In light of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we wanted to recognize some of the amazing female team members we are so thankful to have at OMCO Solar. We’ve gathered some of their thoughts about what this celebration means to them as well as some advice around challenging yourself and advancing your clean energy career. Here’s what they had to say:
What does International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month mean to you?
“Women’s History Month is a reason for celebration because women have accomplished some pretty amazing things despite obstacles in our society. In each and every one of those achievements, we move toward progress and breaking down barriers in our society.”
— Jennifer Marin Lopez, Human Resources Manager
“International Women’s Day is a time of celebrating the achievements of women from all walks of life and their contributions made within their communities and around the world. What it means to me personally is to reflect on the challenges women are faced with in pursuit of their personal and professional goals. Being a working mother is hard. Having a career is hard. Balancing both, well…working mothers are the embodiment of perseverance and mental toughness.”
— Jackie Cerna, Controller, Manager of Estimating and Quotation
“International Women’s Day is about celebrating and uplifting women. We lead by example to inspire the younger generations to not only follow in our footsteps, but to trailblaze where other women have not trodden. Every day, everyone must do their part to change the rhetoric and take action that opens the world socially, culturally and professionally to a future of equality and equity for all women.”
— Jazmin S. Kianpour, Mechanical Engineer
How do you challenge yourself, or others around you?
“I challenge myself by focusing on what I can improve and learn from my team. Working in an all-male department, I’m challenged daily on different solar topics from tools to equipment to drawings, production and procedures. I allow myself to learn from them and share that knowledge with others to demonstrate that I add value and that I belong here.”
— Alba Galvez, MRO Coordinator
“I try to keep my goals clear, because goals give direction and focus to our lives and help us stay motivated. We must build a mindset of success because success or failure in reaching our goals is often determined by our mental state. A positive mindset allows us to visualize our goal and see ourselves realizing our dreams. We must be responsible in order to achieve any goal that we set for ourselves in life.”
— Eliane Hernandez Ortega, Assistant Supervisor
“I’ve been challenging myself to voice my opinion on important topics that many people tend to avoid. The most difficult path tends to be the right one, so I feel the same is true for conversations on local and global solutions. As a society, people need to get back to having discussions about things they disagree on while maintaining mutual respect.”
— Jackie Cerna, Controller, Manager of Estimating and Quotation
What is the biggest piece of advice that you’d give a young female professional looking to advance their career in this industry?
“Be willing to understand that the “solar world” is unique. It takes time to adjust and adapt.”
— Lyn-Marie V. McKenny, Project Accountant
“Don’t be shy or intimidated. Leave that at the door! Sometimes we overthink things, thinking people will remember you for something you said in a meeting. In reality, people quickly forget. I recommend taking the risk and speaking up, don’t wait for someone else to do it.”
— Jennifer Marin Lopez, Human Resources Manager
“Believe in yourself and all that you are capable of doing and learning. Always be willing to learn from anyone in the industry. Take any negative comment and turn it into a learning experience.”
— Alba Galvez, MRO Coordinator
“Always be clear about your goal and aspirations and never give up due to obstacles along the way. Try to always be aware of what is happening in the workplace. Have a positive attitude, good communication and know how to listen and learn from the professionals around you. Truly understanding the industry is the key to success.”
— Eliane Hernandez Ortega, Assistant Supervisor
“Take initiative to learn. Ask to be more involved in a project. Ask your coworker to teach you a program. Search the internet for information about topics you don’t understand well. Ask yourself questions to build up the skill of introspection.”
— Jazmin S. Kianpour, Mechanical Engineer
“I want to be an example to my daughters and show them that women can do it all. We can be mothers and have success in our careers. Sometimes you must roll up your sleeves and do the work no matter the task. Women have the power to navigate their own ships and set their own courses.”
— Jackie Cerna, Controller, Manager of Estimating and Quotation
