This article is more than just a symbolic text about gender equity. It’s a necessary reflection – written by and for people. And if, by the end of this text, in a world overflowing with (mis)information, we manage to get you thinking about the topic, then we will have achieved our goal.
Meet Mariana Rodrigues! Mariana is our Project Engineer. She has been working at Catari for five years, and the photo we shared on March 8th for International Women’s Day was hers—a striking image that, in our view, captures female strength in a “traditionally male-dominated world.” Or so we thought—guess we were wrong!
In a conversation with Mariana, she shared that one of the most common questions she gets is: “What is it like working in a world surrounded by men?” But her experience, ever since she started her Civil Engineering degree at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto in 2012, does not reflect this perception that many of us have. She told us that, throughout her career, she has worked in well-balanced teams where gender has never made her feel out of place—whether among professors, fellow students, or colleagues.
And that brings us to the myth: brace yourselves, but engineering is not a man’s world. That’s why we wanted to shift the focus and ask Mariana the questions that truly matter.
What drives your passion for engineering?
MR: The ability to turn challenges into safe and efficient solutions. In the scaffolding industry, every project is like a puzzle, where I need to work with standard measurements and adapt them to each site’s unique requirements. It’s a process that demands both precision and creativity.
Structural calculations also come with the responsibility of ensuring that every structure is safe and capable of withstanding all applied loads and conditions. Every detail matters, and knowing that my work contributes to workers’ safety and the success of a project gives me a strong sense of fulfillment.
What motivates me most is this combination of analysis, problem-solving, and real-world impact. Knowing that my work makes a tangible difference in construction keeps me excited and focused.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career—or the one you enjoyed the most?
MR: The biggest challenge in my career came right after I graduated when I decided to join a multinational company that required me to work between Portugal and other European countries. This experience was incredibly enriching because it forced me to adapt to different cultures and work environments. The exchange of ideas and approaches shaped my work methodology to this day.
Working with teams across different cultural and professional settings taught me to be more flexible, communicate more effectively, and adopt better management and execution practices. It was undoubtedly an experience that helped me grow both professionally and personally, shaping how I approach every new project and challenge.
You create 3D scaffolding projects. What are the biggest challenges of such a technical and detailed job?
MR: One of the biggest challenges is modeling existing structures in 3D, often with very little available information. To create an effective scaffolding solution without errors during assembly, the design must be as precise as possible. However, incomplete client data often makes this process complex and time-consuming.
Another major challenge is developing non-standard solutions, especially when clients have many specific demands. In these cases, in addition to detailed modeling, we need to balance unique requirements with the technical feasibility of the solution, ensuring that the structure remains both safe and efficient.
Your work directly impacts our clients. What do you think about the importance of engineering in client relationships?
MR: Close client relationships in engineering are essential for them to understand the adopted solutions and recognize their benefits. Every project presents unique challenges, often with multiple possible approaches. That’s why it’s crucial to clearly explain why a particular solution was chosen, highlighting its advantages in terms of safety, efficiency, and project adaptation.
This communication builds trust in the project and ensures aligned expectations. When there is proximity, we can not only justify technical decisions but also respond to questions and adjust solutions to optimize the final outcome. In the end, an informed client feels more confident and satisfied with the delivered work.
On a broader level, how do you see engineering’s role in the world?
MR: Engineering is the foundation of progress. It’s present in everything that sustains our daily lives, from the infrastructure we use to the solutions that make the world safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.
Beyond just building, engineering is about problem-solving. It helps overcome technical challenges, optimize processes, and create innovative solutions that improve lives by transforming ideas into reality safely and effectively.
I see engineering as an ever-evolving field that adapts to society’s changing needs and contributes to a more sustainable future. Ultimately, it bridges knowledge and practical application, making possible what once seemed like just a concept.
Getting to know our professionals better, giving them the space and growth opportunities they deserve, is a commitment that matters to all of us.
We recognize that there is still a way to go. According to PORDATA data published by the Portuguese Engineers’ Association, the number of women graduating in Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction has more than doubled in the last 20 years. Across the European Union, women occupy 41% of jobs in Science and Engineering (Eurostat, 2024), while in Portugal, this figure reaches 53.6%. It is surprising, then, that we continue to label engineering and science as “male-dominated fields.”
Women’s contributions in these areas are part of our daily lives, often without us even noticing—we all benefit from their research, insight, and expertise in engineering and science.
So, the next time you see a Catari scaffolding project, remember: it might have been designed by Mariana, and both men and women worked together to make it a reality—building a safer, more sustainable world.
