An ExxonMobil Engineer Makes a Difference

Erika Anderson didn’t always know she desired to be an engineer. In truth, for most of her childhood, it was not a career route she experienced even heard about.

• “I did not know what engineering was until eventually my senior calendar year in substantial faculty,” reported Anderson. “I imagined an engineer was a train driver, and no person advised me differently.”

A instant of truth: For the duration of her senior 12 months, Anderson was told to investigation the major she preferred to explore soon after substantial school. She searched on-line, searching for occupations for persons who favored math and science—and the initial point that came up was engineering.

• “It was all about men and women who like a obstacle persons who are lifelong learners,” stated Anderson. “And as I retained examining, I held hearing myself in this description. People had often said, you’re smart, you must be a medical professional or a law firm. But no one at any time explained engineer.”

Her journey: At Spelman School and the Georgia Institute of Technological innovation, Anderson researched arithmetic and mechanical engineering, respectively, although working for GE Aviation and NASA. But it was throughout a semester put in doing work at ExxonMobil that she observed her passion.

• “ExxonMobil was hard, and I certainly beloved it,” stated Anderson. “I cherished the boots, the tricky hats, getting my arms filthy. I was in a position to go out into the subject, see all the devices. I was in awe. I fell in enjoy with it.”

Her task: On her past working day in the office for the duration of her software at ExxonMobil, the enterprise made available Anderson a entire-time work. Now, she’s in her eighth yr, operating as the two the trustworthiness engineer and the reliability coordinator in Baytown, Texas. For ExxonMobil, those are essential roles, tasked with guaranteeing that the company’s gear retains operating as designed. The way Anderson clarifies it:

• “Your auto arrives with a manual and it tells you when you’re supposed to change your oil or rotate your tires. And someone has to determine out how extensive that oil or individuals tires can run. I’m not working with cars and trucks, but I’m dealing with heat exchangers, compressors and pumps. I make sure that this gear is effective, that it will work reliably, and that we’re creating repairs at an interval that retains your products operating as it should really.”

Generating a change: As a Black woman in producing, Anderson is made use of to getting various from the people close to her. She has identified herself confronting stereotypes and preconceived notions about who she is. It hasn’t often been effortless, but she’s performing important work—and guaranteeing that other younger women of all ages have the option to follow their passions.

An illustration to others: Anderson was a short while ago acknowledged by The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce progress and education lover of the NAM, as a 2021 Stage Award Emerging Leader. The award is presented to women of all ages leaders in science, know-how, engineering and production careers who exemplify leadership within their corporations and in manufacturing in normal.

Suggestions for many others: Anderson is an advocate for other gals who are thinking of a job in producing. She encourages ladies to uncover mentors, establish a network and, earlier mentioned all, be self-assured.

• “Self-question is genuine, and from time to time, we can be our very own largest critics,” mentioned Anderson. “We have to comprehend that we are excellent. We are wonderful. And at the close of the working day, for any woman coming to this industry—if you’re even contemplating about it—there’s a little something in you. If it were simple, everybody would be undertaking it.”

The final term: “My grandmother always told me: you’ve bought to get cozy with currently being unpleasant. The only way issues will change is by owning more persons like me in the home. We are just as able as everyone else, and what ever preconceived notions that may perhaps exist, I am below to kick individuals doorways down.”