Engineer, 27, shares how she is undaunted by male-dominated energy industry & climbs the ranks

Women around the world have been challenging gender stereotypes and driving change in industries that were once predominantly male-dominated. One such industry is engineering, and 27-year-old Jolin Teo, an engineer from the transmission planning team at SP Group (SP), is exemplary of this shift.

Driving change from behind the scenes

The impact that Teo and her colleagues have made on the lives of Singaporeans is often unseen, and we may take their work for granted simply because it's not visible.

Her work includes assessing the feasibility of new power connections, planning network expansions, and upgrading infrastructure to meet the country’s growing energy needs.

A key part of Teo’s job entails a thorough review of substations to ensure reliability, safety and security. Teo and her team assess the equipment for future renewal, especially when larger equipment require additional space in the substation.

One notable project required Teo to evaluate the structural integrity of a substation for new equipment by conducting multiple studies and analysis. It also led Teo and her team to explore alternative solutions, such as sourcing for available land in a densely populated district in Singapore, that could meet updated specifications.

“Our team is involved in the development and renewal of transmission infrastructure needed to transport electricity from power plants to consumers efficiently and reliably – including homes, offices, schools and essential services like hospitals and the MRT,” Teo explained.

“In a way, we light up Singapore,” she quipped.

The beginning of her engineering journey

Teo’s engineering journey wasn’t part of her initial plan. She envisioned a career in healthcare when she was a student, filling up all her polytechnic course choices with life sciences-related programmes. She was unexpectedly placed in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, finding herself in unfamiliar territory.

“I wasn’t sure if I could do well at all,” she admitted. “I didn’t know much about engineering and wasn’t confident in my abilities.”

Encouraged by her family – particularly her brother and brother-in-law, who are both engineers – and lecturers, Teo took a leap of faith and soon discovered her passion for the field.

Determined, she overcame her self-doubt and even received the Energy-Industry Scholarship from SP while pursuing her diploma. After graduation, she joined SP as a technical officer.

If Teo were to have coffee with her younger self, the once aspiring healthcare professional would probably be surprised by the fact that she even pursued a part-time engineering degree at the Nanyang Technological University while working full-time. The part-time degree was also sponsored by SP.

For four years, Teo’s day started at 6:30am and ended at 10pm, when her night class finished. While working and studying at the same time was “really, really, really, tough”, Teo added that she appreciated this “holistic experience” where she could advance her studies while deepening her practical knowledge.

Teo’s perseverance in balancing work and studies have paid off. After taking on greater work responsibilities and graduating, she was promoted to an electrical engineer in the transmission planning team. She is now working towards her own Professional Engineer Certification, sponsored by SP, following the footsteps of the mentors who have inspired her.

Inspired by female leaders

At SP, Teo has never felt that her gender limited her potential — largely because of the strong female leaders she looks up to.

She works alongside many women who have excelled in the field, including senior engineers who hold the sought-after Professional Engineer Certification. Their experience, technical knowledge, and mentorship have inspired her to push forward.

“They are patient, kind, and always willing to teach. Seeing their achievements motivates me to aim higher,” Teo shared. “It proves that women are just as capable of excelling in this industry.”

Don’t doubt yourself

When asked what advice she would give to students choosing their field of study, she responded without hesitation: “Be bold.”

“Engineering gives you critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It’s a very versatile discipline, and you can apply these skills across industries.”

To students considering engineering as a course of study or profession, especially females, Teo had this message, “Know you are equally capable, and don’t doubt yourself.”

To learn more about SP’s scholarship programmes and career opportunities, please visit this link.

This is a branded article brought to you by SP Group.

Top image via SP group