Interview with Tania GARCIA LOVERA, Structural Design Engineer at Manitowoc Cranes

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” Ask for new responsibilities, new task or new opportunities if you want them! Some people think the opportunities will get to them if they are patient, this is mostly true for women. Don’t be like that!”

CranesY:  According your opinion, is there a competition between women in crane sector or women supporting other women at work?
Tania GARCIA LOVERA: This question is a little difficult to answer. My context doesn’t let me know if there is a competition between women. With my other women colleagues I have a healthy professional and personal relationship. But we have very different situations (Human resources, after sales service, commercial service) our works are parallels.

CranesY:  Women in Crane Business, until today this sector was called men sector. What do you think about? Should Construction Industry involve more women into crane sector?
T. G.L.:
Crane Business as a men sector is true today. Even if the construction industry tries to involve more women into crane sector, I’m afraid that’s not enough, at least not immediately. Crane sector is not attractive to women because women are conditioning to love other things. Women have the capacity, inventiveness and curiosity to work in cranes sector. Society is changing and I think women will be interested to work also in the big machinery for the next generations.
An easy example is my case. I have been the only woman to apply for this position. And I’m pretty sure; I wasn’t the only mechanical engineer woman looking for a situation at that moment.

CranesY:  What skills have helped you to start work in the industry?
T. G.L.:
1.
Patience – Sometimes is good to take time to listen, learn and deliberate before to get in action.
2. Love of learning – I like to learn, be teaching or alone.
3. Improve – I know to recognize the ways to improve my work and attitude. It is not easy every time but it is necessary.

CranesY: Who or what has introduced you in this sector, commonly called a “men sector”?

T. G.L.: I was 16 years old when I have been introduced to the men sector. I have assisted to a presentation of different departments in my high school (we had the possibility to get also a technical diploma) and Industrial mechanics technician was a discovery to me. I have always love sciences and they show me what we can do with. Now, I can say it was a very basic course but it was a really good start.

When time came to go to the university, I had taken the decision to continue in the industry and I applied to mechatronics department. Before the end of my last year at high school, I had the opportunity to continue my studies in France thanks to a scholarship. It was a really good opportunity to integrate a big school as INSA de Lyon. I got all the theory needed and a good application. The most important part was the internship in the industry. I got it in Philips Research in Eindhoven, Netherlands. My final project had been in the INSA Lab.

My first work research was very hard. I didn’t know which kind of work I wanted and in which area. I didn’t want to be as everyone. Most of my classmates have applied in automobile and aeronautic industries. I want to have a challenge and I got it. I saw a job announcement for Manitowoc cranes as structural designer engineer.  For me, it was the opportunity to discover the unknown.  There were a lot of cranes in every city I have been but it was the first time I have asked to me how they works.  Now, I know it.

I’m the only woman design engineer at engineering in the France headquarters (more or less one hundred people).  My first steps have been difficult but not because I’m a woman. Lattice structures as the Potain tower cranes have a history. There is a big expertise to get.

CranesY: What’s your typical work day like?
T. G.L.: A typical work day starts with coffee…Some reading of my e-mails and then I can start the magic of the structure analysis or design. I usually work for feasibility projects. Marketing give me specifications and I’m looking for a technical solution to answer them. I can be led to use the CAD software to design a component or/and to make some FEA to validate. Part of my time is spend also to answer questions of my colleagues or to ask for help to them.

CranesY:  Your rules to work efficiently? Your approach with colleagues?
T. G.L.: My first rule is do one thing at a time. There is an urban legend which says “women can do two things at a time”. Maybe there are situations where it is true but it isn’t for engineering. Mistakes could be expensive or dangerous. Better it is be sure that you have done is ok. In my service, I have the luck to count with really good colleagues. There is a very good team dynamic. I don’t have a particular way to treat them. But I think the most important is separate professional and personal relationship.

CranesY:  Aside a work, how do you like spend your free time?
T. G.L.: I love spend my time with my friends, read books, some sport as basketball or running and travel.

CranesY:  Favorite quote?
T. G.L.: Deserve your dreams (Octavio Paz).

CranesY: A woman who inspires you?
T. G.L.: It’s a little classic, but the woman who inspires me the most is my mother. I will need a week to explain why but the short answer is she is a hard worker with a lot of energy. Statics is a word she doesn’t know.

CranesY: What recommendation do you have for other women in the industry?
T. G.L.:  Ask for new responsibilities, new task or new opportunities if you want them! Some people think the opportunities will get to them if they are patient, this is mostly true for women. Don’t be like that

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