A Leap of Faith: From Industrial Engineering to Leading in Construction

Courage in Motion: Taking the First Step

My journey didn’t begin with blueprints or scaffolding; it started in the world of aluminum extrusion, where precision met production systems. As a core industrial engineer and systems analyst, I built my foundation in lean processes and technical rigor. But growth rarely resides within comfort zones. The decision to pursue an MBA wasn’t just about adding a business dimension – it was the catalyst for a radical transformation.

Taking the First Step

In 2014 with my master’s degree in hand, I took the leap into construction, a field I knew almost nothing about. No knowledge of construction types, no understanding of how applications worked or who the key players were. Not even the terminology was familiar – in either English or Spanish (Surprising, right? Construction terminology wasn’t part of my native-language toolbox.)

When I started as a non-structural Field Engineer in Philadelphia, I had a wonderful team who supported me, and I needed more. Every evening after work, while others wound down, I opened my laptop and began my second shift: self-study. My nights were spent decoding construction terms.

Natalia doing a demo.

Learning the Language of Construction

One vivid memory I have is: during my first few months in the job, I was a at a jobsite, a customer described an anchoring application. I caught fragments - “CMU,” “embedment,” “torque” - but couldn’t even spell them. So, I jotted down phonetic notes, Googled spellings from my car and kept piecing the puzzle together. I understood perhaps half of their terminology, then took a deep breath and filled in the blanks. I didn’t have all the answers on the spot, but my customers trusted that I would follow up on time, every time. Now, these anecdotes make me laugh, but in those moments, they were overwhelming, but they were markers of pure determination.

During my first year, I immersed myself in firestop systems, building sequences and stakeholder dynamics. Furthermore, to gain credibility among top architects and engineers, I had to support in their life safety design. My manager gave me the opportunity to continue my upskill by learning how to write and understand construction documents for a project in the form of a professional certification. I was thrilled!  So, I embarked in the intensive world of becoming a construction documents technologist; here I was back again in the classroom, with a dictionary on hand. I spent lots of weekends and evenings translating the project design book to pass the exam, like any other SAT.

When the time came to present the test, I still reminisce how I jumped with joy when I finished the test, and the computer said “PASS”. More importantly, I made it a point to let the specifiers and contractors I worked with know about my new certification. That way, they would be aware of my understanding of their field and my ability to guide them on proper life safety standards to help protect buildings from fire.

In addition to self-study, what made the climb not only possible - but empowering - was Hilti’s training ecosystem. As someone entering construction from scratch, the basic training modules, followed by Field Engineer Gates I, II, and III, offered a structured path toward competency. These weren’t just courses; they were confidence builders. When the moment came to understanding the solutions that we offered to our customers to make their design and installation faster and safer, the hands-on installation training was especially transformative.

For the first time, I wasn’t only learning about the products - I was working with them, understanding how designs became reality and how details made the difference. I was owning my craft! These experiences became the bedrock of my technical fluency and sparked a deep respect for field execution and product innovation.

Natalia presenting.

Attitude, Drive and the Power of Others

Still, technical knowledge alone wasn’t enough. I knew this, growing up in Latin culture I learned the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and gratitude in everything we do. My determination and inner drive helped me overcome doubt, setbacks and times when I felt isolated. I am also deeply thankful for the colleagues and leaders I continue to work with, who recognized my potential, included me in discussions, shared their knowledge and supported my development as I was finding my way.

From my first role as a Fastening & Protection Engineer, to becoming a Fire Protection Global Product Manager, to Field Engineering Manager and eventually leading the Large Projects, Project Management team, my career blossomed because of hard work, but also because of human connection.

After 11 years at Hilti, I continue to value the support I’ve received from others throughout my career. At Hilti, this sense of community is common - we look out for each other like family. This people-focused culture is a key reason I’ve stayed with the company for so long. The generosity I’ve experienced has shaped my own approach to leadership: it’s not just about strategy or oversight, but about supporting others, recognizing their strengths and helping them grow. This is the philosophy I have strived to bring to my leadership role over the past four years.

My journey wasn’t linear. There were moments of doubt, stumbles that felt like failures and days that tested me. But those became lessons - reflections I carried into every specifier presentation, every customer demo and every hard conversation.

Resilience isn’t the absence of fear or mistakes. It’s choosing growth in the face of both.

I hope my story is a message to every recent graduate, every career shifter and every person who wonders,

 “Can I start over?”

Yes, you can.

• If you have the determination to show up as a student of the unknown.
• If you’re willing to ask questions without ego.
• If you commit not only to finding answers but learning layer by layer, so the next time you can solve an issue on your own.

My journey is unique, and yours is too, so don’t chase someone else’s blueprint - build your own! And once you find your footing, reach back to help someone else climb. That’s leadership. That’s courage in motion.

Natalia with a group of colleagues. 

Explore Opportunities at Hilti

At Hilti, we are committed to creating opportunities for our team members to connect with one another and develop meaningful and long-lasting careers with impact. Learn more and explore our opportunities in North America and worldwide here: Jobs | Hilti Careers