Technology is just a woman's job

Sigrun - When I first visited the hydraulic test stand in Linz 15 years ago, I had no idea that this would be the beginning of my passion for hydropower. The model turbines fascinated me immediately and I was excited about the possibilities that arose from this technical field.

Right after graduating from university, I was lucky to get a job with ANDRITZ Hydro and to take part in important projects. It is particularly important to stay focused, constantly push limits, and accept every challenge. It takes a lot of dedication and perseverance, but it's incredibly rewarding seeing the results of your work at the end of a project. In contractual projects, having a satisfied customer is of paramount importance.

I was fully accepted and respected from day one in the R&D department. Overall, the decision to work in a technical profession was the best decision of my life. It is inspiring to see how everyone contributes towards a common goal.  

This strong bond between colleagues is beautiful to see. Therefore, I took the opportunity to interview some of my female colleagues and share their insights too.

Maria – There are many projects and accomplishments that I am proud of. Each time you manage to finish a model testing campaign together with your team — starting with a design phase and closing with an acceptance test — makes me proud. The happy expressions on the faces of the clients is especially rewarding.

Caroline – I have had the opportunity to work on many challenging projects during my career. The project I am particularly proud of is one which required a lot of development in the laboratory over two years. It gave me the chance to engage with the customer and explore challenging questions, deal with unexpected results and prepare contingency plans. These were all fundamental skills I have used many times since in my work!

Maria – Stay confident in yourself and keep on going with enthusiasm. Hydro is such an amazing and incredible business! 

Caroline – From a R&D point of view, the work is challenging, creative and requires a rigorous approach to solving problems. Women in hydro are treated equally and are successful!

Magdalena – I studied technical mathematics in Vienna and during my master’s degree I had the opportunity to do an internship at the hydraulic lab of ANDRITZ Hydro in Linz. I was fascinated by the variety of topics that are linked to design, manufacturing, and installation of turbines. At that time, I already appreciated that hydropower is an international enterprise. Working in hydropower allows us to get to know people with different languages and different cultural backgrounds.