Meet Sara Ahad, EIT, Technical Delivery Coordinator based in Calgary, Alberta.
Since joining GUNN in 2025, Sara has embraced the challenges and opportunities that come with starting a career in engineering. We spoke with her about continuous learning, creativity in problem-solving, and the lessons she’s gained during her transition from the classroom to the workplace.
Sara, tell us, what has been the most surprising thing you’ve learned since transitioning from the classroom to the workplace?
The biggest surprise for me has been how much teamwork drives success. In school, there’s often a strong emphasis on individual achievement, but in the workplace I’ve found that people genuinely rely on and support one another. I’ve learned that contributing to the team’s success and being there for your colleagues is a key part of your own success.
Sounds like a smooth transition! Can you share a project, challenge, or accomplishment that made you feel especially proud early in your career?
Early in my career, every day seemed to bring a new challenge. Whether it was learning unfamiliar processes, tackling technical problems, or adapting to a new role, there was always something new to navigate. What made those experiences rewarding was seeing how each challenge became an opportunity to learn and develop new skills. Looking back, it’s satisfying to see that progression and to recognize how much growth can come from consistently embracing new experiences and learning opportunities.
So inspiring, Sara! How do you approach learning new technical skills, tools, or industry knowledge in a rapidly evolving field?
I like to treat learning new technologies a bit like wandering down a trail you’ve never taken before. You don’t know exactly what’s around the next corner, but that’s part of the fun. I enjoy exploring, trying things out, and following my curiosity. In a rapidly changing field, I think having that sense of wonder makes it easier to keep up, because learning feels less like a task and more like an adventure.
It’s clear that curiosity plays a big role in navigating a rapidly changing industry. What is one misconception people often have about engineering, and how would you challenge it?
I think people sometimes see engineering as very black-and-white, where everything is governed by formulas and there’s always a single right answer. In reality, engineering involves a lot of creativity. The facts and principles provide the foundation, but designing solutions often requires interpretation, imagination, and finding the best balance between competing priorities. That’s one of the things I enjoy most about engineering, It combines analytical thinking with creative problem-solving.
With the benefit of experience and hindsight, if you could give your first-year engineering student self one piece of advice, what would it be?
I would tell my first-year self to spend less time worrying about whether I looked like an engineer and focus on defining what kind of engineer I wanted to be. It’s easy to absorb expectations from professors, peers, or industry stereotypes, but the most fulfilling path comes from leaning into your own strengths and interests. Engineering needs all kinds of people and perspectives, and finding your own way is often more valuable than trying to fit a predefined mold.
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