Name: Jade Toich
Program: Mechatronics Engineering
University(s) / College(s) Attended: University of Cape Town
Education / Degree(s): B.Sc (B.Eng) Mechatronic Engineering; M.Med (M.MSc) Biomedical Engineering
Current Job Title: Product Developer
Current Employer: Libang Surgical Technologies
Email: Send Email
Fun Facts About Me
Share one fun fact about yourself: I am the youngest of 7 children and have 5 sisters! I grew up in a household of strong females and want to spread the strength to other females!
The most inspiring engineer I know is ....... Because ........ ?: Elon Musk; Because: 1) he is from South Africa and proves that you can be from anywhere and still make it, 2) He is constantly pushing the boundaries of what mankind think is achievable 3) His projects are all in focus of bettering life on earth for humans and exploring space, which I believe are both noble topics.
Profile Questions
Why did you choose to study engineering?: Growing up I had a strong interest in understanding how things work and engineering does just that. I also knew that engineering is required across many industries, it promised opportunity, fun, and a prospect to learn and grow.
How do you apply your engineering degree to your current career?: The transferable skills I learnt during my studies (critical thinking / problem solving) have been the most valuable as they can be applied in many different ways. My studies also gave me a strong foundation in engineering principles which I use every day in my job working for a surgical robotic start-up in Vancouver.
What do you love most about your career?: Contributing to cutting edge surgical robotic development – its a very exciting field, mixing many different disciplines of engineering. I am always learning and the work is fun! Extra bonus: contributing to bettering the world!
What advice would you give to someone hoping to pursue a career in engineering?: If you have any inclination to study engineering but are not sure if its suite you 100% - just go for it and work out the details along the way. Its very rare to know exactly what you want to do or understand the full picture, so its best to get started with a flare and over time you can carve out a career path in engineering that suites your inherent passions and interests. Disciplines are mixing and there are countless jobs being created that didn’t exist in the past, so there are many opportunities for you to combine your interests and skills to result in a job that suites you best, and you will be the best at it due to your uniqueness!