An interview with everywoman finalist … Annabel Ohene, Siemens

Ohene found that the role allowed her to offer assistance on a multitude of technologies whilst gaining valuable insights into the broad spectrum that is factory automation.

“I help customers with a wide range of technologies … We troubleshoot issues that they might be going through. It's a good role to put you in at the deep end ... It was challenging at first, but once you get into the swing of it, it sets you up with a range of knowledge on different technologies within factory automation.”

Factory automation is using technology and control systems, like computers and robots, to autonomously operate machinery and manage production processes without significant human intervention. The role of a technical support engineer is not only about troubleshooting and maintaining systems, they need to also devise logical yet innovative solutions for a myriad of problems that may occur. No one solution fits all – so the role requires creativity and clear thought.

“I chose this role because it sets you up to understand the different areas you can move into.”

From electrical and electronic engineering to factory automation

Ohene’s engineering foundations were laid from an early age as she came from a family of engineers and had a natural interest in maths and physics; her enjoyment of these subjects led her on a pathway to Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Bristol, a decision fuelled by her attraction to the city’s vibrant artistic culture.

It was through an E3 Academy scholarship, which she secured after a gap year, that saw her enter Siemens and the world of factory automation, marking the beginning of her professional journey. This position has not only enabled her to dive deep into the intricacies of factory automation but also sparked a particular interest in networking technologies.

“It was at the start of my graduate scheme we learned that Siemens were going to be involved in a project which was part of UNBOXED festival. A number of different stakeholders from the arts got together, formed teams, and came up with ideas that aimed to engage the UK public on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) and arts – bringing those two things together. I’m a creative person, so the opportunity really appealed to me, and I put my name forward for it.

“At first there were around 300 teams, which then got whittled down to 30. Siemens was the technology partner for one of the Commission's and we pitched to the board to secure the funding. We had one year to research and develop our idea with the social goal of getting the general public more engaged with taking care of the environment through participatory art.

“Our idea was that people attend events and hold our lights, and when they're moving around, light signals are sent from show control and their light becomes one pixel in a huge display of artwork. All of this is filmed above from drones. We took it to 20 different locations around the UK countryside … it was an immersive art experience.

“The technical goal was to integrate GPS technology into existing events lighting, which is something that had never been done before. People within the events industry call it the Holy Grail of the lighting industry, so that was a big feat. We came up with a solution, which is working well, and they're ready for global use now which is great.

“Working towards the deadline was a push. It's the most challenging thing I've ever been involved with. But it's only when you’re put in those situations that you really grow and learn. There were project management aspects to it as well as the technical side. It was good to see firsthand the challenges that you come up against, and it was great for my development to have a lead role in my first real world engineering project.”

The impact of the E3 Academy

Ohene strongly believes in the impact of initiatives like the ‘E3 Academy’ scholarship and development programme in addressing the engineering sector's skills gap. By providing practical experience alongside theoretical education, these schemes play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of engineers and retaining talent within the industry.

It is this scheme that led Ohene into her role which is both challenging and enriching and one that she is now managing and co-ordinating on behalf of Siemens. This position allows her the opportunity for continuous learning and problem-solving, which are important for her to stay motivated.

“Continuous learning is extremely important. When you come out of university, you think that you should be able to know the answers to everything, but that is not the case at all, and you realise there are experts that have been working in the field for many years, who don’t always know the answer either.

“Part of an engineer’s skillset is having that technical ability, but another part of it is knowing where to find the information and how.”

The transition to engineering

Ohene notes that the transition from university to real world working can seem daunting, but as you are welcomed into your role, you realise that there is a whole team with you, supporting you.

“When you're on a development scheme or you're at university, there's less ‘real world’ pressure to deliver. Once you go into a full-time role, the job has to be done which takes some adaptation, something that I think a lot of people starting their career find challenging.”

Passion is the key to innovation

Ohene advocates for passion in what you’re doing as a way to keep you motivated.

“I think innately, if you have an interest in something, it's easy to stay motivated. If I'm interested in something I'm all in. Whereas if I'm not, I find it much harder to motivate myself … Innovation happens when you're passionate about something. I think innovation opportunities are sometimes lost because, in the engineering space, there's a certain way of doing things that people know work, and sometimes it's easier to fall back on that solution rather than to push forward and do something new.”

A rising star

Ohene is an everywoman Rising Star award nominee, and she shares the special significance the award holds for her, serving as recognition for her efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion within the tech and engineering sectors.

“I never expected anyone to put me forward for an award, so that was very surprising. Being a minority in the field has its own unique set of challenges and I’m involved in many activities in that space, so it was great to get recognised for the work that I'm doing there.… Sometimes – especially with diversity initiatives – a lot of the work is done by those people in the minority groups. I don't necessarily think is the right solution. More needs to be done from the top down. But it's still nice to be appreciated for what I’m doing.”

A role model comes in many forms

Ohene highlights the need for a myriad of figures who can inspire and motivate individuals from underrepresented gro­­ups to pursue their interest, figures who aren’t necessarily a stereotypical ‘role model’.

“Role models are very important. People are much more likely to pursue something if they can see someone that mirrors who they are in specific roles. But it's challenging because it puts pressure on people that are in the minority groups to be that role model.

“Role models come in all different shapes and sizes. For example, my physics teacher was a role model to me. If I hadn't been encouraged, then maybe I wouldn't have pursued engineering. Maybe rather than a ‘role model’, someone can be a supporter of you – to encourage you to pursue what you're interested in. If it's young girls who enjoy science, for example, having people around them that empower them to pursue that path, even if there’s not specifically people down the line that they can fully relate to – by just giving them the courage to go for it, that is also what role models are.”

Ohene leaves with some parting advice to young women considering a career in tech or engineering: “believe in yourself and your ability to succeed and do not let external opinions deter you from your path.”