Leah Wilson is 22 years old and in Comau she holds the position of Graduate Project Manager, dealing specifically with managing and supporting the team of Project Managers in the internal governance of projects through the management of activities such as the control of compliance with internal P10 procedures, the management of timelines and QAMM milestones on MSPO and the monitoring and control of KPIs.
Leah started her career path during her engineering studies, with an apprenticeship in Comau that gave her the skills necessary to manage, assess and monitor projects and their performance and ensure alignment between projects and strategic objectives.
In addition to working at Comau in the project management team, Leah is currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering with the aim of improving her skills in project management, CAD and simulation activities, research and design theories, production and process management and materials mechanics.
“What I like most about my job at Comau is being involved in different projects every day that are always very interesting. The most challenging part is definitely managing and prioritising my time between work, university and other commitments. However, I like being busy, I am very organised and I think this has allowed me to give my best and always achieve excellent results in my career and studies”.
Inspiring Leah in her choice of study path was her family: “My grandfather worked as an engineer in the automation industry, my father as an electrical engineer and my older brother works in construction and engineering. The male figures in my family have definitely influenced me in my choice of studies and career path and I also want to be a role model for the younger women in my family”.
Having role models to look up to is often decisive when choosing one’s career path. It is even more so when it comes to STEM subjects and in particular engineering, which is often prejudicially regarded as a typically male path: “The first time I went to a client I felt rather discouraged. I remember I was one of the few women wearing a hard hat, mask and safety boots and I felt a bit out of place. Even at university there were only two women in a class of 20. Fortunately, over the years I have seen more and more women on the worksites and in the corridors of the university and this has made me realise that fortunately things are changing. Today I find myself at Comau where I work with a very supportive and friendly team and where I am never treated differently just because I am young and a woman”.
Gaining work experience or an apprenticeship even while studying, according to Leah, is a great way for people who want to take up this job because it allows them to get an idea, quickly, of what this field can offer. Identifying role models and talking to as many people as possible about their career and experience is also a way to get passionate about STEM subjects. “Women especially need to be inspired from an early age about the engineering profession and where this profession could take them. When I left school, I was the only woman in my year to enter an engineering industry. It is necessary to influence the younger generation more. I advise women not to be afraid to challenge themselves and step out of their comfort zone, because this job offers many opportunities. Don’t be discouraged and believe in yourself.”
Recently, she has been following a new project which is a SE study intended to provide the necessary information required to define the future battery assembly strategy. She is responsible for assisting with the project management tasks during this project lifecycle, which include timing and resource planning/tracking, MSPO controlling, milestone preparation, KPI’s and project review preparation. She will work closely with the project management team to follow the project from start to finish.
