In our ongoing celebration of International Women and Engineering Day, we continue to learn about the inspiring journey of Ondine Beaufils from Safran Electronics and Defense. In this second of a three-part series, we explore her motivations for pursuing a career in engineering and her defining moments along the way.
A Love for Science and the Role of Role Models
Beaufils’ fascination with science began early in school, where she enjoyed subjects like physics and biology, initially aspiring to be a veterinarian due to her love for animals. An internship with a veterinarian helped her realize that this path wasn’t for her. It was an eye-opening experience, she recalls, that made her understand the realities of the job and steered her toward engineering instead. With both of her parents working as engineers, Beaufils had inspiring role models who guided her toward a field rich with possibilities. “Their influence was significant in my decision to pursue an engineering degree; a choice I have never regretted,” she said.
A Defining Moment in Electromagnetism
The moment that solidified Beaufils’ passion for engineering occurred during her second year of studies in France. While the initial years were heavy on mathematics and foundational physics, everything changed in an electromagnetism class that pulled her toward her chosen path. “Nature just is so complex but so organized, and I just loved it,” she said. "It was like a moment where I'm like, ‘I made the right choice. This is really cool, and I'm really enjoying it.’”
Celebrating Success Through Collaboration
When asked to share a success story that highlights her contributions to a project or team, Beaufils recalls an experience from her time leading engineering efforts on the Airbus A220 platform at Safran. “Our team was large, around 200 people and spread across four sites, which often led to silos and finger pointing,” she says. Beaufils took the time to foster connections and trust within her workforce. She began by getting to know the individuals at each site, not just their roles, but the people behind the emails, she said. By traveling to different locations, she established rapport, facilitating collaboration and communication among teams spread across California, Mexico and Brazil.
To strengthen relationships, Beaufils organized workshops and team building events, enabling people to meet face-to-face and understand each other’s challenges. It was important to build those connections, she said, and once trust was established—even if issues arose—the teams could face them together rather than point fingers. Recognizing the importance of language, Ondine made the effort to learn Portuguese, which also helped create a deeper connection with her Brazilian colleagues. Even a basic understanding of the local language shows commitment and willingness to engage, she said.
Watch additional parts of this interview series with Ondine Beaufils.
Editor’s Note: Machine Design’s WISE (Workers in Science and Engineering) hub compiles our coverage of workplace issues affecting the engineering field, in addition to contributions from equity seeking groups and subject matter experts within various subdisciplines.
