EVEN Member Story: How Sonal Made Her Leadership Visible as a Woman in Engineering
Sonal became an EVEN member in March 2026. She is an engineering professional at Ventia, delivering complex infrastructure and energy projects.
"I'm passionate about building high-performing teams and creating positive project outcomes through collaboration and innovation."
As a leader, Sonal is focused on other people's growth, and it's a key reason she is sharing her EVEN story.
"I have always believed that if my journey and experiences can inspire even one fellow woman to take a step forward with greater confidence, then my efforts are truly worthwhile."
From letting the work speak for itself to making her leadership visible
"My favourite part of my EVEN journey so far has been the confidence it has helped me build. EVEN has encouraged me to find my voice, overcome hesitation, and speak up with greater conviction."
That confidence has changed how she shows up at work.
"It has helped me cultivate the ability to make my impact and leadership more visible and legible to others, rather than simply letting my work speak for itself."
Legibility matters because good work doesn't always speak for itself. People are often too busy to spot great work and need help to understand its value, and stakeholders can't support what they can't see or understand. Telling the story of the value created builds stakeholder support and advocacy, and puts Sonal in charge of the story being told about her.
Inside EVEN membership: practical leadership strategies to apply straight away
"EVEN membership has also challenged some of my assumptions by showing not only what effective leadership looks like, but also what behaviours to avoid. Sessions discussing concepts such as 'Nice Jerk' behaviours have provided valuable insights into authentic leadership and professional relationships."
Nice Jerk behaviours is a term coined by Professor Jim Detert of the Darden School of Business, and one of the insights shared in EVEN's masterclass 'How to Work with Anyone'. These are small behaviours most people slip into from time to time, such as talking over others or multitasking. Over time they accumulate and quietly damage relationships, culture and performance.
For Sonal, who leads teams through long, high-pressure projects, one lesson has proved especially practical: "the powerful reminder that 'repair is stronger than rupture,' highlighting the importance of rebuilding trust and relationships."
It's easy to assume that a relationship that isn't strong, or has broken down, can't be fixed. But the importance of relationships to careers can't be overestimated. Things do go wrong, and miscommunication or ruptures are a natural part of working with people. Those fractures can be repaired and relationships strengthened, supporting a career well into the future.
Small intentional steps that create courage
"EVEN has inspired me to be courageous and to take small, intentional steps outside my comfort zone."
Taking an experimental approach, creating change in a career through small actions and small experiments, is a key strategy shared in EVEN membership. Career decisions can feel overwhelming in their magnitude, so EVEN breaks them down into small steps that provide the information and data needed to keep progressing.
"I see these small experiments as beads of confidence strung together on a thread of aspiration, eventually becoming a necklace of pride and achievement. That mindset has had a lasting impact on both my personal and professional growth."
Sonal’s advice on how to get the most from EVEN membership:
"Be curious, actively participate in discussions, build meaningful connections, and embrace opportunities outside your comfort zone. The more you engage with EVEN membership and its community, the more you will grow both personally and professionally."
If Sonal’s experience resonates, EVEN membership is designed for ambitious women at mid-career who are ready to invest in themselves.