Claribel Solis

I consider myself a Type A perfectionist—someone who likes control because control has shown positive results. Professionally, I’ve had to work twice as hard to get what I wanted, and despite my success, that struggle hasn’t disappeared.

My father, who is also an engineer, has been my mentor throughout my career. Years ago, he asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks: What has been the most challenging factor in your career—being Latina, or being a woman? My answer was immediate; being a Woman. It doesn’t matter if you’re Black, Latina, or white—engineering and technical fields are still incredibly difficult spaces for women to navigate, to be taken seriously and to thrive.

At the same time, I recognize how fortunate I’ve been. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities I’ve received and for the work I get to do. But gratitude doesn’t erase reality. Being a woman in this field is hard—exceptionally hard.

One of my defining career moments came in 2012. At the time, I was working for another company and living in New Jersey, while my son lived in Texas. I was already supporting a significant number of projects in Texas, so I developed a detailed business plan outlining how relocating me there would be a win‑win for the company.

My immediate supervisor shut the idea down.

Instead of stopping there, I went to his manager—who happened to be a woman. She didn’t dismiss me or make assumptions. She asked for the business case. I presented it. And leadership agreed.

The result: a promotion, a performance salary increase, financial support for my move, and—most importantly—the ability to live closer to my son.

I achieved that outcome through preparation, persistence, and advocacy—with support from leadership that saw my value.

What stayed with me, though, was my immediate supervisor later telling me that this only happened because he allowed it.

That moment crystallized something for me. Even when women succeed—especially when we advocate for ourselves—our wins are often reframed as permission granted rather than leadership demonstrated.

That experience didn’t discourage me. It sharpened me. It taught me that progress often requires both excellence and the willingness to challenge barriers directly.

Never give up and be curious.

If I could give young women one piece of advice, it would be this: your success will not come from waiting to be noticed—it will come from preparing, advocating, and choosing yourself even when it feels uncomfortable.

This industry will test you. Not because you’re incapable, but because you’re a woman in a space that still isn’t designed with you in mind. You may work twice as hard and still feel like you’re proving yourself over and over again. That experience isn’t personal—and it isn’t a failure.

So here’s what I’ve learned.

1. Learn the business, not just the job

Do your work exceptionally well—but don’t stop there. Understand how your role creates value, saves time, manages risk, or drives revenue. When you can speak in business terms, your voice carries more weight. This is the difference between asking for opportunities and earning buy‑in.

2. Advocate for yourself with facts, not permission

No one cares about your career more than you do. Build the plan. Gather the data. Make the case. Don’t wait for someone else to see your potential or open the door for you. When resistance shows up—and it will—you move forward prepared, not emotional.

3. Seek sponsors, not just mentors

Mentors advise. Sponsors act. Find leaders who will speak your name in rooms you’re not in and who value results over hierarchy. Representation matters, not just symbolically but practically—because leaders who see you will listen to you.

4. Stop apologizing for ambition

Being driven, detail‑oriented, or demanding excellence does not make you difficult—it makes you effective. Women are often conditioned to soften their message to be accepted. Don’t shrink yourself to make others comfortable. You can be confident, competent, and collaborative at the same time.

5. Expect resistance—and don’t internalize it

There will be moments when your success is minimized, reframed, or credited to someone else. That’s not a reflection of your capability—it’s a reflection of the system. Learn to recognize it, name it internally, and keep moving forward without letting it redefine your worth.

6. Gratitude and accountability can coexist

Be grateful for your opportunities—but don’t confuse gratitude with silence. You can appreciate where you are and still push for more. You can love your work and acknowledge the inequities that exist. Both things can be true.

7. Define success for yourself

Success isn’t just titles or promotions—it’s building a career that aligns with your values, your family, and your sense of purpose. Don’t let anyone tell you that ambition and life priorities can’t coexist. You get to decide what “having it all” means for you.

My biggest challenge is to be invited to the forums were strategic decisions are made that could transform my team and the company.

At the center of my work and identity is a genuine desire to help people. I place deep value on making information accessible, reducing complexity, and enabling others to succeed. Fulfillment comes not from recognition or titles, but from knowing that someone is better equipped because of your guidance. Helping others is not a function of my role—it is my purpose.

I value being known as a person first, not a set of qualifications. While I respect your education and certifications, I am intentional about not leading with them. What matters more to me is trust, relatability, and authentic connection. I believe credibility is built through consistency and care, not authority.

Outside of work, I value experiences that restore and ground me. Travel—especially being near water—feeds my soul, even in small doses. I appreciate slowing down, being present, and intentionally caring for myself both physically and emotionally through reading, cooking, and preparing meals from scratch. These aren’t just hobbies for me; they’re forms of self‑care and intentional living, shaped by experience and a deep appreciation for balance. In addition, travel provides for me new experiences in different places, cultures and people that I enjoy experiencing and learning from.