Meet Sarah Woods: She is a current Process Engineer at Worley and a McMaster Chemical Engineering graduate. She was a past McMaster Women in Engineering President. Read more to here about her perspective and advice.
If you could give one piece of advice to your undergrad self, what would it be?
Enjoy it! Undergrad goes by so quickly. I can't believe that 6 years of university and co-op have come and gone so fast. I think it's easy to constantly concern ourselves with "what's next" or become overwhelmed with the number of midterms, exams, assignments and projects on our plates. I would tell my undergrad self to enjoy the now more - enjoy spending time with your friend's everyday inside and outside of the classroom, enjoy being part of clubs and teams and attending events and being involved because it's going to go by in a blink of an eye.
What were the most important steps you took in your career to get where you are today?
This is my first full-time position post grad! I think the co-op component of my degree was pivotal in helping land interviews and job offers. Building a solid resume outside of academic achievement through co-op, work experience, extracurriculars, and volunteering helps you stand out as a candidate. I think in any New Grad role it is important to stay curious, ask questions, and take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of your colleagues and mentors. Working full-time is a big change from undergrad, so I am reminding myself to be patient as I learn new things.
What’s a hobby or passion outside engineering that balances your life?
I love to read. It's a great way to take a break from the screens and allows me to relax.
What does it mean to be a “woman in engineering” mean to you personally?
Being a woman in engineering to me means being part of a community that embodies innovation and resilience. It is about contributing meaningfully to a field that helps shape the world around us while breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings. Throughout my degree, co-op, and extracurricular experiences, I have learned that empathy, collaboration, and the value of diverse perspectives in problem-solving is just as important as the technical skills we learn. The mentorship and support that this community provides each other is so important and representation truly matters – it shows young women and girls that is path is possible. I’m so proud to be a woman in engineering!
What courses, projects, or extracurriculars have had the most impact on your career?
Being involved with WIE, Chem Eng Society, TAing, etc. taught me how to time manage and prioritize, which is an important skill at work and in life. Capstone was a very unique experience and different from any other project in undergrad - it was a very open-ended problem with multiple potential solutions, and we had to do the necessary research, evaluations, and analyses to determine the best path forward, and then design the process. It was an eye-opening experience because there were many considerations that impacted the design, such as environmental, social, economic, and regulatory factors. There were a variety of different assumptions we had to make to solve our problem. Working with ambiguity was something we weren’t used to and had to learn to adapt to. A final year Chem Eng course that I found to have great value was CHEMENG 4N04: Chemical Engineering Economics and Plant Design. It was challenging but very applicable to industry - just last week I participated in an economics training at work that had a lot of content crossover!
Is there any other advice you would like to share?
Get involved! My favourite memories from university are moments spent with WIE. There is something for everyone at Mac Eng, no matter what you are passionate about, so join the clubs/teams that interest you, apply to exec teams, join as general members, try new things and meet new people - you'll have so much fun and make friends for life.
