Meet Victoria Teng

Victoria Teng earned her Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering, and a Minor in French from Carleton University. She currently works as a Civil Engineer at the MMM Group, WSP. In her spare time, she likes to read, run, learn new things, do art, and yoga.

When did your love of STEM begin?

My love of STEM began as a young child without my realizing it at the time. I have always had an interest in problem solving (especially in the form of puzzles). Then in high school, I took a wood and metal shop course on a whim and absolutely loved it and excelled at it. I loved designing my own creations and building them in real life. I considered it a fun hobby until my wood shop teacher suggested the field of engineering would be a good fit for me. I had not thought of engineering as a career path for myself since engineers usually have an unflattering portrayal as nerds in media, however a spark in my mind was lit after his suggestion. After doing research, I chose the field of civil engineering, which I have been pursuing ever since! 

What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?

Problem solving and knowing you have a made a contribution to the world at the end of the day.

What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?

Find yourself a mentor (a woman or a man) who has experience in the field you are interested in. This person will be a great resource for career advice, technical information and increasing your network. Don't be afraid to ask someone for help - you will be amazed at how many people are willing to help you!