Meet an Innovator: Isabel Mena

Isabel’s strengths as an engineer are her passion and curiosity. She has experience in innovation projects, being part of them or as a mentor. She has seen many processes and can contribute with the tools that her design-engineering teachers have given her. This past semester she was a teaching assistant for two innovation courses where she was able to help students develop their innovation projects. During the program she wants to try out her knowledge and experience in innovation, and complement them with those from her mentors and partners to develop the best project, to expand or deepen what she already knows. To generate an impact she would like to combine her knowledge about engineering, design and innovation and her passion for social and environmental issues, to generate awareness and create common goals with the community around her.

Hometown: Rancagua, Chile
Current city of residence: Santiago, Chile
School: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Area of study: Mechanical Engineering, Major in Engineering, Design and Innovation
Languages you speak: Spanish, English and Italian
Role model: My parents
Favorite product or invention: Cameras
Something you can’t live without: my black hoodie
Favorite social media platform: Instagram

Articulate yourself in a few words?

I like to learn about a variety of subjects, and I’m not afraid of asking questions. I also like to set challenging goals, which allow me to test my abilities and learn from new experiences. I enjoy being with my friends and family.

What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now?

This semester I am working as a teaching assistant in two courses about innovation and entrepreneurship. With my experience I can contribute to the formation of students so that in the future they can be leaders in these areas. It is also an opportunity to work with great professors in one of the best universities in Latin America.

What excites about the Italia Innovation Program?

The program challenges me to physically and mentally get out of my comfort zone, which I trust will lead me to think beyond, complementing my way of thinking with the one from my classmates and mentors, resulting in the development of a project rich in content, built with ideas and knowledge from different parts of the world.

In addition, it caught my attention the mix of disciplines. As an engineering student, it is very unusual to work with people who are not directly related to science or design. It would be very interesting to see how the contribution of people from these fields materializes. Finally, I like the idea of sharing my experience and motivations, learning from each other and the different ideas that move us.

What is your driving force, the vision that guides your thoughts and actions?

I like to guide my actions based on two principles: care and respect for the environment, and justice.

The first because I am aware of how important it is to take care of our resources today more than ever. I know that everything we do, or stop doing, has an impact.

The second, justice, based on the fact that we are all born as equals, but in different contexts. We must be fair in the day to day, and from the position that we have in our societies, support those who have not had the same opportunities, respecting their dignity, so that they can improve their living conditions.

I believe that it is possible to achieve a balance in which man can quench the search for development without damaging the environment permanently. Where large companies seek to grow but also have a social responsibility, and occupy their place within society seeking to do a good to the greatest number of people.

What aspect of yourself adds the most value to the world?

I am very conscious of the environment that surrounds me, this allows me to seek to impact the ones around me so that they also can generate changes.

How would you like to use your talents and energy to make an impact?

To generate an impact I would like to share my knowledge about engineering, design and innovation and my passion for social and environmental issues, to generate awareness and create common goals with the community around me.

What would you like other participants to know about yourself?

One of my favorite things to do is hiking, and any kind of outdoor activity, I also like to take pictures and travel (my dream job is being a photographer for the National Geographic Society). I have great expectations of the program and I hope to make the best of it!