Ingeteam Water Engineering R+D Director Elena Rodriguez Talks About Leading Men in Water Equipment Manufacturing

0:00-:1:33 - Introduction and Welcome Remarks

The host welcomes the guest speaker, Elena Rodriguez, to the Women Of Water Virtual Summit and provides an overview of the event's objectives and agenda.

:44- 09:31 - Background of Elena Rodriguez 

The speaker discusses their personal journey in the pump industry, which started with an internship in 1997 and has led to a career in pump design. They emphasize the importance of physically seeing equipment in person, particularly for those who are tactile or kinesthetic learners. The speaker also notes that they have a very visual memory and prefer to take notes on paper.

09:31-17:23 Significance of gaining experience and building a diverse portfolio

The speaker stresses the significance of gaining experience and building a diverse portfolio in different roles to succeed in the industry. They express their contentment with their current company's positive impact in the water sector and their involvement in solving environmental and societal problems. They believe that being part of the solution to these issues requires addressing both human and environmental concerns.

17:23-27:47 Networking and building connections with other women

Elena discusses her experience as a woman working in the water industry, particularly in solving problems related to pumping solutions. She emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences in the industry, and the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field. She also stresses the need for networking and building connections with other women working in the industry to reduce isolation.

27:47-35:48 Keynotes of Elena-Technical Skills, Continuous Learning and Career Development

The need for technical skills and qualifications to work in certain fields, such as engineering. While there is a move towards focusing more on skills rather than degrees, it is still important to have the required qualifications for certain positions. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and career development to keep up with the evolving demands of the industry. It is crucial to take ownership of one's own career development and seek out mentors and advisors who can provide guidance on advancement opportunities.

35:48-42:22 Track Notes, Harassment or Discrimination issues, Diversity

In this segment, the speakers discuss the importance of keeping track of notes and dates in the workplace, not just for harassment or discrimination issues, but also for scientific and engineering purposes. The speaker mentions the benefits of diversity in the workplace, particularly in innovation. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities of creating customized solutions in water engineering.

42:22-50:27 Dealing with Customers, Face-to-Face Meeting

The speaker talks about how dealing with customers in his pump design business gives him a lot of ideas to improve the design. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication with customers and the need for face-to-face meetings in certain industries, such as his, to achieve the best results. While virtual meetings and working from home are practical options, face-to-face meetings are important in the pumping business.

50:27-01:08 Closing Remarks and Next Steps

In conclusion, when attending conferences, it is essential to have a plan in advance, including identifying your endgame, purpose, goals, and the people you want to connect with. It is also important to consider the size of the conference, as smaller conferences can be easier to manage for one-on-one conversations. Furthermore, conference hosts can improve the conference experience by providing detailed conference programs and separating the exhibition hall from conference rooms.