Uzma Siddiqi

International Women in Engineering Day recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements of women engineers worldwide. IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) is excited to spotlight Uzma Siddiqi, who knew the moment she first encountered the mechanics behind how things work, engineering felt less like a subject to study and more like a language she already spoke. What came naturally to her was not just the technical skill, but the mindset, desire to understand, and improve. Now an inspiring and driven engineer in her own right, Uzma brings both passion and precision to every opportunity, driven by a deep sense of purpose.

With her father working in the Engineering industry, Uzma grew up in an environment where curiosity was encouraged and problem-solving was part of her daily routine, which she greatly enjoyed. Their influence shaped her interests and guided her toward opportunities where she could thrive. That path led her to North Carolina State University, known for their Electrical Engineering program, an area that captured her interest early on. Soon after, Uzma started appreciating how important electricity is, which continues to become more apparent well into her career. Uzma understands the value of electricity and how, in other parts of the world, it is not as reliable and resilient. It was during this time that she began to truly understand the foundational role electricity plays in modern life.

She explained, “Electricity is truly foundational to our society, and when you don’t have it, that’s when you appreciate how important it is. It is the backbone of our society.”

Uzma discovered IEEE during her college years. One day, walking through the ground floor of her main academic building, she noticed the letters “IEEE” displayed outside a set of double doors. Curious, she stepped inside and found a community that immediately resonated with her. She quickly learned about IEEE PES and was drawn in by both the educational focus and the opportunity to connect and network with like-minded students. What began as a moment of curiosity soon became a crucial part of her college experience, where she eventually served as an officer. That early involvement sparked a commitment that has lasted more than 30 years. To this day, she remains an engaged member, continuing to contribute, learn, and mentor others.

Several years later, when her husband’s job brought their family to the Pacific Northwest, Uzma found herself in a new city, Seattle. She decided to reach out to her network of connections, attend meetings, and offer her expertise and support wherever it was needed. Her willingness to contribute left a lasting impression. Though she had stepped away from full-time engineering to focus on raising her children and being a caretaker, Uzma knew the importance of staying engaged with the professional community. She wasn’t sure if she’d return to full-time work in the field anytime soon, but she wanted to keep the door open. Staying involved felt like an investment in both her future.

After 10 years, when she decided to return to the workforce full time, she applied for a position with Seattle City Light (SCL), one the nation’s largest municipal electric utilities, and was surprised to learn that the person reviewing her resume, John Nierenberg, remembered her from those initial active years with IEEE PES in Seattle. It was a moment that affirmed the value of staying connected and showing up. Even when life required her to step back and focus on other priorities, she never lost sight of the importance of maintaining her professional connections. Since then, Uzma has been with SCL for over 20 years and has held a variety of engineering roles and is now thriving as their Senior Manager of Grid Modernization and Strategic Tech.

Uzma shared, “Unintentionally, it’s become my career network. I thought of IEEE PES as more of a place to learn, but it is a way to connect. As you go through your career, you start to appreciate how important community is”.

Eventually, Uzma found herself working with John Nierenberg again on local IEEE PES chapter events like the IEEE Northwest Energy System Symposium (NWESS), organized by the IEEE PES Seattle Chapter. Uzma’s commitment to the field is also evident through her active involvement in the IEEE PES General Meeting (GM), where she continues to share her knowledge and strive to make a bigger impact within the power and energy space. Uzma loves the concept of getting a big picture sense of what is happening, especially a key component such as the Open Plenary Sessions, which are held at a flagship event like this one.

Uzma explains, “IEEE PES is where I find key resources to answer today’s challenging technical questions, especially at the excellent conferences. The members are generous with their knowledge and time, creating a strong community”.

She added, “It’s the person who understands, who is able to share their understanding, so that I travel on the journey with them”.

Uzma’s passion for engineering seems to have naturally influenced the next generation. Her kids have also found their paths within the engineering space. She shares that she never intentionally steered them that way; rather, they grew up observing her in her line of work, similar to how Uzma herself watched her father take pride and joy in his work. It was about being present. Engineering was simply part of their lives. Over time, the quiet exposure sparked their curiosity and opened up a door of endless possibility.

Looking ahead, Uzma would like to help young women who aspire to make their mark in the engineering world, with a strong interest in supporting middle school students with their mathematics development. She also wishes to be part of initiatives like IEEE PES Women in Power (WiP) and continue being a mentor to those in need. These days, her role is centered around mentoring and coaching, guiding others with the same encouragement and insight she once received. For her, IEEE PES isn’t just a professional organization; it’s a place where she can stay connected to her technical community.

She explains, “In the future, I hope to continue giving back to our community, with a focus on helping early-career engineers. An additional interest that I am exploring is how to encourage school-age children to think about power engineering in their future”.

Uzma’s passion and dedication for the advancement of electrical engineering have not only opened doors for her in the industry but have also encouraged her to build upon her community of quality thinkers and urged her to continue to give back in knowledge and mentorship. IEEE has become a unique community that allows Uzma to explore innovative ideas and knowledge regularly, a one-of-a-kind experience.

Uzma shared a takeaway for students eager to dive into the world of engineering: “Keep your doors open, and IEEE is one of the doors that you can have open…IEEE PES is the hook.”