A Day in the Life of Mpho Begin, P.Eng.
Knowing that her work improves the lives of many people drives Mpho Begin. As a professional engineer with the pharmacy technology company, ARxIUM, Mpho harnesses the power of pharmacy automation to ensure medications are prepared safely for patients all over the world.
Her work is helping put Manitoba on the global map as a leader in pharmacy technology. "A lot of the time, when I tell people what I do, they are shocked that this kind of technology is being developed in Manitoba," Mpho explains. Her curiosity and passion for what she does makes Mpho an engineer worth knowing about.
What's your name and what do you do?Mpho Begin, P.Eng., Supervisor, Customer Support
What does a typical workday look like for you?Each day is different, which makes the role interesting. My typical workday involves overseeing my team in delivering the best customer service to our customers. I work with customers all over the world from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America who use our products to improve their pharmacy automation to safely prepare medications for their patients. There are also lots of meetings with the many stakeholders I work with such as Sales, Field Service, Quality and Product Development teams.
What made you decide to be an engineer or geoscientist?Curiosity. I was intrigued the first time I saw a computer and wanted to learn how it was made.
What did the journey to your current role look like?I first joined the company as a software engineer. I enjoyed seeing firsthand how customers were using our products and the impact it had on them. That is when I switched to the customer-focused role I'm in right now to have a more direct contact with customers.
What's the most rewarding part of your career?Knowing that there is a patient on the other side who is impacted by the work I do.
Is there a particular project you've worked on that you're really proud of?I am constantly learning and working on many projects, both at work and outside work. But one particular project that I did at work that I am proud of was developing a data warehouse to aggregate data from our products for reporting and analysis. The tool allows us to perform proactive service and measure Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) so we take corrective and preventive actions to increase our product's performance.
What do you get out of engineering or geoscience that you feel you couldn't get out of any other line of work?Satisfaction of creating something new that has an impact on people's lives.
Who are your role models in your field?I admire women in leadership roles. They remind me that, though the road may not be as straightforward, it is possible to reach your goal. This challenges and motivates me to be better every day.
Do you have a quote or saying that inspires you?"If your dreams don't scare you, they are too small." - Richard Branson
What do you wish people knew about the work that you do?A lot of times when I tell people what I do they are shocked that this kind of company/technology is being developed in Manitoba. Also, that there are more engineering fields now than the traditional mechanical, civil, and electrical fields.
What would you tell someone who was looking to get into engineering or geoscience?Be true to yourself and take the time to find your passion and purpose. Only then can you get satisfaction and happiness in what you do every day. There are different fields in engineering; take the time to speak to the engineers in the field you're interested in to get a sense of what it entails.
When you're not working, you can be found...Hitting the outdoor hiking trails, if it's warm outside, or staying warm with hot yoga when it's cold.