Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Avila.
Hi Vanessa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Born and raised in Mexico by a hard-working mother. I am divorced and a mother of 3 sons. Industrial and Systems Engineer and MBA in Quality and Productivity (first in my family that has a BS and also an MBA). Currently working in a refinery as an engineer and part-time social media content creator. Have been working in the oil and energy industry for the last 5 years
Completed my education in Mexico at age of 34, immigrated to the USA on 2017, and started working in a refinery at El Paso Tx as a Cost Control; after 6 months was promoted to an engineering technician position, and after about 4 months, was promoted to the Design Engineer II and a PSI Coordinator position for El Paso Refinery. Worked with this company for 4.5 years. Currently moved to Midland Tx to work with a Refinery at Big Spring as a PSM Engineer.
Getting my education was a big challenge, not because of my capabilities, but because without enough money and being a mother of three sons that were in the need of my attention, was really hard to accomplish this goal. With all the problems in my country getting a job and professional life there, was really difficult. I decided to move to the USA looking for a better opportunity. Immediately was hired by a company to work at the El Paso refinery. My education, love for my profession, and continuous improvement allowed me to help and showed to others what I was capable to accomplish and that opened more opportunities for me in the oil industry.
But the oil industry is a “men’s world” … even with all the movements and accomplishments we have as women, the oil industry is a hard one for a female engineer. You find a lot of gender discrimination, and it’s bigger if your appearance is very feminine as mine (you can tell by my work pictures). I had to prove that I was capable of doing the same things as any male engineer, but usually, it is harder for me because people usually think I’m an admin (I respect any type of job), and I just can see their faces when they realize I’m an engineer… a female and very feminine engineer. I worked hard designing a program for the first refinery and earned my position as the PSI Coordinator for this refinery; this was because, fortunately, someone believed in my capabilities and gave me the opportunity I was waiting for to prove that I am as good and professional or any other person no matter the appearance nor the gender.
Still struggling with gender discrimination and the femme fatal stereotype but I know that any person who gets to know me or to work with me, learns that being an attractive and feminine woman doesn’t mean that we can’t be as good as any other woman or any man.
A little of my short path through social media (Instagram)
I started doing this in June 2021, and my Instagram account started growing really fast and still growing. I have to confess that with low self-esteem and not being confident about my appearance; I never liked to take pictures of myself. One day I decided to see the way I looked from another perspective, not just my image in the mirror, so I started taking selfies and posting them on my Instagram account, always accompanied by a little story about what I was doing or what I was thinking at that moment, sometimes writing about my profession and how much I love to create and improve things. Other times about how I love the rain, the coffee, or any other thing that makes me happy Including exercise and the acceptance and love for my body and size.
All my life, I was trying to separate the intelligent woman from the sensual woman, but in the process of observing me from another perspective, I’ve learned to accept and love the combination I am, so I usually promote it on my social media platforms, the love for your appearance and, from my perspective is to take care of your body, your appearance your health, your mind, and your lifestyle.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. The biggest challenge is my appearance; the stereotype of a voluptuous and sensual woman is not in my favor as a woman nor as an engineer Women and men discriminate just because of my appearance. This has been a problem since I was a teenager; for a long time, I tried to show that I was more than that, but now I learned to embrace who I am
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an Industrial and Systems Engineer with an MBA in Quality and Productivity. Working in a refinery led me to learn about Process Safety Management for Highly Hazardous Chemical companies to comply with OSHA and EPA regulations. Currently, I’m working as a PSM Engineer with a refinery in Big Spring, Tx. When I started working in this area, I read books, publications, and articles about the subject and got passionate about how we can avoid accidents and save lives by adopting the culture of prevention.
One of my accomplishments in this area was the program I designed for the first refinery I worked for. I designed the processes and tools from scratch to comply with the regulations and, at the same time, prevent accidents. I became an SME on PSI (Process Safety Information) for El Paso Refinery.
What sets me apart from others? That I’m like a child, I’m always amazed by everything; I love to learn new things. Love continuous improvement, and I’m a problem solver. I have been through a lot of challenges in my life, and I never gave up
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessaiavila/
