Shini Somara: What inspired you to go into engineering?
Esmeralda Ypsilanti: I was interested in designing products that make life easier for people. I enjoy bringing human-centric engineering to design in objects that facilitate people’s lives.
SS: Are diverse and inclusive teams important in engineering?
EY: Definitely. Homogeneous teams predominantly design for people who look, act, and use things the same way they do. The more diverse a team, the more perspectives, opinions, and use-cases on the project, then the more viable for everyone. For example, new products are a lot more inclusive of people with disabilities, who occupy a huge portion of the population. This is thanks to diverse and inclusive engineering teams.
SS: I’m really inspired by your confidence. Where does that come from?
EY: My parents have always inspired me to follow my passions no matter where that leads. They were both engineers as well, so I looked up to them and saw what was...