Engineering Success: How Mia Nielsen Leads with Confidence and Collaboration
In our latest Women We Work With interview, we’re honored to feature Mia Nielsen, a Senior Project Manager of Programming at Actemium Canada, oversees the SCADA (PLC & HMI) Programming team. Her primary objective is to find efficiencies in both resources and processes to improve their performance.
Mia’s journey into this field began in high school when a career test suggested she should be a nurse due to her strengths in science and math. However, she couldn’t see herself in that role. Instead, she approached her counselor about pursuing engineering, inspired by tours of the automotive plant where her father worked as a tool maker. Despite being told she wouldn’t succeed, she was determined to prove otherwise.
She loved solving problems and improving things, which fueled her passion for engineering.
Throughout her career, she has faced challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field. Determination has been key, but she has also been fortunate to have excellent mentors and leaders who provided opportunities. Unfortunately, she has encountered biases, such as headhunters suggesting limited job prospects for senior female engineers or dismissive comments. These experiences highlight why many women from her engineering graduating class ended up in non-engineering careers by retirement.
To other women aspiring to enter similar roles, her advice is to stay confident and not let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. You can be both feminine and an excellent engineer without compromising who you are. One particularly rewarding experience at Actemium has been seeing the team come together to achieve their goals. They have a talented and dedicated team committed to delivering the right outcomes for their clients, which is truly rewarding.
Maintaining a work-life balance in demanding roles involves everyone pulling together, both at home and at work. Sometimes, it’s important to recognize that perfection isn’t always the goal. Actemium fosters a culture of diversity and inclusion through support from the top down. Mentoring and leadership support are crucial in building the confidence needed for women in non-traditional fields.