In this episode you’ll hear from Monisha Gower, Assets Director for Northumbrian Water Group.
Originally from Nigeria, Monisha developed an early fascination with how things worked—taking apart VHS players and televisions, only to reassemble them with a few "spare parts" left over. Despite her father being a chemical engineer who inspired her interest in engineering, cultural expectations initially limited her options. In an act of defiance that would define her approach to barriers, Monisha secretly changed her university registration from her father's choice to electrical engineering, causing a temporary rift that healed only when her excellent grades proved her capability.
Monisha talks extensively about her experiences defiantly persuing a career in a male-dominated industry. She recalls how she ‘went on strike’ for not being allowed to do the things the boys could do, like change a lightbulb. Monisha doggedly pushed the boundaries. ‘When you don't push, you don't get’, Monisha says.
Monsiha also describes how she’s looked after her own wellbeing throughout adversary, recognising her ‘sheer workaholic willpower’ at the start of her career. She reflects also on how she found resilience through her faith: “it's work, it's life, it's spirituality, and I definitely have a lot more equilibrium”. The most revealing aspect of Monisha's journey is her evolution from trying to "be a guy in a man's world"—adopting an aggressive persona she thought necessary for success, to discovering the power of authentic leadership.
To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast