Name: Alena Iqbal Meng (Hons)

Job Title: Project Manager – Digital Transformation

Location: Manchester

Alena Iqbal is a Project Manager at Amey. Alena's journey into engineering began at the age of 16 during a work experience at an engineering consultancy. While her peers spent their 1-week work experience photocopying documents, Alena had the opportunity to size a nitric acid tank, which sparked her passion for problem-solving and understanding chemical properties. The supportive and inspiring project manager she worked with played a key role in her decision to pursue engineering, leading her to study Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Leeds.

Today, Alena thrives in her role, where every day brings new challenges. As a Project Manager she leads digitalisation projects, most recently working on a project to digitalise the planning process of Amey’s construction teams.

As a woman of colour in a traditionally male-dominated field, Alena has faced numerous challenges, yet she has always persevered. A leadership program with Amey helped her overcome imposter syndrome, boosting her confidence and fuelling her advocacy for more women of colour in senior roles within the rail industry. Inspired by the mentorship she received from two female graduates early in her career, Alena is now a passionate mentor herself, dedicated to creating more opportunities for women and paying it forward by coaching and guiding the next generation of engineers.

Today, we explore Alena's journey, as she shares her career path and encourages young girls to pursue their passions in engineering with confidence and without hesitation.

When did you realise that a career in engineering was right for you? Was there a particular moment in your life?

When I was 16, I did a 1-week work experience at an engineering consultancy which inspired me to become an engineer. While my friends spent their 1-week work experience photocopying documents, the PM looking after me had different plans! By the end of the week, I had sized a nitric acid tank. I enjoyed the problem-solving and the learning that came with it, such as calculations and understanding chemical properties. However, it was the team that made this experience truly memorable. I was especially inspired by the PM’s passion for all things engineering, and as a result, I decided to study engineering at university.

What does an average day look like for you?

It varies as I like to get involved in different projects and initiatives. I have weekly catchups with project teams to identify any issues with our digital processes and work towards resolving these. For processes that need fine tuning, I have a detail-oriented approach. The overarching theme is collaborative problem solving as I rely heavily on the expertise of some incredibly talented individuals. I’ve recently worked on a project to digitalise the planning process our construction teams use which has been challenging yet rewarding.

How did you get into this career? What qualifications did you get?

I was looking for a project management graduate scheme and this role seemed like a good fit. Due to the scale of the project and me being on a graduate scheme, I was able to try my hand at several roles which helped me hone in on what I enjoy: Process Optimisation! I graduated from the University of Leeds with a Masters in Chemical and Process engineering (MEng) which has been handy when working on processes in rail!

Did you face any challenges with your career decision as a woman engineer?

I’m a big believer in “If you can see her, you can be her” and I very much did not “see her” when I started, especially in senior roles. Initially, I felt like I didn’t belong in any room I walked into, and I’m sure this reflected in my behaviour as I questioned “Am I supposed to be here?”.

I completed a leadership programme with Amey specifically aimed at individuals from multicultural backgrounds. This programme, along with the mentoring l received, empowered me and helped me overcome my doubts. The rail industry has been championing gender diversity massively which is really promising. However, women of colour are still very much missing, especially in senior management; I’m expecting this to change soon.

What advice would you give to young girls considering a career in engineering?

Pursue your interests to the ends of the earth, whatever they may be. Don’t let society dictate where you do or don’t belong, and don’t self-reject! Operating from a place of abundance will yield far greater results than operating from a place of scarcity - build each other up. This mindset has greatly helped me in my career; where others have seen obstacles, I’ve seen opportunities.

Do you have any standout memories from your career as an engineer?

I do! During my 1-week work experience (mentioned earlier), two female graduates took me under their wing. I returned to that same engineering consultancy for work placements over the next few summers, and being around these women had a profound impact on me. Their genuine mutual respect and the care they showed me have stayed with me. In male-dominated fields, women can feel like they are fighting for one seat at the table; these women taught me the importance of creating more seats at the table. This experience is a driving force for the coaching and mentoring I do with early career professionals in my own industry. I believe it’s my responsibility to pay it forward.

Curious about our #ShesAnEngineer series? Dive into our video series featuring women who are driving change and breaking down barriers in their field. Discover their inspiring stories here: https://www.alexander-assoc.co.uk/women-in-engineering.