Engineering Leadership Careers: Sarah Ingram’s Journey at Black & White

Building a Cross-Disciplinary Career in Engineering

“My route into engineering started with an undergraduate degree in architectural and civil engineering, followed by an MSc in structural engineering, both at Cardiff,” says Sarah. “I began my career in bridge design and achieved chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers before transitioning to a structural lead role. Eventually, I moved into design management for data centres and joined Black & White to build and grow the design management offering.”

Sarah has since carved out a leadership role focused on building strong client relationships and integrated design teams. Engineering leadership careers in data centres require both technical depth and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.

Collaboration and Leadership in Engineering

“The theme for International Women in Engineering Day, ‘Together We Engineer’ encompasses both collaboration and supporting each other,” Sarah explains. “It’s about inclusion and equal opportunities valuing diversity in everything we do. It’s bigger than women in engineering. It’s about being one global team.” Strong collaboration is a defining feature of our engineering leadership careers at Black & White, particularly in global project environments.

The Role of Mentorship and Flexibility in Engineering Leadership Careers

Sarah credits strong mentorship and support networks with helping her thrive in her career.

“Mentorship has really helped me build my confidence, which is vital to how I’ve grown in my role. Having a supportive leader I can be open with and bounce ideas off has made a huge difference.”

As a mother of two young children, flexibility has also been key. “I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my director and the flexibility at Black & White,” she says. “That trust allows me to balance work and family and continue leading at a high level.”

Her advice to young women entering engineering is an important reminder: “What makes people different their approaches, perspectives and leadership styles is where success and growth lies.”

Explore Engineering Leadership Careers

Developing engineering leadership careers requires confidence, adaptability and a willingness to learn from others. To learn more about engineering leadership careers and opportunities at Black & White Engineering, visit our careers page.

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