Celebrating women in engineering at ExxonMobil Basestocks
At ExxonMobil Basestocks, female engineers aren’t a rarity — they’re the norm. For International Women in Engineering Day 2021, we talked to four of our own — Daphne Hunter, Sammi Ng, Laura Pottorf and Stephanie Raimondeau — about what inspired them to pursue engineering careers, the most challenging and rewarding parts of their jobs and what advice they’d give to young women who want to pursue engineering careers.
Daphne Hunter
Global Product Development Advisor
Q: Who or what inspired you to become an engineer?
I was inspired to become an engineer after participating in the NSBE, Jr. (National Society of Black Engineers) and TAME (Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering) program at Lamar University during my sophomore year of high school. The professors and volunteers inspired me to pursue engineering and gave me guidance on what was needed to be successful during college. It was also inspiring to be surrounded by other Black and brown students passionate about learning and succeeding in STEM fields.
Q: If you could have dinner with a famous woman in science, past or present, who would it be and why?
When people think of the movie “Hidden Figures,” they immediately think of Katherine Johnson, the brilliant mathematician. Another hidden figure highlighted in the film was Mary Jackson, NASA’s first Black female engineer. I would love to hear her inspiring story of perseverance in the face of overt racism and sexism. I would love to listen to the advice she gave to young women pursuing an engineering career.
Q: Tell us about your job at ExxonMobil. What does a typical day look like?
I am responsible for supporting ExxonMobil’s differentiated base stock market offer by ensuring ExxonMobil’s base stock products reflect customers’ evolving formulation and market needs. Meeting our customers' needs requires understanding market trends and evolving industry and OEM specifications.
Q: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is balancing the market needs with the capabilities of the production facility to ensure we have a competitive product offer. The most rewarding part of my job is introducing a new product into the market or expanding the use of an existing product into a new application area.
Q: Engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields in STEM. How has that impacted your experience?
I have often been the only woman and, more often, the only Black person in the room throughout my career. Only 2% of scientists and engineers are Black women. Due to the lack of representation in the field, I have faced challenges externally and internally, from making sure my ideas are heard and considered. I have had to face negative stereotypes or assumptions because of my race and gender. Internally, I have had to conquer my inner critic and not let external factors chip away at my confidence. Yes, this might seem like a lot, but I would say my positive experiences far outweigh my negative ones. As I continue my career, my goal is to mentor young women engineers behind me, just like other women engineers mentored me.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue engineering careers?
Be a risk-taker and don’t impose limitations on yourself.
I was inspired to become an engineer after participating in the NSBE, Jr. (National Society of Black Engineers) and TAME (Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering) program at Lamar University during my sophomore year of high school. The professors and volunteers inspired me to pursue engineering and gave me guidance on what was needed to be successful during college. It was also inspiring to be surrounded by other Black and brown students passionate about learning and succeeding in STEM fields.
Q: If you could have dinner with a famous woman in science, past or present, who would it be and why?
When people think of the movie “Hidden Figures,” they immediately think of Katherine Johnson, the brilliant mathematician. Another hidden figure highlighted in the film was Mary Jackson, NASA’s first Black female engineer. I would love to hear her inspiring story of perseverance in the face of overt racism and sexism. I would love to listen to the advice she gave to young women pursuing an engineering career.
Q: Tell us about your job at ExxonMobil. What does a typical day look like?
I am responsible for supporting ExxonMobil’s differentiated base stock market offer by ensuring ExxonMobil’s base stock products reflect customers’ evolving formulation and market needs. Meeting our customers' needs requires understanding market trends and evolving industry and OEM specifications.
Q: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is balancing the market needs with the capabilities of the production facility to ensure we have a competitive product offer. The most rewarding part of my job is introducing a new product into the market or expanding the use of an existing product into a new application area.
Q: Engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields in STEM. How has that impacted your experience?
I have often been the only woman and, more often, the only Black person in the room throughout my career. Only 2% of scientists and engineers are Black women. Due to the lack of representation in the field, I have faced challenges externally and internally, from making sure my ideas are heard and considered. I have had to face negative stereotypes or assumptions because of my race and gender. Internally, I have had to conquer my inner critic and not let external factors chip away at my confidence. Yes, this might seem like a lot, but I would say my positive experiences far outweigh my negative ones. As I continue my career, my goal is to mentor young women engineers behind me, just like other women engineers mentored me.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue engineering careers?
Be a risk-taker and don’t impose limitations on yourself.
Sammi Ng
Asia Pacific Market Development Advisor, Basestocks and Specialties
Q: Who or what inspired you to become an engineer?
My favorite subjects from my secondary school were math, chemistry and physics. I enjoyed the hands-on experience of conducting different experiments and the logical challenges of problem solving. Hence, I chose to pursue engineering as my primary degree in university.
Q: If you could have dinner with a famous woman in science, past or present, who would it be and why?
Marie Curie. I would love a chance to ask her what propelled her to break the barriers to become not only the first woman to win a Nobel prize, but also the first person to win two Nobel Prizes; what setbacks she encountered in her journey; and how she overcame them.
