Student Profile: Jaquelyn Monis Rodriguez – Change through Leadership

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Photo by Alan Wu

As a student activist, Jaquelyn Monis Rodriguez (IndE 1T5+PEY) is passionate about improving the value of student clubs and initiatives within the U of T Engineering community, all the while developing her own leadership competency. She serves as the Director of Events for the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Conference. She has also worked at the Engineering Outreach Office, University of Toronto Engineering Kompetitions (UTEK), and the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) U of T Chapter. Jaquelyn is currently taking the ILead course titled Foundations of Engineering Leadership (APS343), as well as participating in The Game. She has also taken the Team Skills Certificate Program. Here are her thoughts on leadership education.

Why do you want to be an engineer?

I want to be equipped with tools that would help me identify, understand, and improve processes. I see the world as a very complex network of processes that can be improved in several ways; as such, I want to contribute and lead many of those improvements.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership means to understand and influence people such that a goal or change can be achieved. It’s an ongoing process that starts with self-understanding, powered by values, empathy, and knowledge, and ends with reaching a better state.

Looking back on your time at U of T Engineering, how would you describe yourself in First Year, compared to who you are today?

Since I started in university, I have grown in pretty much every aspect of my life. I have particularly noticed that I had a very outgoing personality, I tend to talk a lot and I used to push other people to share their thoughts as well. I have learned that not everyone is as comfortable as I am to share their thoughts. I now give people the time to organize their thoughts and share them when they feel comfortable to do so.

What would the world look like if more engineers developed their leadership capability?

There would be more collaboration across different levels and areas of expertise. Engineers would have more appreciation towards other fields and would strive to be more appreciated for their work. This collaborative environment would lead to a more effective interaction among all systems.

How did APS343 and The Game impact you and your development?

They have changed the way I perceive and interact with people. I have learned different techniques that can influence the dynamic of a team, which have helped me reframe my personal vision and mission of the role I want to take in society.

Why is leadership education so important right now?

Leadership education is important because it provides students with the necessary structure and tools to become better individuals for the community, as it encourages students to better understand themselves and others in order to influence the environment around them.

What is your prized possession that costs you little to nothing at all?

Printed photos. One of the things that I always pack with me when I move is the pictures of my childhood, my family, my friends, and of the amazing memories that I have from the places I have visited.

-Kevin Saludares