply had no idea what developing electronics would entail. Electronics and mechanical engineering have an inevitable overlap in major industries. My Electrical Engineering knowledge of the behavior of electrical parts in the product environment is applied to provide the best possible design solution. Every day brings a great amount of learning on the design I work on. My interactions with different stakeholders help me tune to the finest version of myself with each experience. This is what I enjoy most about being an electrical engineer at John Deere.
Every day is not the same. Sometimes I spend a few days studying the requirements for getting an appropriate solution or sometimes I prepare a presentation on it. I worked on an exciting project to test the design concept of a tractor. I worked on the electrical design, talked to the supplier, prepared the material, cut, crimped and spliced wires and modified the electrical harness connections with hard to reach locations in the already assembled tractor. It was my first project!
Although there is a significant increase from the past in the number of successful women in STEM, I think every woman sometimes faces unconscious bias. But I always remember, my work and skills speak louder than any biased opinion! I have earned an appreciation and respect for my work from people around me.
When I turn around, I see myself surrounded by science and different technologies, so my advice to young girls is to get a deeper knowledge of the field that fascinates you the most. Try to interact with STEM people around to get deeper insights of their work. Do not restrict your thoughts. Explore various fields around you. Continue proving yourself not only to others but to yourself. Gradually, you’ll see the aura which differentiates you from others! And maybe someday you too can become a successful electrical engineer too.
Written by Kanika Singh who works for John Deere India.
