For Olivia Caracappa, a member of Drexel’s Class of 2024, the path to
engineering began with a high school teacher who recognized her unique
problem-solving abilities. "My teacher was a Mechanical Engineer himself
and I remember having a conversation with him about being lost in my
decision for what I wanted to study in college," she recalld. "He said the
way I approached solving problems in class reminded him of engineers, and
encouraged me to explore it as an option."
Despite having no family history in engineering and limited knowledge of
the field, Olivia took a leap of faith. "I decided to go for it," she said.
She entered Drexel as a mechanical engineering major.
As Olivia progressed through her studies, she remained open to new
opportunities and experiences. Her first co-op played a pivotal role in
shaping her path, not only providing engineering knowledge but also
exposing her to the structure of a company. "I saw what my manager did
every day and often thought to myself that I wanted to be in her shoes one
day," she explained. This experience led her to switch her major to
materials science and engineering and pursue a minor in engineering
management.
"I knew that adding this minor would teach me how management strategies
impact business success, how to manage people and projects, and help me
gain valuable soft skills like communicating with diverse audiences,"
Caracappa explained.
Once she was part of the engineering management minor, Caracappa quickly
got involved with student groups, joining and eventually rising to become
president of Drexel's student chapter of ASEM/INCOSE. Through this
organization, and through a membership with the Society of Women Engineers
(SWE), she has connected with industry leaders and built a community of
colleagues within Drexel.
"Being a part of ASEM/INCOSE and SWE have improved my Drexel experience
greatly,” She said. “These organizations connected me with students with
similar interests and goals. Working together with them allowed me to be a
better student – we often learned from one another and helped each other
overcome challenges in class or co-op," she said.
Engineering management classwork – particularly EGMT 404, Introduction to
Engineering Management Communication – was also rewarding for Caracappa. "I
always felt I had strong communication skills, but this class showed me
there are many factors to consider when communicating effectively," she
explained. "I learned how to tailor my communication style to different
audiences, which has been invaluable in my everyday life."
Caracappa’s dedication extends beyond the classroom and into the dance
studio. As a member of the Drexel Dance Team, she has honed her time
management skills while balancing a demanding practice and performance
schedule with her engineering coursework. "Being on the dance team has
taught me the importance of using my free time wisely and staying on top of
my work," she said. "It's a challenge, but it's also incredibly rewarding."
As Caracappa prepares to graduate and begin her career as an engineer, she
remains grateful for the experiences and knowledge gained through her
engineering management minor. "I would advise anyone interested in pursuing
an engineering management minor to go for it!" she said. "You will develop
great skills and broaden your class load with classes that will teach you
about management, business, and communication. These classes provide
knowledge that you don't typically get in your technical coursework and are
just as important to the development of your career."