Last week, we had the pleasure of meeting Valentina Cordeschi, the engineer in charge of programming Sol, the guest exhibit that cleans using light.
We thought we would take the opportunity to ask her a few questions in the hope of inspiring our female budding engineers…
It’s a pleasure to meet you Valentina, thanks for talking to us today! So, at what age did you decide engineering was for you?
I have always had an interest but I decided at 18 years old. My Dad and brother are in similar fields. My Dad is an engineer and my brother is an architect.
What are your qualifications?
I started with a degree in civil engineering, then did a Master’s in construction, then I worked as a site engineer on a railway construction site for 1 year. After that, I went back to University and completed my 2nd degree in mechanical engineering then 2nd Master’s in mechanical system design and programming.
What is your role now?
Project Manager for a group of companies. We deal with big clients like Ferrari, Maserati, and lots of robotics clients.
What is your favourite part of the job?
The dynamic part! Working out on field, making projects a reality and meeting clients! Also I like the proposal stage/first part of the design — discussing with clients what it is they need from the project and designing it to meet their needs.
Also the beautiful thing about this job is that you can work in every type of sector! E.g. food and beverage, automation… there are no limits.
What would your advice be for young girls who may have an interest in Engineering?
Have an open mind, be proud in your approach and work hard!
How do you find working with so many men?
It’s not a problem to work with men. They are very practical, so their approach is a little bit different from women. We are better at organising, and have good vision and so women fit in very well in this industry.
What are your hobbies?
I don’t have much spare time, but when I do, I love riding horses, climbing, snowboarding, and I love motorbikes, cars and rally driving. I love speed!
Valentina is Project Manager / Mechanical Engineering Department Head for Autognity.