Her Story
About Alexandra
When I was a teenager, I wanted to study astrophysics, but I wasn't quite sure what job prospects I had, so I decided to study aerospace engineering because it would allow me to build rockets that go into space to look at planets. When I was even younger than a teenager, I just liked cars, and I thought I would love to work on cars, but I like race cars more than road cars, and I like the competitive spirit. When I was studying engineering, I found the field of aerodynamics very interesting, and I'm reasonably good at mathematics. When the opportunity arose to go into F1, I pursued it, and it became a dream come true. I was at Red Bull Racing Formula One when the team won the championship, and I made my own small contributions to the simulation world which improved the correlation between track testing and design. It feels like a little part of me is part of that championship title. It was a very proud moment because it was a dream come true! Now I look to apply my skills to the automotive industry, to make vehicle designs more efficient as well as safety compliant and great looking.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alexandra
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being very perseverant and not taking no for an answer. I was told earlier in my career many myths about what it takes to make it in the industry, such as how exclusive the hiring process would be based on where I studied etc. I am glad I persevered through those and applied anyway, to find out they were just myths and that the value of an individual is very nuanced; a function of many abilities.I had to face many challenges in terms of adjusting my mentality and scope of work, and instead of saying this is too hard, I won't do it, I just really focused on strategizing how to deal with it better, not to survive, but thrive. I later learned this is a mentality I have derived from my core values.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One notable piece of advice is that there's a lot of noise in what you hear from other people or what are perceived as societal expectations or norms. At the end of the day, an individual has to think about what matters to them and stay true to that, understanding that just because other people have different paths, it's not a reflection of the individual's own choices or paths. It's important not to give in to pressure or judgment from around you, because that will always happen. The higher up you go, the more you have it, and the more it can sting if you don't have a thick skin to do it. I think this is a skill the university and college doesn't teach you. You just have to learn it yourself by building confidence and seeing that ultimately the choices that you make take you through where you want to be, regardless of what other people say. It builds your track record, so you doubt yourself less as you go on into your career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice for women in my industry or looking to come into the industry is to build resilience and build confidence in your abilities. Learn to trust your instincts and to pursue your own ideas. You don't need everyone to approve of your idea. You can have feedback, you can change course, but you shouldn't seek validation in every single thing you do. Just take initiative, because if you're offered a job in the industry, you deserve it. You meet the requirements, so you don't need the continuous reassurance.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The opportunities are related to implementation of AI and machine learning for engineering tools.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I actually learned that I reflect my core values in my work as well. Obviously they manifest differently because there's a professional context. I would say compassion, accountability, and resilience are my top three core values.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.