#WomensMonth: Women have to prove themselves in the engineering field, says Linda Mashiri

Linda Mashiri

Before moving to South Africa, she worked at Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company and Solartech Systems. Mashiri holds an M.Eng degree in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development from Stellenbosch University and a B.Eng in Electronic Engineering from National University of Science and Technology.

"The engineering discipline is male dominated so as women we have to prove that we can do it. If you fail, people start to think because you are a woman. They don’t accept that everyone can fail or make mistakes. Women can do it. Don’t be discouraged by anyone, if you can dream it you can achieve it," she says.

Describe a typical work day

My typical work day is more of sitting behind a computer in an office environment. I am into designing, so my number one tool is my laptop, and a calculator.

What do you love most about your job?

I love working with numbers and playing around with solar panel layouts. Seeing my design work in office coming into a reality fascinates me. I always compare my design layout with physical layout and it looks like a mirror image.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

When I was young, I wanted to be a pilot but then this changed as I grew up and realised I am into engineering.

What is the best advice anyone has given you?

Never stress about anything, there is always a way out.

If you could do any other job what would it be?

I would go for renewable financial modelling.

What would you say to your younger self?

You have done well by setting yourself goals, now they are coming into reality.