As a kindergartener, Vanessa Li imagined herself becoming a rocket engineer. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved watching chemical reactions and physics experiments,” she says with a smile. In high school, her dream began to manifest with the discovery of metallurgical engineering, a field where she could combine her love of chemistry and physics.
Engineering was a seamless fit for Vanessa, but it took time for her to feel accepted as a woman in the field.
We asked Vanessa to share her journey as an advanced technologies program manager at Novelis and how she has embraced diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives throughout her career.
Cultural beginnings
At 16 years old, Vanessa came to the U.S. from Hong Kong as an international student and experienced various cultural challenges. In her personal upbringing, she was taught the importance and value the Chinese culture placed on humility.
The Chinese idiom ‘一山還有一山高,’ meaning “however high a mountain is, there is always another one higher,” was shared with her at a young age. The phrase expresses that no matter how much we have achieved, there will always be someone or something better or more successful. This philosophy is common in multiple Asian cultures.
(If you’re interested in hearing more about Vanessa’s experience as an immigrant, check out her webinars, “Lost in Translation — Demystifying and Maximizing Asian Culture,” and her podcast, “When Asia Meets America Pt. 2 — Tips for International Students.”)
Career experiences
When Vanessa began her career, she quickly learned the importance of advocating for herself and being confident about her accomplishments. Both practices are a striking change from the humility instilled in her. Over time, she began speaking up in team meetings and offering her problem-solving ideas. At first, she felt unheard and overlooked, afraid that her differences were holding her back. Vanessa worried that her accent was off-putting or that she was counteracting her upbringing by being too aggressive. One day, a manager gave her credit for her innovative solution due to an issue the production line was facing. Vanessa can remember the day well and “felt supported that her voice made an impact.”
While her diverse background and cultural challenges could have kept Vanessa in the shadows, she did quite the opposite. Supported by Novelis’ company culture and dedication to creating an inclusive workplace, she embraces opportunities to share her experiences and help support DEI practices. She encourages others to adopt these DEI initiatives and remember the simple truth that “we all work better together if everyone feels a sense of belonging.’”
Vanessa’s DEI practices to embrace in your career
1. Be open to new perspectives.
“I was often the only woman engineer and the only Asian at the site,” Vanessa says of her career. This reality helped her appreciate the importance of diversity.
“We all have unique strengths, skills, and perspectives, each of which is critical to making and forming a great team. When a team shares a diverse perspective, they show resilience and openness, which leads to continuous improvement. Identifying and exploring where disagreement and divergence happen is an essential leadership skill.”
Vanessa is an advocate for women in engineering and skill trades.
2. Seek mentorship.
In 2016, Vanessa and colleagues launched the “Women in Novelis” employee resource group (ERG) pilot mentorship program.
“Conversations with mentees allow me to gain new ideas, reflect on myself as a leader, and expand my network. I believe empowering teammates to reach their full potential is key to having good team performance. Only if your teammates perform well will the project perform well,” Vanessa says.
She encourages fellow leaders to identify mentorship opportunities.
“Identifying talent and developing the pipeline is also a leadership skill,” says Vanessa. “Next time you are in a meeting, ask a quiet individual for their input or feedback; you will be amazed at how much you can learn from each other.”
3. Get involved.
Outside work, Vanessa volunteered with the Society of Women Engineers African American Affinity Group. At Novelis, she became involved with the “BREATHE” employee resource group, which focuses on connecting Black employees and allies in social and professional ways.
“We are advocating for our Black colleagues to feel a greater sense of belonging and growth by creating a psychologically safe environment that promotes our cultural beliefs,” she says.
And the benefits are clear. “As an immigrant, I often feel my knowledge of U.S. history and culture is not as advanced as others. ERGs are a psychologically safe place for me to be authentic and to learn about others’ cultures and backgrounds. It also allows us to learn about societal issues,” Vanessa explains.
4. Learn to be an ally.
“Throughout my career, I’ve had good allies who are not afraid to step up and intervene when I face difficult times,” Vanessa shares.
If you encounter questionable behavior, Vanessa encourages you to ask for clarification and understanding and then suggest how to approach the situation better. “If others speak up and intervene, it sends a message that this behavior is not to be tolerated,” she says.
Vanessa also highlights the importance of checking in on victims of microaggression. She wants to empower those around her, saying, “Don’t be afraid to reach out to the person afterward to understand their feelings and offer support. Do not generalize or make assumptions, as each experiences their unique situation. We will all work better together if everyone feels a sense of belonging.”
5. Join a non-profit organization.
Vanessa is a board member of the Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation, a volunteer with the Society of Women Engineers, and a coach with EngineerGirl. She is active in the community intending to serve underrepresented groups better.
“Volunteering for K-12 STEM outreach and college scholarship initiatives gives me positive energy, and I love seeing the kids smile and have a great time,” she says. “Find a cause that you are interested in that provides you opportunities to network or expand your knowledge. If you are passionate about an area of interest, you will not feel stressed; instead, you will feel very energized because it is fun and impactful to your community. When you are having fun, it does not feel like work at all.”
Are you interested in bringing your unique skills & perspectives to Novelis? They’re hiring! Check out the opportunities here.
