A Conversation with Nadiha Khan, Consultant at Power Advisory, and recent graduate from UofT Chemical Engineering
In the dynamic landscape of energy and environmental consultancy, Nadiha Khan emerges as a rising star, bringing her expertise as a recent Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Toronto to her role as a Consultant at Power Advisory. Prior to her current position, Nadiha embarked on a 16-month co-op journey at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), where she delved into the intricacies of Ontario’s energy landscape. We sat down with Nadiha to gain insights into her career journey, the job application process, and her experiences as a woman in STEM.
Did you always know that you wanted to pursue Chemical Engineering? What was the journey that led towards a career in this field?
Here, Nadiha shared insights into her journey toward pursuing a career in Chemical Engineering and talked about how her path wasn’t always straightforward, but unfolded into a dynamic exploration of her interests.
In fact, she started her academic journey with a love for science and math. When she entered university, she opted for TrackOne, an exploration into various engineering disciplines because initially, she wasn’t quite sure where her passion would lead her.
Her first attempt in the engineering realm was in Electrical Engineering, tested through a circuit course. However, Nadiha quickly realized that it lacked what she was searching for. It was at this point that Chemical Engineering entered the picture, and drew her in with the promise of a field that embraced the scientific elements she found captivating. As she delved deeper into her studies, Nadiha discovered the expansive landscape of Chemical Engineering, and put her feet in the waters of research. She used analytical tools like ArcGIS and R programming to determine geospatial trends of metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor house dust of forest fire affected homes from Fort McMurray, Alberta under the supervision of Prof. Arthur Chan and prior Graduate Student Marcia Pedroza.
After completing her summer research project in her second year summer, a pivotal moment occurred. Nadiha found herself veering away from studying only the core aspects of Chemical Engineering, realizing the flexibility it offered. The field wasn’t just about the hardcore chemical engineering concepts; it was also about being adaptable — flexible enough, for instance, to accommodate roles that involved data and analysis or business strategies, and she found herself drawn more and more towards this amalgamation of fields rather than sticking to just the core engineering side, eventually taking up highly engaging and fulfilling roles as a Power System Planning Student with the IESO and her role today as a Consultant with Power Advisory. The openness to explore things she was genuinely interested in through new courses and placements kept the doors wide open for potential avenues in her academic journey.
Becoming an inspiration for those who didn’t have a clear passion from the start, Nadiha illustrates that exploring diverse paths and figuring things out can result in an equally rewarding career journey compared to having a precise plan from the beginning, and reflects the idea that things tend to work out for the best in the end.
Can you chat a bit about what you’re up to in your current role and what you did at your last job? And, of course, what parts of both roles did you really love?
“Sure thing! So currently at Power Advisory I get to support various clients in their projects as they navigate the implications of the decarbonization of the electrical grid in the electricity space, while at Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO), I analyzed cost and supply data of Ontario energy resources data, completed data quality checks on large resource databases, ran industry standard energy modeling tools, and supported IESO’s report publications.”
Nadiha went on to give us the lowdown on how both her roles were a great blend of the core technical side of Chemical Engineering and the dynamic, client-facing world of business, at Power Advisory, and data and analysis, at IESO. She was all smiles as she explained how she loved both these combos because they let her spread her wings across various facets of working in the industry, racking up a ton of experience and exposure along the way. This diversity, she believes, is the secret that has expanded her skill set and given her a broader perspective.
Is there anything in particular you did while applying to your jobs that, according to you, was key to you getting the role? And what advice would you give students going through the process right now?
“Networking really came through for me. I was still applying for different jobs while networking but I wasn’t hearing back. Eventually, I started going to LinkedIn and finding people who actually work in the role and asking them questions about how they got the job, what their day to day role was like, etc. So yes I’ll definitely recommend that to students looking for jobs right now.”
When asked about what played a key role in securing her jobs, Nadiha emphasized the significance of networking, and talked about how connecting with people actually working in the role really makes you stand out. Getting referrals from people you have previously worked under also really helps. Additionally, she talked about how her summer research project really impressed her interviewer for her role at IESO.
“I think I was able to show my Manager, who was taking my interview, the skills that I gained from the summer research under Professor. Chan and how they would help my current role, and he expressed further interest by asking me what I exactly did and what I learned from it, and things like that, and it definitely helped that I could answer all his questions and demonstrate the required skills. I think that really resonated with him.”
As a woman in chemical engineering, a field that is considered to be male-dominated right now, have you faced any particular challenges or biases, or negative experiences that you’d like to share?
To this, Nadiha replied that she has faced gender bias before. As one example, she had mentioned to a male colleague she had learned a technical topic at school and was immediately proceeded with questions “testing” her knowledge on that said topic. This reminded her of the parallel experience women can encounter with men when they express their interest in a sports team, the disbelief and the interrogation to “prove” their interest and knowledge. Despite this, overwhelmingly her experience has been positive so far. She also shared that her Chemical Engineering batch at UofT was pretty evenly split between men and women, which definitely contributed towards her feelings of inclusivity in the field. Even when it came to both her jobs, she said that she had great project teams where gender didn’t create barriers, and the overall culture was one of teamwork rather than intense competition.
What advice would you give to students who are just starting to consider a career in chemical engineering or STEM in general?
Finally, we concluded the interview with Nadiha suggesting that students approaching the journey should do so with an open mindset. According to her, it’s crucial not to form assumptions without direct experience. To gain a true understanding of the field, she encourages students to actively engage by attending networking events and taking the initiative to learn about specific roles, steering clear of preconceived biases. She also emphasizes that it’s perfectly acceptable not to have all the answers right from the start. Her advice is to be kind to oneself, embrace the learning process, and allow room for exploration and growth.