Q: Tell us about your job at ExxonMobil. What does a typical day look like?
I am responsible for developing marketing plans to achieve our growth potential in different markets in AP and gathering market information from various sources to bring out business insights and implications. Typical days involve conference calls with business teams across different geographies and tackling different problems ranging from customer feedback to supply and operational issues. The diverse set of challenges require fit for purpose solutions across potentially different time scales, so the work’s never boring and definitely keeps me on my toes.
Q: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part is working with people from diverse backgrounds with different priorities, objectives and understanding of issues. We often have to reset the base to ensure everyone has enough background information before working the specific details. The COVID-19 situation added to the challenge when face-to-face discussions became close to impossible. However, the adoption of technologies like Zoom has made it easier as we are able to have calls through video conferencing, making it easier to connect with folks visually in a virtual environment.
The most rewarding part is when all parties can converge and co-own a business decision in the general interest. It is especially rewarding when everyone feels that their input is heard and considered. When we move on to implementation and measurement, it is most gratifying to know that we have made a difference to the business and community we belong to.
Q: Engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields in STEM. How has that impacted your experience?
No significant impact. While the numbers may show that there are more males in engineering, I don’t feel marginalized being a female because our company culture makes me feel respected and included in decision making.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue engineering careers?
Don’t feel intimidated just because there are more males compared to females. Choose a career that you are interested in and that you feel motivated to pursue. When you are doing something you like, you will definitely do well and the job satisfaction will follow.
My favorite subjects from my secondary school were math, chemistry and physics. I enjoyed the hands-on experience of conducting different experiments and the logical challenges of problem solving. Hence, I chose to pursue engineering as my primary degree in university.
Q: If you could have dinner with a famous woman in science, past or present, who would it be and why?
Marie Curie. I would love a chance to ask her what propelled her to break the barriers to become not only the first woman to win a Nobel prize, but also the first person to win two Nobel Prizes; what setbacks she encountered in her journey; and how she overcame them.
Q: Tell us about your job at ExxonMobil. What does a typical day look like?
I am responsible for developing marketing plans to achieve our growth potential in different markets in AP and gathering market information from various sources to bring out business insights and implications. Typical days involve conference calls with business teams across different geographies and tackling different problems ranging from customer feedback to supply and operational issues. The diverse set of challenges require fit for purpose solutions across potentially different time scales, so the work’s never boring and definitely keeps me on my toes.
Q: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part is working with people from diverse backgrounds with different priorities, objectives and understanding of issues. We often have to reset the base to ensure everyone has enough background information before working the specific details. The COVID-19 situation added to the challenge when face-to-face discussions became close to impossible. However, the adoption of technologies like Zoom has made it easier as we are able to have calls through video conferencing, making it easier to connect with folks visually in a virtual environment.
The most rewarding part is when all parties can converge and co-own a business decision in the general interest. It is especially rewarding when everyone feels that their input is heard and considered. When we move on to implementation and measurement, it is most gratifying to know that we have made a difference to the business and community we belong to.
Q: Engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields in STEM. How has that impacted your experience?
No significant impact. While the numbers may show that there are more males in engineering, I don’t feel marginalized being a female because our company culture makes me feel respected and included in decision making.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue engineering careers?
Don’t feel intimidated just because there are more males compared to females. Choose a career that you are interested in and that you feel motivated to pursue. When you are doing something you like, you will definitely do well and the job satisfaction will follow.
Laura Pottorf
Global Basestocks and Specialties Marketing Manager
Q: Who or what inspired you to become an engineer?
I always liked math and science. My parents encouraged me to consider engineering from a young age. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to a summer engineering camp when I was in high school. That experience gave me an opportunity to understand what engineers do. Additionally, I had a chance to meet other students who had similar interests.
Q: If you could have dinner with a famous woman in science, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would have loved to meet Judith Resnick, who was an electrical engineer and the second woman in space. I’ve always been impressed by the career she had before and during her time at NASA. She is someone that I have always seen as pushing herself to excel and overcoming lots of barriers to fulfill her dreams.
Q: Tell us about your job at ExxonMobil. What does a typical day look like?
I have the opportunity to work on a wide range of activities during the day and throughout the year. One of the key aspects of my job is understanding trends in the industry — looking at both the news of the day and reading about how things might evolve in the future. Our team also drives the development of new products and global investments; develops communication plans about our products including both digital platforms and live conferences; and responds to feedback from our customers. From an internal perspective, I also ensure that I spend time mentoring employees and sharing information about our portion of the business with the wider ExxonMobil community.
Q: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part is prioritizing. We have so many great opportunities. A big part of my job is helping to agree on which of these opportunities rise to the top and which have to be put on hold. The other aspect is prioritizing my time and really focusing my energy where I can have the greatest impact during the day or week.
The most rewarding part of my job is mentoring people. It’s always great to see people grow their skills and have the chance to be in positions where they can really influence the organization. Helping to contribute to the success of others helps the entire organization excel.
