Ever since she was a little girl in Canada, in the early aughts, Geneviève “Gen” Taurand loved math and technology. “I became fascinated with all of the new types of cellphones that were coming out,” Taurand said. “It amazed me that people could communicate over great distances with a piece of colorful plastic and metal that fit in their pocket.”
A young Gen Taurand, holding a toy phone, displays her communications skills and love of technology at an early age.Rather than being satisfied with simply using this technology, Taurand set about learning as much as she could about the electromagnetic spectrum, transmitters, receivers and cellular infrastructure. She took apart and reassembled flip phones. She found herself admiring the cellular towers dotting her hometown of Quebec City. And perhaps most importantly, she studied the math that made everything work together.
Enrolling in the electrical engineering program at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia was a natural next step. But when she arrived on campus, she was surprised to see only a couple of other female students in her whole department. “Maybe it was a good thing that I didn’t know how few women were in electrical engineering until I’d already started,” she said. “It was too late to get intimidated. I had to move forward.”
It’s a sentiment that will resonate with millions of female engineers this Sunday, International Women in Engineering Day.
She completed her electrical engineering undergraduate degree at Université Laval, back in Quebec, with a focus in electronic communications, and pursued a master’s degree in optics and photonics. As she pushed deeper into her studies, often as the only female in the room, Taurand vowed that she would help other women find and develop their own passions for math and engineering.
Today, Taurand is a product manager at Bentley Systems, an engineering software company specializing in digital twins, which are virtual representations of real-world roads, bridges, power grids and other infrastructure assets.
Her work includes leading and launching Bentley’s AI-enhanced Bridge Monitoring Solution with iTwin — the company’s digital twin platform. “With a digital twin, we build a 3D model where we can easily do all sorts of pre-inspections of a bridge,” she said. “This means less time on-site, no need to shut down the flow of traffic and improved worker safety.”
Taurand was part of a digital twin project involving the historic Robert Street Bridge in St. Paul, Minnesota. Built in 1926, the bridge needed significant upkeep to guarantee its ongoing longevity. “We used drones to capture data, a digital twin to create a real-time model and AI to analyze the structural integrity,” she explained. “Yes, we make sure a car can safely cross the bridge, but we also ensure that the bridge remains an iconic historical element of the city and part of the local culture.”
For Taurand, part of being an engineer is her community outreach and sharing her experience with young women who want to build their own skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). She dedicates her time to STEM organizations for girls like Project Scientist and Le Code Des Filles, where she serves on the board of directors. Taurand particularly enjoys visiting elementary schools and upending students’ expectations about how math can be applied in so many fun and engaging ways.
“People have a stereotyped image of what an engineer looks like and what they do, but I surprise them with everything that engineering can be,” she said. “I show exciting stuff like drones and 3D models, and always try to relate back to math and geometry. Behind all of this cool technology is the seemingly abstract stuff that these kids are learning in school.”
Taurand appreciates that Bentley Systems offers a supportive environment for women in engineering, including a Women’s Leadership Circle, monthly speaker events and mentorship programs. She emphasizes the difference between mentoring and championing: “It is important to have a mentor who gives you insights and advice and is a role model for your career. But I’ve also benefited from people, both female and male, championing me; giving me a chance to push through and perform at the next level. And I really try to champion others.”
Taurand takes pride in her role as both a mentor and champion for the girls and women making up the next generation of STEM talent. “I love when organizations invite me as a female presenter. One day, they won’t have to ensure balance by inviting specific individuals. It will be naturally balanced. But for now, I’m honored to make my contribution as the female engineer in the room.”
Learn more about the kinds of innovative projects Geneviève Taurand works on with iTwin and other Bentley technologies.
