By Lara Harrington, Chief Engineer and Honda Passport Development Leader
When I was young, I couldn’t see myself in the way most women were portrayed in the media. I liked to work with my hands, and my father — a classic do-it-yourselfer — didn’t hesitate to involve me when he was out in the garage working under the hood of the car.
These opportunities fueled my own passion for working on mechanical things, but as a young woman, I questioned whether I had the confidence to pursue a non-traditional career path.
I’m now some four decades removed from that critical time in my life, and I’ve spent most of my professional career as a Honda R&D engineer. In fact, I’m proud to be the first woman to serve as the development leader for a new vehicle at Honda, the Honda Passport.
Today, women have made great inroads into STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers, but unfortunately, we are still vastly underrepresented in many areas, including in engineering.
Consider that women outnumber men in American colleges and universities, yet according to the Society of Women Engineers, only about 20 percent of the bachelor’s degrees awarded in STEM-related fields go to women. In the workforce, the numbers are even smaller, with women representing around 13 percent of practicing engineers, for example. That’s a problem on several levels.
For a mobility company like Honda, a diverse workforce is invaluable in creating better products and better business outcomes. Technology serves both men and women, so the unique inputs of women engineers make important contributions to meet customer needs.
Specifically, engineering is a highly rewarding career path for both women and men. I spent the early part of my career engineering body structures optimized for safety, efficiency and performance to create vehicles that were appealing to all customers. Working on these projects afforded me both opportunity for career advancement and a great sense of accomplishment.
Looking to the future, more young women should have this same opportunity, yet the percentage of practicing women engineers has not really increased over the past 20 years. Despite all of the effort to open non-traditional careers to women, many roles still are considered by both men and women to be “for men only.”
Here are a few thoughts for young women entering STEM-related fields and those who support them, who might need a little encouragement.
1. Role Models are Important
A role model can provide the inspiration needed to pursue your natural skills and passions. I found my role model as a young girl, unexpectedly, on the wall of my local library. It was a photo of Amelia Earhart, the first woman aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. I did not know anything about her at the time; it was the image itself that gave me inspiration. She was confident and comfortable standing next to her aircraft in a pose more traditionally associated with men.
Seeing Earhart gave me the confidence that a career in engineering might be where I belonged. I later learned that she even kept a scrapbook of successful women in fields dominated by men! Finding your own inspiration, that person or idea that unlocks your own self-confidence, is key.
2. Encouragement Begins at Home
Recently, while mentoring a group of young girls interested in STEM careers, I went around the room asking about interests. Few were interested in engineering, and none said “automotive engineer.” As one put it, “People think I’m weird if I try to work on a car.”
It’s unfortunate that many women today don’t feel welcome or capable of entering a STEM-related field. Thinking back to my own childhood, the best encouragement I received was the time spent with my father, working alongside him in the garage. Fathers and sons have been bonding over engines as long as there have been cars. We need to make sure we are affording our daughters the same opportunities to excel in engineering and STEM-related fields as our sons.
3. Confidence is Key
When a young woman is in a room full of men, it can be tough for her to speak up. Confidence is key to success for any woman working in an industry dominated by men.
In engineering, demonstrating competence goes a long way in gaining respect and having confidence. Many opportunities to gain hands-on experience exist. Go outside your comfort zone to take advantage of these opportunities and further explore your interests. This is important because not only does your experience grow, but so does your confidence.
Young women today may not see my photo on the wall of their local library, but I hope that my experience can serve as an inspiration, source of confidence and maybe even something of a roadmap for the next generation of young women engineers. Together, we can make engineering and STEM-related fields one more profession where women can “take the wheel.”
Lara Harrington holds a degree in aeronautical engineering from The Ohio State University. She is a 28-year veteran of Honda R&D Americas with experience in development of multiple Honda and Acura vehicles. Most recently, Lara served as the development leader of the Honda Pilot and Honda Passport sport-utility vehicles.
