Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day with Fabíola Almeida at SIG

How did your journey start at SIG and which countries have you been to so far?

I began my journey with SIG in 2011, working on the project for the first plant in the Americas in Campo Largo, Brazil. Over five years, I collaborated with the project team from Germany and the local team. I visited the Linnich plant in Germany in 2012 to learn more about the extruder construction process.

In 2016, after completing the last expansion (following seven contracts at the time), I moved on to new challenges. At the beginning of 2021, I was invited to work directly for SIG, this time as an engineering coordinator at the new plant in Mexico, overseeing the construction company, now as a client. In August 2021, I arrived in Queretaro, MX, ready for this new journey. It was a period of 1 year and 8 months of intense experiences, getting to know the culture, adjusting, relearning Spanish, meeting incredible people, and, most importantly, getting to know SIG.

In December 2022, I joined the global projects team and moved to Germany on a permanent contract. Shortly after, I started working on a project in India, where I am currently based. I also visited plants in Thailand and China. Today, we are nearing completion of the plant in Ahmedabad, India.

How was this process of change?

Changes are never easy, especially when outside our comfort zone. In Mexico, the cultural and language similarities made it less complicated. The People & Culture team supported me well. Moving to Germany was smooth, but the language was a challenge. Initially, everyone spoke English, but eventually, learning German became necessary.

Moving to India was more turbulent, from visa processes to the first two months. The culture is quite different from Brazil, with adjustments needed in communication, food, clothing, and behavior. Adapting and reaffirming myself as a professional was necessary, as women in leadership positions are less common in smaller Indian cities. My husband's support has been invaluable in these transitions.

What are the biggest challenges and achievements in engineering, and in getting to know and working with people from various parts of the world?

The biggest challenge is being a foreigner. People are often resistant to outsiders, telling them how to do things, which is part of our work in civil engineering. Engineering adjustments, interaction between the machine and the building, and execution sequences are our contributions, and we must gain the trust of the local team.

Understanding and respecting local customs are essential. In India, I had to learn about local customs, behaviors, and ceremonies. These cultural challenges are interesting and rewarding when I see the progress and the creation of new jobs.

What have been your greatest personal achievements, looking back on your journey?

Every step of my journey has been an achievement. The invitation to work in another country, the recognition with last year's +Excellence 2023 award, and joining the Projects team were significant milestones. Living in Germany was a dream come true, and having the opportunity to be in many different places has been a passion fulfilled.

What message would you like to leave for women who have also chosen engineering as a career?

Engineering is just another career. Challenges and prejudice exist everywhere, but we women must know what we want, assert ourselves, and not let anyone tell us 'no' because we are women. Engineering is no longer a male-dominated territory. We have incredible female engineers at SIG and beyond who are examples and inspiration. We must have the courage and determination to be one of many.