Meet our Industry Person of the Week, Angelica Gonzalez a Maintenance Systems Engineer at HEXPOL Compounding Americas.
Q: How did you get started working in your field?
Angelica: I got started in my field because I’ve always been curious about how things work and loved solving problems. Choosing Mechatronics Engineering wasn’t something I planned from the start, but when I was offered a scholarship, I decided to take a chance. It wasn’t easy, being in a male-dominated field came with its challenges, but I focused on learning as much as I could and leaning into my strengths.
An internship in Puerto Rico gave me hands-on experience and really opened my eyes to what was possible in this field. That opportunity led to my first job at HEXPOL, where I’ve been able to grow and challenge myself every day. It’s been a journey of stepping out of my comfort zone, working hard, and embracing every opportunity to learn and improve.
Q: What do you love the most about your job? What are you most proud of?
Angelica: What I love most about my job is the constant challenge and the opportunity to make a real impact. I enjoy solving problems, analyzing data, and finding ways to improve processes to make everything run smoother and more efficiently. It’s incredibly satisfying to see the results of hard work, when a system works better because of something I contributed, it feels like a win not just for me but for the entire team.
What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come and how I’ve been able to navigate a field where women are often underrepresented. Over the years, I’ve built trust, earned respect, and shown that talent and determination can break through stereotypes. I’m proud to be an example for other women in STEM and to know that my work helps inspire others to push past barriers and follow their passions.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering this line of work or new to the field?
Angelica: -Always think of yourself as part of the situation. Going into a problem assuming that you must be treated differently because you are a woman will make it very difficult for you to be confident and perform to the best of your ability.
-Surround yourself with like-minded people. Seek out proactive, productive, intelligent, and honest people and learn as much as you can from them.
-Control your mind. Visualize what you want, learn to discover what you need to achieve it, and execute with a plan in mind.
-Be true to your beliefs. Set high standards of ethics, discipline, and passion for what you do, don’t let anyone try to undermine you, and celebrate yourself every step of your career.
– Own the way you act. Be smart and put your assets first, do things that reflect who you are, be ethical, and be honest with yourself and the world.
Connect with Angelica on LinkedIn
THANK YOU, ANGELICA! WE LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING UP WITH YOU THROUGH THE #PUMPTALK COMMUNITY!
