Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day at Veolia

In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), recognized annually on June 23, we are spotlighting some of the women here at Veolia who do incredible work for us every single day. INWED is a global initiative to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in engineering, encourage their participation and inspire future generations to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers.

That spirit of recognition and encouragement is something we foster year-round through our Veolia gender-equality network  (WEDO). With 3,500 members, the WEDO community works each day to promote gender diversity and equality in the workplace and grow the number of women in our business. We are proud of the contributions of the women on our engineering teams, and committed to uplifting all of the women who work in our company.

Six of our engineers, Chaima Ben Sassi (Engineering Manager, Middle East), Clémentine de Croutte (Head of Sustainability, Projects), Djuwita Tandjo (Proposal Director - SEA, APAC), Eloá Siqueira (Integrated Services EGS Coordinator, Latin America), Kyra Dahl (Project Engineer, North America) and Leslie-Ann Milford (Lead Sales Manager, Caribbean) — share their experiences of how they began their careers in engineering. They discuss the individuals who supported their growth and offer advice to young women considering a career in this field.

What sparked your interest in engineering, and what drew you specifically to the water industry? 

Chaima: I was always trying to solve problems, which naturally led me to engineering. Growing up in Tunisia, where we used to have issues with the quality of water and its availability, I became aware of how vital our water resources are, and I wanted to be a part of finding solutions to these issues.

Clémentine: My passion for science and engineering was particularly inspired by the movie 'The Big Blue'. I have a rather atypical background as an oceanography researcher who joined the water industry 15 years ago. The common thread is water, and the shared value is acting to protect the planet.

Djuwita: I’ve always been an analytical thinker with a strong interest in mathematics and chemistry. What initially drew me to the water industry was its essential role in manufacturing, particularly how clean, pure water directly affects production quality, and how wastewater discharge can impact the environment. Subsequently, I became increasingly aware of global challenges facing water systems: scarcity, pollution and the escalating consequences of climate change.

Eloá: Engineering captivated me through its extraordinary ability to transform ideas into reality, creating innovative solutions that positively impact thousands of lives. The water industry emerged as an extension of my desire to make a difference, allowing me to work with a resource vital to humanity. It's rewarding to know that each project directly contributes to a more sustainable future.

Kyra: Growing up, I was naturally drawn to understanding how things worked. That, along with an affinity for math, made engineering an obvious choice for my career path. The water industry particularly interested me because of its seemingly infinite applications. Water is the basis of so many processes, and having a solid foundation in this field has opened up countless opportunities to expand my technical knowledge and tackle new challenges, making it an incredibly rewarding career choice for me.

Leslie-Ann: My strengths in certain core subjects, along with a program at my university that allowed me to work in the industry for a year before graduating, led me to choose a career in chemical engineering. One key message from that experience was that chemical engineers can do anything because of how multi-faceted the skill set and job scope can be for us. What first connected me to the water industry was my time spent out on the ocean at a ship loading facility, where I had to design a fire suppression system, and witnessed the vast ponds used to supply this site with an independent water supply. My first job after graduating, working on the demineralisation plant of an ammonia plant, really set my path in the water industry.

Was there a moment in your career when things really clicked, or your path changed? 

Chaima: There was a turning point during a project for the pharmaceutical industry where we were facing serious water discharge challenges, which could end up in the environment if we didn’t find the right solution. At the time, I realized how much impact the process of industrial water treatment has, not just on operational efficiency, but on environmental protection and long-term sustainability. That project made me see my work differently, as it is not only a job, it is our future and the future of the new generations.

Clémentine: The turning point in my career came relatively late when the position of sustainable manager was created at Water Technologies. That's when I realized that my atypical background, combined with my knowledge of the company's engineering fields, brought added value for business. This confirmed that I had made the right career choice.

Djuwita: Yes, midway through my career, I experienced a shift that expanded my role from being purely technical to incorporating the commercial side of the business. Opportunities interacting with clients, listening closely as they shared their operational pressures, budget constraints and business goals, changed the way I viewed my work and my impact. I began to see that technical solutions alone weren’t enough; to be truly effective, they had to align with the client’s needs and strategy. It pushed me to think more strategically and to approach problem-solving from both a technical and commercial angle. 

Eloá: Joining Veolia was truly transformative for me. It was like finding the missing piece in my career puzzle, the moment when passion, purpose, and profession perfectly aligned. Working with water treatment opened my eyes to a new universe of possibilities where each project isn't just a new result, but an opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable future. This change showed me that when we find our true purpose, work becomes an inspiring mission.

Kyra: Starting my career in field work was truly an eye-opening experience. In college, we spent countless hours solving complex and theoretical problems, and while I understood their importance, they felt somewhat abstract. Time in the field allowed me to directly witness these calculations transform into tangible results. This connection between theory and practice has given me a greater appreciation for what I do.

Leslie-Ann: After a year as a chemical engineer trainee, I decided to further my studies and was blessed to receive a Chevening Scholarship to pursue sustainability engineering. It was during that period that I appreciated the impact a chemical engineer could have in the processing industry for sustainable operations. 

What's been the project you've absolutely loved working on, and why was it so special? 

Chaima: One of my favorite projects was my first project as an engineer, which involved treating effluent from a gas plant before discharging it to the sea. The team I worked with and our collaboration made it special, especially since I had just graduated with little experience. I got the chance to work on many aspects of the project, which was very interesting.

Clémentine: My favorite project was my first wastewater treatment plant at Achères. Living nearby, I always feel great pride when I pass by the facility. I remember the meetings with our civil engineering partners and our discussions with engineers about commissioning optimizations. What I loved most were the progress meetings with the clients, who were four women. The proximity, understanding and goodwill were immediate and contributed to the project's financial success.

Djuwita: One of the projects our team delivered that stands out was a wastewater reuse initiative for an industrial facility. Veolia’s innovative solution, a combination of high removal efficiency with low energy consumption, is an approach that goes beyond regulatory compliance. What made it truly meaningful was seeing how our solution helped the client meet their environmental commitments through a more circular and sustainable use of water. This experience reminded me why I chose to work in the water industry: It offers the opportunity to create real, lasting impact.

Eloá: Implementing the 'Value Generation Plan' in our integrated services contracts was a truly special project. I was able to map and highlight initiatives that brought extraordinary results to our clients. The most rewarding aspect was seeing how we achieved not only operational cost reductions but also significant environmental impacts in reducing water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation.

Kyra: The project that is most memorable in my career was commissioning a battery-grade lithium crystallization plant in Japan. This was particularly exciting because it represented new and cutting-edge technology for our office and provided a strong basis for our business to expand with future work in this important, sustainable technology industry. Being part of the commissioning team stationed in Japan for several months allowed me to apply my problem-solving experience to entirely new challenges in an emerging technology field. What made it especially rewarding was achieving on-spec product early in our commissioning phase, demonstrating the robustness of our design. 

Leslie-Ann: I had the opportunity to work on a sea cooling system that taught me how to handle a steep learning curve in the field and reinforced my confidence to handle any difficult problem. When a crisis occurred, I had to learn on the fly in the field. Along with my colleagues, I worked on a way to improve our feeding of the system. It involved several long weeks of testing, and we had to make it work with limited flow rates available. It gave me the experience of working with others to get a design up and running in the field.

What kind of support or resources have been game-changers for you? 

Chaima: Having good mentors who helped me grow technically, believed in my capabilities and provided me with career opportunities at the start of my journey has been a real game changer for me. I also got the opportunity to attend technical training programs and leadership courses that helped me grow beyond the technical aspects.

Clémentine: My first mentors were game-changers for me. They trusted me and were very supportive, offering me opportunities in many areas, from project to bid, including procurement and contract management. A six-month coaching program offered by the company was also crucial in realizing my value and finally helped me break through the glass ceiling.

Djuwita: Access to e-learning platforms anytime, anywhere has made continuous learning easier and more efficient. More importantly, our digital tools now empower designers and engineers to work with real-time data, enabling faster analysis, smarter decision-making and reducing the need for manual effort. This blend of human support and digital enablement has significantly accelerated how we work, learn and innovate.

Eloá: Being part of a company with such a solid commitment to sustainability has been transformative. This alignment between personal and corporate values brings a deep sense of purpose to every daily task, making each contribution more meaningful.

Kyra: Having a supportive mentor has been instrumental in my professional development. As a young engineer, I have learned the invaluable benefit of having someone I can approach with questions without fear of judgment. Mentorship has been particularly crucial in developing my engineering judgment, which goes beyond just calculations and formulas.

Leslie-Ann: Throughout my career, the in-person interaction with other females along this career path and those in the industry has helped me shape my view of the choices I have available to me.

Finally, if you were chatting with a young woman thinking about engineering, what's the one thing you'd tell her?

Chaima: Engineering needs diverse perspectives, backgrounds and ideas, and yours can help solve real problems, build the future and make the world better. I can not say that it will always be easy, but it will absolutely be worth it.

Clémentine: Don't be afraid to take your place in this field. Engineering needs different perspectives and your creativity. The challenges you'll face will make you more competent, and you have the potential to make a real difference. Believe in yourself as much as I believe in you.

Djuwita: I would tell her that engineering is one of the strongest foundations you can build for your career. It teaches you to think critically, solve problems and be innovative. That kind of mindset is incredibly valuable, no matter where your path takes you. Whether you choose to stay in a technical role or branch into other areas, the foundation you gain through engineering will stay with you. It gives you the tools to adapt, lead and create meaningful impact, whatever direction you choose.

Eloá: Engineering is a field that welcomes and celebrates the diversity of talents and perspectives. It's a journey that allows us to be the best versions of ourselves. Engineering opens doors to endless possibilities, and it's inspiring to be part of a community of women engineers who are, each in their own way, transforming the world every day.

Kyra: I would tell her that engineering is far more dynamic and exciting than it might appear from the outside. What makes engineering engaging is how you use tools to solve real-world challenges. Each project presents a unique puzzle to solve, and seeing your calculations translate into actual solutions is incredibly rewarding. If you're someone who enjoys figuring things out and seeing those solutions make a tangible difference, then engineering offers endless opportunities to do just that. 

Leslie-Ann: I would say to a young woman thinking about engineering that she can do it, and she should try it. It can lead her to something great. She may not have even thought of it at this point in her life because everybody’s path does not have to be the same. 

Fast & Furious
We're spotlighting five of the six remarkable women engineers in our rapid-fire interview series.

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