Q: Engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields in STEM. How has that impacted your experience?
I’ve been very fortunate to work for ExxonMobil, which has always striven for an equitable workplace. Over the past 30 years, there has been significant progress in trying to address and remove the barriers that can be impediments to women progressing as quickly as their male counterparts. My experiences have made me very committed to building on the progress and continuing to encourage young people to consider STEM careers.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue engineering careers?
I would encourage young women to keep an open mind about STEM careers. The training and education provide a fantastic foundation to bridge into all sorts of different jobs. Having the ability to understand the technical aspects of a problem has helped me find solutions, regardless of the specific job that I’ve been in. Majoring in math and science also doesn’t preclude you from having a strong interest in liberal arts! Regardless of the major, having a really well-rounded education is critical to being successful in the working world.
I always liked math and science. My parents encouraged me to consider engineering from a young age. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to a summer engineering camp when I was in high school. That experience gave me an opportunity to understand what engineers do. Additionally, I had a chance to meet other students who had similar interests.
Q: If you could have dinner with a famous woman in science, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would have loved to meet Judith Resnick, who was an electrical engineer and the second woman in space. I’ve always been impressed by the career she had before and during her time at NASA. She is someone that I have always seen as pushing herself to excel and overcoming lots of barriers to fulfill her dreams.
Q: Tell us about your job at ExxonMobil. What does a typical day look like?
I have the opportunity to work on a wide range of activities during the day and throughout the year. One of the key aspects of my job is understanding trends in the industry — looking at both the news of the day and reading about how things might evolve in the future. Our team also drives the development of new products and global investments; develops communication plans about our products including both digital platforms and live conferences; and responds to feedback from our customers. From an internal perspective, I also ensure that I spend time mentoring employees and sharing information about our portion of the business with the wider ExxonMobil community.
Q: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part is prioritizing. We have so many great opportunities. A big part of my job is helping to agree on which of these opportunities rise to the top and which have to be put on hold. The other aspect is prioritizing my time and really focusing my energy where I can have the greatest impact during the day or week.
The most rewarding part of my job is mentoring people. It’s always great to see people grow their skills and have the chance to be in positions where they can really influence the organization. Helping to contribute to the success of others helps the entire organization excel.
Q: Engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields in STEM. How has that impacted your experience?
I’ve been very fortunate to work for ExxonMobil, which has always striven for an equitable workplace. Over the past 30 years, there has been significant progress in trying to address and remove the barriers that can be impediments to women progressing as quickly as their male counterparts. My experiences have made me very committed to building on the progress and continuing to encourage young people to consider STEM careers.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue engineering careers?
I would encourage young women to keep an open mind about STEM careers. The training and education provide a fantastic foundation to bridge into all sorts of different jobs. Having the ability to understand the technical aspects of a problem has helped me find solutions, regardless of the specific job that I’ve been in. Majoring in math and science also doesn’t preclude you from having a strong interest in liberal arts! Regardless of the major, having a really well-rounded education is critical to being successful in the working world.
Stephanie Raimondeau
Basestocks and Specialties Technology Division Manager
Q: Who or what inspired you to become an engineer?
I was better in science than other subjects and my father is a chemist/engineer.
Q: If you could have dinner with a famous woman in science, past or present, who would it be and why?
NASA research mathematician Katherine Johnson, a true story of resiliency and courage.
Q: Tell us about your job at ExxonMobil. What does a typical day look like?
My role is to lead people who provide technical solutions to the business. The most interesting part of the job is to communicate strategic direction and inspire and motivate.
Q: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part is to inspire and motivate and being able to allow everyone to play to their diverse strengths to create a highly efficient team. The most rewarding part is when I feel I was successful to positively mentor, coach, guide, empower a team or an individual.
Q: Engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields in STEM. How has that impacted your experience?
Thanks to my upbringing, I never saw this as an impossible path. However, I assumed it was my job to adapt to fit both in school and at work. In more recent years, I have clearly observed the push to be allowed to stay true to our differences.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue engineering careers?
If you have the passion and the aptitude, do not give up! You have allies.
I was better in science than other subjects and my father is a chemist/engineer.
Q: If you could have dinner with a famous woman in science, past or present, who would it be and why?
NASA research mathematician Katherine Johnson, a true story of resiliency and courage.
Q: Tell us about your job at ExxonMobil. What does a typical day look like?
My role is to lead people who provide technical solutions to the business. The most interesting part of the job is to communicate strategic direction and inspire and motivate.
Q: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part is to inspire and motivate and being able to allow everyone to play to their diverse strengths to create a highly efficient team. The most rewarding part is when I feel I was successful to positively mentor, coach, guide, empower a team or an individual.
Q: Engineering is one of the most male-dominated fields in STEM. How has that impacted your experience?
Thanks to my upbringing, I never saw this as an impossible path. However, I assumed it was my job to adapt to fit both in school and at work. In more recent years, I have clearly observed the push to be allowed to stay true to our differences.
Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue engineering careers?
If you have the passion and the aptitude, do not give up! You have allies.
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