Smashing the glass ceiling, Q&A with Dr Hannelie Nel

Dr Hannelie Nel

Nel is also a visiting associate professor at the Faculty of Engineering at North-West University in the Department of Industrial Engineering. She holds a Doctorate in Engineering Management and has spent seventeen years in both industry and academia.

What led you to a career in engineering?

Dr Hannelie Nel: At the time, my uncle was a Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pretoria and he motivated me to consider engineering as a career due to my love for mathematics and science. I decided to pursue engineering and found a passion for analytics, design and analysis that allowed me to create tangible solutions for the world around me.

In your opinion, what accounts for the low proportion of women engineers globally?

Nel: During my twenty years of work and research in engineering, a few reasons are cited for the low number of women engineers globally. As children, girls do not have access to technical toys that they can relate to, and primary and secondary education material does not contain content that appeals to girls. This in itself discourages and alienates female children and students from technical careers. In the professional world, women feel isolated in a male-dominated environment and experience gender discrimination with regard to remuneration and opportunities. During the span of their professional careers, women engineers earn 30% less over the course of their life-times compared to their male counterparts. Furthermore, engineering has few role models for women to aspire to and governmental and institutional systems do not recognise women as equal participants in economy, business and social structures. Marketing of engineering as a career of choice is inadequate and women in engineering are perceived as unfeminine - an incorrect and antiquated perception!

What barriers did you face, as a woman, becoming successful in your field, and how did you overcome them?

Nel: The most significant barriers women experience occur during their initial years as a professional. During her twenties and thirties, a woman is trying to start and raise a family whilst pursuing her career and the two objectives compete fiercely for her time and attention. I overcame this barrier by moving from industry to academia to allow more options in my time and work environment. Work-life balance is probably the most significant barrier a professional technical woman experiences. Strategies that mitigate this challenge include clear and strong boundaries, regular exercise to promote mental and physical fitness, strong support structures and networks, and equitable remuneration.

Does a 'glass ceiling' exist for women in engineering?

Nel: Yes, glass ceilings are still very prevalent for women in technical careers. As mentioned, women earn a third less than their male equivalents and believe they are required to work twice as hard as men to receive due recognition and reward for their effort and accomplishments. Women may also be excluded from meetings and committees where important decisions are made, and a lack of transparency in information-sharing and decision-making adds to this exclusion. Many professional technical women do not believe that the current systems allow women to be leaders in engineering in South Africa.

Based on your experience, what advice would you give to women pursuing a career in your field?

Nel: I highly recommend that women join existing relevant networks or create their own. Networks and peer support allow women to contextualise their positive and negative experiences and alleviate the sense of isolation they feel in their careers. The right of women to make their own choices, their agency, is enhanced and strengthened by like-minded women with similar experiences. Also, I strongly support mentorship and joint ventures between older and younger women to promote sharing of experience and knowledge. I am very passionate about the benefit of regular exercise, strong routine and keystone habits - techniques and tools that may be employed towards a healthy and balanced mind and body in a career as demanding as engineering.

Could you tell us more about your recently published book, Leadership and Agency by Women Engineers in South Africa?

Nel: The book discusses the current and relevant issues that women engineers face in their work and daily lives in South Africa; as well as the challenges, the reward and the motivation they have for their careers. I share with the reader the reality and truth of being a woman, working as an engineer, in a country as challenging and diverse as South Africa - and suggest solutions that government, companies and institutions may consider for implementation in the attraction and retention of technical women. The format of the book assumes that of story-telling by nine contributing professionals and its intention is to highlight the significant and vital contribution that women engineers make as leaders and change agents in South Africa. I believe that their stories represent what all women engineers experience during the span of their careers and lives and the book concludes with leadership qualities required for a career in engineering. The book is available on Amazon as an e-book or soft cover.

What motivated you to found the Women in Engineering and the Built Environment programme (WiEBE) at UJ, and what are some of its key achievements?

Nel: I had the opportunity during my tenure at the University of Johannesburg to establish the national UJ-Group Five Women in Engineering and the Built Environment (WiEBE) programme and currently still serve as ex-officio director of the programme. WiEBE was established to support professional women in engineering and the built environment and to attract women to and retain women in the profession. I founded the programme in response to the gender disparity I experienced during my first ten years as a professional in engineering. In the consequent ten years, as director of WiEBE, I had the privilege to meet and work with phenomenal women and to do a considerable amount of research in the advancement of women in the sector. One of WiEBE's most significant achievements is the annual WiEBE Summit and Excellence in Engineering and Technology Awards that was initiated five years ago to recognise outstanding women in both academia and industry. Another achievement is the establishment of SWiET, the student body of WiEBE. SWiET is managed by women engineering students and operates as a peer-support group for fellow female students.

Do you think it's important having a month dedicated to women?

Nel: Yes I do. It highlights the significant contribution that women make as economic agents and contributors to society in both their familial and professional lives.

What is your message for Women's Month?

Nel: Promote your own personal and professional agency as a women engineer, technologist or technician, and deliberately engage with relevant professional organisations and women-in-engineering networks. Spend the month connecting with like-minded professionals by joining the exciting events listed on www.hannelienel.co.za and www.wiebe.co.za. I wish you a great month, and hope that you enjoy the attention and appreciation you receive from your family and friends - you certainly deserve it!

Dr Hannelie Nel joined The BIE Group in 2013 after eleven years at the University of Johannesburg where she worked as vice dean, head of department and strategy manager. She was president of the Council of the Southern African Society for Industrial Engineering from 2009 to 2010 and is now a registered fellow of the institute. She serves on the boards of the South African Society for Engineering Education and the Metal Casting Technology Station of the University of Johannesburg and is member of the Quality and Risk Committee of CESA, Consulting Engineers South Africa. She previously contributed to the Engineering Council of South Africa via its marketing committee and thought leadership programme.