Meet Ana Karla Albisua
Ana Karla Albisua earned her degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and as awared a Medal of Honor "Francisco Javier Clavijero", for earning the highest GPA of the class. She curretnly works as a Program Manager of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Instrument Panel. In her spare time, Ana enjoys reading, figure skating, work out, and hanging out with her friends.
When did your love of STEM begin?
After my parents took me for the very first time to Walt Disney World, I discovered my passion for roller-coasters and decided at the age of 6 that I wanted to become a "Roller-Coasters Engineer"... whatever that was. With the years, I found out that the closest Engineering Degree to "Roller-Coasters builder" or "architect" would be Mechanical Engineering. That is how I decided the future of my career. Later on, I did my internship at a BMW Plant in Germany and my interest for cars grew stronger than my love for roller coasters and here I am, 4.5 years working on the automotive industry.
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
The best thing about this field is the versatility that an Engineering career gives you. The mindset of an Engineer can cope with basically every problem or challenge given. What is also very cool is that, as an Engineer you rarely work alone, so you get to interact and grow as you work together with a lot of brilliant different minds. Normally an Engineer can fit into any area or department of a company, whether it is Finance, Controlling, Engineering, Program Management, etc. they all need at some given point the logic mindset of an Engineer to work through solutions. That is why I love Engineering so much.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
Do not listen to people who tell you that you cannot do something. Look at the challenge dead in the eye and tell them "watch me". Trust your talents and your own capacity, and if you fall short: work harder and study more. Never settle with your current achievements, set new targets as you accomplish your goals and remember that the sky is the limit. You got this.