Celebrating Women in Space: Meet the Women Behind the Achievements

Strong and talented women at MDA Space are key to driving our mission forward and play a critical role in our success. To mark International Women’s Month, we asked some of the incredible women of MDA Space to share their experiences, insights and perspectives on leadership and empowerment.

Ana Sonicki | HR Business Partner

"Learning empowers individuals by enhancing their knowledge and skills, which in turn strengthens their confidence."

In what ways do you believe female leadership impacts culture and performance at MDA Space? 

I think female leaders are known to have attributes like sensitivity, empathy and humility. They promote a more collaborative, inclusive and diverse environment that encourages open communication. They value different perspectives and foster a stronger sense of employee engagement, which can ultimately lead to improved performance and innovation within the company. 

Ani Goswell | Intermediate Member of Technical Staff – Electrical

"No woman is an island, and there are no downsides to clear and candid communication."

Could you discuss the importance of networking and how it has influenced your career progression?

For me it started with an intro through a mutual friend that led to an internship in NYC. After graduation it was my brother introducing me to someone at another engineering start up where my technical experience rocketed over the next five years. My network has expanded a lot since joining the industry and I can draw a direct line of influence to where I am today. Today, I'm lucky enough to include a whole host of talented engineers and a couple of stellar recruiters who helped me land my dream job here at MDA Space UK.

Chiara Palla | Project Manager

"Do not be afraid to apply and to tick all the boxes, the worst that can happen will be a ‘No’."

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your journey?

I believe a turning point in my career journey was when I was given the opportunity to pursue a PhD in the UK at Cranfield University.

Coming to the UK was a significant change for me, I had to adapt and learn to manage on my own, but also discovering different perspectives, cultures, and background from all over the world, which ultimately influenced and shaped my way of thinking and understanding differences.

This helped when working on my first piece of space hardware for the European Space Agency. Seeing it fly into space was an incredible experience!  

Holly Mein | Engineer MTS

"The key for me is a strong support system both at work and at home. I work with amazing people who are both understanding and encouraging."

What strategies have you used to overcome barriers specific to women in our industry?

I have found breastfeeding to be an unexpected challenge. I am still in the process of breastfeeding my baby. This means I must pump for 30 minutes every 2-3 hours every day. Being the only woman on the team meant I had no idea what this looked like in the workplace. Luckily, a great manager and coworkers helped create a space for me in my office to pump.

Having a support group while going through this would have been nice, but I found it hard to find others in the space industry in this situation. I feel like pumping in the workplace is still not talked about enough, which makes it feel more isolating for new mothers. If any women are going through this and want advice or just to talk, I am happy to help and listen.

 Jivan Malhi | Senior Program Manager 

“With persistence, the correct information and strategy, courage and confidence, barriers can be overcome.”

What has the role of mentorship played in your career and what advice can you share about having a mentor? 

I have been lucky to have mentors, both men and women, who have been role models and walked with me through my career path. Mentorship has allowed me to visualize my career goals as I witnessed my mentors in action. Observing my mentors in action and having an open dialogue with my role models allowed me to reflect and communicate goals and plans to stretch my skills further.  

My advice on having a mentor is to look for a role model who aligns with your future self. Aim to have mutual trust with this person, allowing for an open dialogue.   

Karine Dionne | Engineering Manager Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) & Test Data

“Spontaneous connections are the most precious ones because they are authentic. Don’t wait for a formal mentorship program or meeting to develop connections with people you appreciate.”

What inspired you to pursue your current role, and how did you navigate any challenges you faced?

Early on when I joined MDA Space, I was involved in test automation and test station design. It was not a very popular field back then, but I enjoyed that work very much; working in the lab, seeing the pieces come together, collaborating with many people and being exposed to different expertise. I was good at it, and I chose to continue in that role even in the face of other design opportunities.

When constellations came around, test automation suddenly got more attention and there were only a few people in the company that had grown expertise in this area. It opened several opportunities to contribute and today, as the manager of the EGSE and Test Data Processing department, I have the privilege to work with a team of talented professionals that will make possible the testing of two spacecraft per day. What a wonderful challenge!

