Sinyale Woods, a Principal in CEC Austin’s Civil Engineering Practice, was a panelist at the recent JA F.E.M. Forum (Financial Equity Mission). It is Junior Achievement of Central Texas’s signature lunch event to celebrate and empower women of all ages.
This year’s event, held April 25, explored careers where women are under-represented and the financial implications and outcomes of that inequity. Career examples include technology, finance, entrepreneurship, engineering, and science. Allison Miller and JC Estrada from CBS This Morning Austin emceed the event and shared uplifting stories about their own journeys through their careers.
Sinyale said this was her first involvement with Central Texas JA. “I was so excited to be there and to meet the students and connect with them. JA does a really good job,” Sinyale says. She discussed her career path, as well as the challenges and victories along the way. There were more than 60 students, teachers, and principals in attendance at the luncheon.
“Sinyale is such a dynamic person. We were so honored to have her on the panel and so grateful our students also had the opportunity to hear from her,” says Emily Long, Senior Events Manager of Junior Achievement of Central Texas.
Numerous students contacted Sinyale following the event. “They wrote that the program helped and inspired them. The messages warm my heart,” she says.
Sydney Nguyen, an aspiring business intelligence analyst, entrepreneur, and a junior at Anderson High School in Austin, is one of those students. She was a member of the luncheon panel, discussing her start up, Catch-A-Coach. It’s aimed at connecting high-schoolers skilled in various activities with families interesting in starting and fostering the talents of their children.
She took Sinyale’s words to heart.
“Ms. Woods’ recount of her past was inspiring and reassuring to know that putting yourself out there and showing up will provide opportunities. She has many incredible achievements to look up to, but it was most admirable how she had patience in her career when considering the future,” Sydney says.
Sinyale joined CEC in 2023, with more than 25 years of work experience in civil engineering. She earned an MBA and a BS in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and holds multiple certifications from the state and local authorities across the country.
“I am passionate about providing innovative and sustainable solutions that meet the needs and expectations of my customers and stakeholders. I value collaboration, diversity, and excellence, and I strive to create a positive impact on the communities and the environment that I serve,“ she adds.
Each year, JA F.E.M. Forum focuses on different topics around financial gender inequities. Past years have included knowing your value and how to monetize it, growing wealth and long-term planning, entrepreneurial equity, and ramifications of bias. “This empowering event was a huge success — not only by helping us to have crucial conversations about financial equity, but also by raising almost $100,000, helping more young people have access to JA,” Emily concludes.
Post a Comment