In this exclusive op-ed for The Manufacturer ahead of International Women’s Day [8 March, 2026], IMI’s Sinneli Jayampathy reflects on how early encouragement and hands-on curiosity led her into engineering. She argues that persistent gender imbalances still deter many young women from the profession, and calls for greater support, visibility and opportunity to inspire the next generation to pursue rewarding engineering careers that can help tackle global challenges such as sustainability.
They say inspiration strikes when you least expect it. For me, it happened when my brother was given a Meccano set. We built our first remote-controlled car together, and that moment sparked a life-long curiosity about how things work. That early fascination eventually led me to a fulfilling career in engineering, and today I am a Product Manager for IMI’s Industrial Automation sector.
Now, ten years into my engineering journey at IMI, I want to encourage more young women to consider this path and discover just how stimulating and rewarding an engineering career can be.
For many girls, though, the opportunity to even think about engineering never really arises. From an early age, there’s often an assumption that girls won’t enjoy technical or scientific toys, so they’re simply not given them. I was lucky—playing with my brother’s Meccano set ignited my interest, and I followed that curiosity through school and into university.
At university, I saw first-hand how big the gender imbalance still was. On my course of more than 200 students, I could probably count the number of girls on my fingers. That experience showed me the barriers women face and why we must address this imbalance if we want true equality of opportunity for future engineers.
Encouragement
I’ve also been fortunate to receive a great deal of encouragement. Throughout university and during IMI’s graduate programme, people supported me, pushed me to realise my potential, and championed my development. That backing, together with a number of initiatives I’ve been fortunate to be involved in at IMI, including the mentoring programme and leadership development programme, have made a huge difference.
My approach has always been to listen carefully and connect with colleagues so that my contribution is informed and well received. Being prepared, collaborative, and open to learning from others has helped me grow.
Out of my comfort zone
One of my biggest career highlights so far came when I was asked to lead a team in IMI’s Industrial Automation Growth Hub programme. The initiative brings people from across the business together to solve real customer challenges and develop new product innovations.
Managing a team was outside my comfort zone. We had just formed the group when the Covid pandemic struck, so suddenly I was leading people online across different
countries, time zones, and seniority levels. It was a real test, but I’m proud that we overcame those challenges and successfully presented our recommendations to senior management.
Today, in my role as a Product Manager for actuators, I work across operations, marketing, and technical support. I love the variety because it allows me to apply problem-solving and analytical thinking every day.
Future possibilities
Looking ahead, I’m excited about engineering’s role in tackling major global challenges. Engineering will be vital as we address sustainability. At IMI, we’re exploring ways to reduce product carbon footprints, improve energy efficiency, and cut emissions. It’s inspiring to see how much impact our industry can have on building a better future.
When I speak to young women thinking about engineering, my advice is simple: don’t be deterred by barriers. Stay focused on your ambitions. Engineering gives you a powerful foundation in problem-solving and analysis, opening doors to many different career paths. Find the area that excites you.
It’s an exciting and rewarding profession, and I’m glad stereotypes about women in engineering are being challenged. Engineering shapes so many aspects of daily life, and we need fresh talent coming through to secure the future of our industry.
About the author
Sinneli Jayampathy is a qualified mechanical engineer and currently the Pneumatic Actuator Product Manager for EMEA within IMI’s Industrial Automation sector.
Beginning her journey with IMI as an intern, Sinneli has over a decade of expertise in engineering. Passionate about sustainable engineering, she has been involved with Engineers Without Borders and is dedicated to inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in engineering through mentoring and her role as an official buddy for IMI’s graduate scheme.
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