Goal 5: Liliam Juárez, a story of talent without barriers

According to the Situation Report on gender and science by the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) (published on February 11, for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science), 58% of the people who finish their undergraduate and Master's degrees in Ibero-America are women, but despite being the majority, they represent only 32% of engineering students. The situation worldwide is no different: a UNESCO report states that only 35% of university students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects are women. The data reveals how the gender gap starts affecting girls early in their educational path and continues throughout their academic career and for the rest of their working lives. Giving visibility to the stories of female scientists and engineers can help inspire girls and young women by giving them icons to look up to. This is the case of Liliam Juárez Cárdenas, an engineer working at Enel Green Power's hydroelectric plants in northwestern Guatemala. Her story is the first chapter in a series called 'Goal 5', in reference to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, “Gender equality.” It’s a personal and professional story that we are sharing today, June 23, International Women in Engineering Day, a special day that was created in 2014 by the Women's Engineering Society with the official support of UNESCO to highlight the role of women in a traditionally male-dominated field. A taste for energy From a very young age, Liliam was curious about how energy was generated and the role that technology played in this process. Guatemala is a land rich in water resources and in fact Enel Green Power has five hydroelectric plants in this Central American country. Therefore, it wasn’t a coincidence that as a child Liliam began to envision herself working at a hydroelectric plant. Pursuing her dream, she decided to study Telecommunications Engineering, a career path followed predominantly by men. Breaking down stereotypes Liliam was the only female in her class. She shared duties, exchanged knowledge and developed projects with more than 20 male classmates. “In a way, they questioned my role in this career, which has been mostly the realm of men,” said Liliam, who adds: “But to be honest, this was never an obstacle in achieving my goal of becoming an engineer. What's more, I had an important message to convey to my family, my classmates and to women in general: we must go further, break down barriers and stereotypes and prove our talent in spite of social gaps.” After completing her studies, she approached the labor market with the same determination. Now the challenge was even greater: finding a job as an engineer in the energy field, which historically has been dominated by men. “I saw there was a job listing at Enel Green Power and entered the selection process. I gradually made progress until they gave me the best possible news: I was officially part of the family at this fantastic company and, best of all, the first woman at EGP Guatemala to be in charge of a control room at a renewable power plant,” says Liliam, who adds: “This was a watershed moment in my life. I hope that my story can in some way serve as an inspiration to many other women.” This is because being sustainable also means betting on talent, guaranteeing equal opportunities and fighting for important issues, like gender equality. This is also our goal as a company.

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Goal 5: Liliam Juárez, a story of talent without barriers

Goal 5: Liliam Juárez, a story of talent without barriers

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