Dafina Djombalic

I attribute my success to my entire educational and professional journey. Coming from a family where my parents are first-generation immigrants, I've always been driven to work hard and achieve my goals. Even though I have two older siblings, I felt I had to push myself academically to reach the global companies I was aiming for. That's why I pursued my master's degree right after my bachelor's - I knew it would open more doors. I completed my biology degree from Seton Hall University in 2021 and my Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2022. Throughout my career, I've worked continuously without any gaps, building experience through well over 50 projects in environmental consulting. My determination to keep learning, my passion for the environment, and my commitment to excellence in customer service have all contributed to where I am today at Tesla.

The best career advice that has guided me is that you can have a successful career and work hard to achieve your goals and make your dreams come true, even as a first-generation American. My parents are first-generation immigrants here, and seeing their journey taught me that with determination and hard work, anything is possible. This advice pushed me to pursue higher education, earn my master's degree, and aim for positions at global companies like Tesla, even when the path wasn't always easy.

My advice to young women entering environmental engineering and consulting is that you can absolutely be successful in a male-dominated field and even supersede expectations as a woman. I've always followed and supported women engineers through organizations like the Society of Women Engineers, and I'm passionate about women who share the same interests in environmental work, business, entrepreneurship, and consulting. Don't let the fact that it's a male-dominated industry hold you back - pursue your education, get the credentials you need, and know that you can excel and be recognized for your work just like I have been.

Right now, one of the biggest opportunities in my field is working for innovative, sustainable companies like Tesla that are at the forefront of environmental technology. I've been in my role at Tesla for just under a year, and I'm really looking forward to my future here. The company is doing cutting-edge work in sustainability and clean technology, and being part of that mission is incredibly exciting. The challenge for me was finding the right opportunity on the East Coast, since many environmental roles at companies like Tesla are concentrated on the West Coast in California. But I made it work, and now I'm in a position where I'm learning every day, working with AI and high-tech systems, and contributing to a global company's environmental mission.

The values most important to me are hard work, passion for the environment, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I love being at Tesla and I'm very passionate about my role as an environmental advisor and EHS representative, where I handle customer interactions, safety protocols, and inspections to ensure everything runs smoothly. I take pride in doing excellent work and being recognized for it - I consistently score high on customer satisfaction and my company has acknowledged my contributions. But I also believe you can only work so hard, and it's important to enjoy life outside of work. In my free time, I love going to the gym and staying fit - I've had three trainers over the years. I'm passionate about traveling, especially to Europe and Florida, and I love learning new languages like Albanian, German, and French. I enjoy reading, going on walks, hiking, and spending time at the beach. These personal interests keep me balanced and energized, and they remind me that while career success is important, so is exploring the world and enjoying experiences with friends and family.