Diana spent a long time talking herself out of a career change. After many years in the optical industry, the idea of going back to school at 39 and committing to a full-time program felt intimidating.
But her determination outweighed her self-doubt. With encouragement from a former co-worker who had persevered through life-altering challenges, Diana began to rethink what was possible. After researching her options and gaining her parents’ support, she enrolled in Mohawk College’s Power Engineering Techniques program.
It turned out that saying yes to herself—the first step of her enterprising journey—was the hardest part of the process.
“I would like to show that anyone of any age, gender or background can successfully make a career change and improve their lives,” Diana says. “My experience has taught me it’s not as hard as you think to go back to school, and time moves on whether you take the risk or not, so you might as well try.”
A leap worth taking
Growing up with a father who worked in a foundry, Diana was always fascinated by industrial operations and factories. Her siblings also entered the trades. But Diana had built a successful career in the optical industry, beginning as a lens producer, advancing to tech lead and lab manager, and finally shifting to the retail side.
So, five years ago, when she first became interested in power engineering, she wasn’t convinced. Eventually, Diana revisited the idea with a strategic approach. The field she chose focuses on operating and maintaining machinery and equipment related to steam and power generation.
“Power engineering was a good choice based on the fact that the program was one year plus your hours onsite on a field placement,” says Diana, who joined the company where she completed her placement after her second semester. “So, it made sense for where I was in life because it was timely, and it ended up being a really good career path. I’m already making more money than I was in my previous job.”
Industry-led learning and support
Once in the program, which serves as both the entry point into the trade and the foundation for basic certification, Diana found herself in an environment designed to foster learning and professional growth. She says Neil McCuaig, the program’s coordinator, and her instructors have been informative, encouraging and deeply invested in her growth.
“Mohawk did a great job hiring professionals from the field with different types of experience,” she says. “I learned a lot anecdotally from stories that Neil and our other instructors shared. They also gave really good advice on how to be in the workplace and what to expect. That was great because they brought a lot of their experience into the courses.”
Beyond industry-led learning, labs and instructor insight, Diana explored other ways to prepare for her future. Volunteering at Jill of All Trades, an event where female high school students explore skilled trades through workshops and networking, stands out as a particularly meaningful experience. She says opportunities like this broadened her understanding of the industry.
“You hear different perspectives of people working in these fields, and especially women in trades,” Diana says of volunteering. “It’s nice to see … how encouraging and welcoming people are because … these are careers that, when I was growing up, no one ever presented to me.”
Power engineering includes four levels of training and certification. Diana is already looking ahead to the next step—and the ones after that. It once took her years to grant herself permission to try something new. Now, with experience behind her and momentum on her side, Diana’s enterprising mindset drives her to keep moving forward.
Posted January 7, 2026