Lochana Ponnambalam | Program Manager

“Don’t let people who tell you ‘You can’t’ stop you from pursuing your dreams; let their words fuel your fire to keep going.”

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your journey?

I remember the moment when I touched the tire of the A380 landing gear for the first time, during a facility tour of UTAS Landing Gear (now Collins Aerospace) early in my career. I was in awe that something almost as tall as me was only one portion of this enormous aircraft that had been in commercial operations for several years and had transported several thousands of passengers around the world already. It was a pivotal moment for me once I realized that I only needed to be involved in one component to contribute to the success of an entire system, and that feeling has carried through in all of my aviation and aerospace roles since then, consistently reminding me to maintain perspective on the bigger picture of how everything is connected and that, even if its small, my contribution to the overall system is still important.

Marlene Perry | Program Manager

“Never give up, never surrender.”

In what ways do you believe female leadership impacts MDA Space’s culture and performance?

In 2024, some of our Geointelligence Senior Leadership joined the MDA Space Halifax group for a visit and I was impressed to see that they were all women. It was great to see such a difference from previous times when our leadership was almost exclusively male. To see that we had a team of women at the helm made me quite proud of the changes that I have seen over the course of my 20+ years at MDA Space. In the past, working primarily in the defence area, it could feel a bit like being a stray polka dot as there were so few women in the field. But this has been changing and it’s great to see more and more women joining the field. It’s also helpful to have many strong role models on our leadership team that show that there are paths within the company.

Females in leadership roles affect our company culture in so many ways. Women face different demands and expectations from a cultural perspective long before we enter the workplace. That makes many of us more aware of the impact of our demands on others. So, we try to be more thoughtful of our impact, taking more of a holistic approach to problems rather than just a stereotypical brute force approach. I think having women in leadership helps everyone to see a problem from many aspects and brings out better solutions for everyone—from customers to stakeholders to employees.

Marylène Audet | Senior Manager Digital Engineer

“I have been lucky to have had many types of mentors, who guided me in making strategic choices and establishing new connections with various people.”

What role does continuous learning play, and how do you stay up to date on industry developments?

My main objectives revolve around curiosity, learning new technologies and methodologies and discovering effective ways to enhance my leadership skills, along with those of my team members. I continuously read and take different courses or listen to webinars to find and explore new areas of knowledge.

Natalie Amir | VP Business Development, New Business

“Do something that you enjoy and that inspires you. Over time, your passion and energy will be recognized, and it will help you succeed in inspiring others.”

What inspired you to pursue your current role, and how did you navigate any challenges you faced?

I recently joined MDA Space to lead the New Business team for Robotics and Space Operations. My goal was to join a fast-growing, innovative company, and I’m thrilled to have found that here at MDA Space and be part of this amazing team! For me, my career path was not a perfectly straight line. I started down a very technical path as a satellite thermal engineer then pivoted to business development and strategy type roles. I found the latter incredibly fulfilling as I got to work directly with customers to help support their missions. I’ve had the opportunity to work in several different segments of the space industry including satellite systems and components, ground stations and launch vehicles. While it was challenging at times to jump into different segments of the industry or different roles without being an expert, I found stepping out of my comfort zone forced me to learn quickly and improve my skills.

Stephanie Theriault | Manager Internal Audit 

“Building relationships has opened doors for me both professionally and personally and has helped shape who I am today!”

What message would you convey to women aspiring to grow their careers or move into leadership positions?

I would tell them to believe in and advocate for themselves, develop a relationship with a mentor they trust, and be their authentic self. I would not be a young woman in a leadership position without believing I can do the role and trusting in my abilities. Having a great mentor who pushes me out of my comfort zone and being my true self at work has helped build trust and respect from my peers.

As we conclude International Women’s Month, we are reminded of the incredible talent, dedication, and perseverance of the women who make up our MDA Space team. Through their stories, we have seen the power of female leadership, the importance of mentorship, and the impact of continuous learning on career success. It is inspiring to witness their passion, resilience, and commitment to making a difference in the space industry.