Meet Wintta Ghebreiyesus

Wintta Ghebreiyesus earned a Bachelor of Engineering in 2014 and a Master of Applied Science, 17' from Ryerson University. She is a PhD student, Department of Aerospace Engineering at Ryerson. In her spare time, Wintta likes to volunteer with Space Place Planetarium Canada, the leadership team at Space Place Planetarium Canada, and mentor at Black Spinel Initiative.

When did your love of STEM begin?

A lifelong dream of mine has been to become an engineer ever since 2003, when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. I wished to be a part of future improvement to the vehicle’s design that would prevent human tragedy. I then went on to attend a high-school which specialized in tech and computer studies, so I had a rough idea about what it took to become an engineer.

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

The best part about working in the STEM field, is meeting diverse and like-minded people that strive to make the world a better place. In STEM, I love that the problem-solvers of today are the leaders of tomorrow.

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

One piece of advice I would give young women interested in STEM is that real world engineering can be a lot different from what we learn in the classroom. I have realized that to innovate and bring forth positive change means asking the right questions and investing our time. Put simply, there is no formula for success in engineering. Engineering isn’t scary, but it can be if we stay within the norm and we refrain from becoming more efficient with our solutions. As part of the next generation of engineers, we must learn to think outside the box and push the boundaries of engineering.