Mimi Batrony is the Product Engineering Manager for Oceaneering’s Energy Products division based in Panama City, Florida. In her position, Mimi finds it rewarding to see a project through from beginning to end.
“When I have invested years in a project from its infancy stages and then I get to stand on the dock and watch it leave our facility, in that moment I feel a true sense of accomplishment.”
She also finds it rewarding to be able to contribute to the overall business success of the company.
“I helped develop a sustainable SURF (subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines) analysis team at [the company’s] Offshore Design Center to support the day-to-day analysis needs for engineering groups across all divisions for the company. In addition, I was able to help build the Oceaneering SURF Analyst group from just a few people to over 25 now and still growing.”
Mimi was drawn to science at a very early age and she credits her father for encouraging her to pursue and explore the subject further. One of her favorite shows to watch with her father was “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.” This would be one of many influences that would lead her to a career in Ocean Engineering, she said.
“My attraction to engineering stemmed from my father’s love of the sciences. Growing up, I would always find myself drawn to things he would be working on,” she said. “We would fix cars, trucks, boats, pretty much anything with an engine.
“As a female who grew up in Haiti, traditionally it was expected for me take up household chores and family duties, but I had no interest in those things. My father took notice and worked with me, he pushed me, and encouraged me.”
On choosing to become an Ocean Engineer, Mimi said, “I knew it was the career path I wanted to pursue since the age of 16, and knowing that I had my father’s full support gave me the confidence to break through the social norms expected in my culture for young girls.”
Mimi said that in choosing her own path she not only challenged norms herself, but for her daughter.
“I have been able to set an example for my daughter that anything you are passionate about and willing to work hard for is achievable.”
One of the hardest things to overcome as a woman in a male-dominated engineering field was finding her confidence.
“There have been many times throughout my career, even back as far as my engineering studies, where I felt I had to work twice as hard to prove myself and be taken seriously; however, this has made me into who I am,” Mimi said.
“The key to overcoming this challenge for me has been through experiences and persistence,” she said. “It helped me build my confidence to speak up more and be assertive when necessary. I have also learned that it’s important to speak up when you have a valid opinion on a topic, as standing out sometimes is better than blending into the background.”
Often another challenge that women must deal with in their careers is balancing family and work. Mimi said that in her role as a mother and an engineer, Oceaneering has been supportive.
“As a mother of three, I have been able to maintain my professional career and growth at Oceaneering and never felt like I was being held back,” she said. “Oceaneering has done a great job of providing both myself and other mothers with reasonable accommodations to return to work.”
For the next generation of girls and women considering STEM, Mimi has this advice:
“Be persistent, seize opportunities that will allow you to grow, and remember that the harder you work for something the more rewarding it is once you achieve it.”
She added that it is most important early on in your career to seek out mentors who either have the skills you wish to gain or who hold a role you see yourself holding in the future. She noted that in her 14 years with Oceaneering, she had several mentors who she credits with helping to guide her through the positions she has held within the company.
“Having mentors is critical to your career growth,” she said. “They can guide you through challenges and critical decisions, as they themselves have probably already faced them.”
On why women should consider the engineering field, she said:
“Engineering is one of the few fields of study that is versatile and where you can bring your vision to life. You get to create, design, build, test and implement that vision into our world and ultimately drive change.”
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