Influential Woman · Government
Consuelo Sichon
PE
Senior Electrical Engineer Specialist, State of California Department of Transportation
Sacramento, CA
Her Story
About Consuelo
Consuelo Sichon is an electrical engineer with over three decades of experience. She has worked for the State of California Department of Transportation for the past seven years, where her focus includes improving the construction contract delivery process and managing the website that advertises construction contracts for bid. Prior to that, she spent time at the California Energy Commission. Sichon earned her bachelor's degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1993 and is licensed in California as a professional electrical engineer (PE). She is a member of Eta Kappa Nu, the honor fraternity for electrical engineers. Sichon attributes her success to a commitment to continuous learning across multiple areas and seeking feedback from colleagues before making decisions. She values integrity, public safety, and mentoring newer engineers, principles that guide both her professional and personal life. Her advice to others includes asking questions even when you think you know the answer and continuing to learn and grow to avoid falling behind.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Consuelo
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to learning more, not just in my field but other areas. I talk to people ahead of time on things I plan to do, getting feedback from others before making a decision.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received is to ask questions even though you think you know the answer. You might learn something you didn't know about.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Continue learning. If you're not learning and not growing, then you're falling behind.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are integrity issues, people not doing what they say they're going to do, and engineers not being trained properly so they're not learning good practices.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my career, integrity, looking out for public safety, and educating others like newer engineers, mentoring. These values stand true in my personal life as well.
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