What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM?

In high school, I studied both Latin and advanced mathematics. When it was time to decide on my next step, I was fortunate to have the support and opportunity to continue my education at university. However, I hesitated to pursue Engineering because I often heard my male classmates make lesbophobic jokes like, “There are no real women in engineering, only lesbians,” and it intimidated me. Instead, I chose to study Geomatics within the Faculty of Science—partly because both my mother and stepmother were physicians, which made science feel like an accessible path for me as a young woman. Ironically, I now work as an engineer at the German Aerospace Center—and I am also a proud lesbian!

What challenges have you overcome on your career path so far?

The biggest challenge? Sexism. Sometimes it was overt and hostile (“women don’t belong here”), but more often, it appeared in subtle ways—sexist jokes, comments about my appearance instead of my work, or constant microaggressions. Over time, this undermined my confidence, making me question whether I truly belonged. What helped me overcome this was finding and building strong communities with others who had faced similar experiences—whether as women or gender minorities. Realizing that these weren’t isolated incidents but part of a larger systemic issue fueled my determination rather than discouraging me. That anger became a driving force for change. I learned that no matter our position—whether entry-level employees or leaders—we each have the power to shape our work environment. I made it my mission to ensure that, under my watch, discrimination would never go unchallenged in the workplace.

What message would you like to pass on to young women who want to pursue a career in STEM?

You are not the problem. You are funny. You are not “too sensitive.” If something feels wrong, trust yourself—it probably is. Seek out other women and gender minorities, build a support system, and remember that other women are not your competition. Lift each other up. Most importantly, learn early on that the opinions of people who don’t play a meaningful role in your life don’t deserve space in your mind. Conflict isn’t something to fear—it’s an opportunity for growth, for strengthening relationships, and for resolving issues. Ask questions. You have the power to challenge the status quo and drive real change.

Engineer Woman Award at HANNOVER MESSE