It’s a rare individual that not only strives for excellence but also brings others with her. EIT InnoEnergy Master School (Cum Laude!) graduate Carolina Escudero is one of them. She has just won the WeAreTheCity Top 5 award in the Energy & Utilities category – a rising star award that showcases the UK pipeline of female talent and helps to create industry role models. As Business Development Manager at Swedish Energy company Vattenfall, an industry leader in decarbonisation, she is no stranger to hard work or being a role model.
Volunteer Work
Carolina has dedicated a lot of her time volunteering for the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), a charity which supports women in engineering, science and technology. She shares, “During 2019, I was honoured to be chosen to lead the biggest London Cluster coordinating activities which help create a strong network of women in engineering and support girls interested in purposing a STEM career. I’m proud to have initiated a scheme called “Work Shadowing Week” where girls 16+ were placed with an engineering mentor for a week to give them a real-life experience.” A significant source of joy in her life, Carolina implores, “I know that time is a precious resource, but please consider volunteering. Whatever the stage of your career, take the time to support others!”
An International Career
Carolina shares her international journey so far, “I studied Electrical Engineering in Colombia and worked for a while before I decided to pursue a Master’s in sustainability. It was quite a change! When I moved to Sweden, I had an excellent job in Colombia that I had to quit. Some people were supportive, some thought I was mad – but I was up for the adventure. Arriving in a new country where the language is so different, can be daunting. I remember making mistakes like buying yoghurt instead of milk… funny but frustrating! However, I made a great group of friends, and I also met my now-husband while I was in Stockholm, so my time in Sweden truly changed my life. I then moved to Eindhoven to finish my programme and had to start all over again, which was hard at first; however, my thesis supervisor and professor were so supportive, which pushed me to give it my all. Now I live in London, and every time I move it gets a bit easier than the next. Having an international masters gives you more tools to adapt to whatever the change might be.”
A technical and commercial education
When looking for a master’s that combined technical and commercial aspects of engineering, Carolina found the EIT InnoEnergy Master’s in Environomical Pathways for Sustainable Energy Systems (SELECT) programme. “I had a great time in my masters. There were ups and downs as I was far away from home and also returning to studies after such a long period of working. However, my new friends and colleagues supported me all the way. I also travelled within the programme, studying in two different countries and attending business school in Barcelona, which is not common in any other school. As I had prior work experience, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to do in my career. I love technical and conceptual designs of sustainable power systems, but at the same time, I want to make commercially sound decisions. I believe my masters helped me combine these two aspects in my everyday work, and I’m grateful for this amazing experience. Also, we had to work a lot in groups, which is something I wasn’t used to. I think having colleagues from all over the world, really teaches you in a safe environment how to collaborate. I take this learning with me in everything I do!”
Advice for young women
Carolina has some great advice for young female engineers: “Starting a new career, regardless of what you have studied, is daunting. My advice would be to find a group within or outside the company to have support. No-one makes it to the top alone. I still have a long way to go in my career, but I’ve learnt that having a network of people supporting you – especially if they’re women engineers – can be a powerful force to propel you forward. They catch you when you fall, and carry you on their shoulders when you’re successful. If you want to achieve something, it’s yours to get. I’m a Colombian engineer and would have never dreamed of being an award winner in the UK! This award is what I consider my reward to my continuous dedication to my engineering work, volunteering and raising the profile of women in engineering. I still can’t believe that I was recognised amongst all these fantastic women. It’s been a great experience!”