What It’s Like to Be a Latina Woman in Engineering: Griselda Abousleman’s Story
| TL;DR: Griselda Abousleman was raised in Brownsville, Texas, moving through life at the intersection of two cultures and two languages. In an engineering profession where women like her were seldom visible, she emerged as a Latina engineer and now leverages her platform to create opportunities for the next generation. |
On this episode of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants, I sat down with Griselda Abousleman, a Latina engineer whose story beautifully blends resilience, culture, and purpose.
Growing up in a border town shaped her perspective. But it was her determination to pursue a career in engineering, a field still underrepresented by women like her, that truly defined her path.
“Thank you so much for having me on your show,” Griselda began warmly. “Growing up in Brownsville, Texas, right by the border, I always felt this mix of two worlds. It was beautiful, but it also came with challenges that shaped who I am today.”
Growing Up in Brownsville: Life Between Two Worlds
Griselda’s upbringing in Brownsville, Texas, a border town rich in culture and community, gave her a strong foundation in family and identity. However, living between two countries also meant navigating the complexities of culture, language, and expectations.
“We’d speak Spanglish all the time,” she laughed during the conversation. “It’s just how we communicated—switching from English to Spanish mid-sentence. But it was also a reminder that we belonged to two places at once.”
Heidy connected deeply with this sentiment, noting how many immigrant families share the experience of straddling two cultures, honoring their roots while building a future in a new land.
Why She Chose Engineering When Nobody Around Her Looked Like Her
From an early age, Griselda had a curious mind. She loved solving problems and understanding how things worked, even when others didn’t see that as a typical path for a Latina woman.
“There weren’t many people who looked like me in my classes,” she shared. “Sometimes it was intimidating, but I reminded myself why I was there. I wanted to show that women like me, Latinas, immigrants, belong in engineering too.”
Her words speak directly to the barriers many Latina women in engineering continue to face: underrepresentation, bias, and a lack of mentorship from people who share their background.
But they also speak to something just as real: what becomes possible when determination meets a clear sense of purpose.
Have a story like Griselda’s and want to share it with the world? The V.O.I.C.E. Method Podcast Launch Course gives you the full roadmap
The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything: From the Only One to the First of Many
This is the part of Griselda’s story that stayed with me long after we finished recording.
“When I walk into a room now, I don’t see it as being the only one anymore,” she said. “I see it as being the first of many. And that mindset changes everything.”
That shift, from scarcity to possibility, is what separates people who survive a difficult path from people who use it to create change.
Griselda now uses her platform to advocate for women in STEM and inspire the next generation to see themselves in spaces where they’ve historically been overlooked. She isn’t just succeeding in her field. She’s making it easier for the women who come after her.
Also on the podcast: Immigrant Stories with Heather Reese: Journey to Law, Identity, and Community, on building identity and community in spaces that weren’t designed for you.
What the American Dream Actually Means to Griselda
As the conversation unfolded, Griselda’s definition of the American Dream became clear.
It wasn’t about career achievements or professional milestones. It was about using her voice, giving back, and opening doors for others.
“My dream isn’t just about me,” she said. “It’s about the girls who will come after me. If they can see themselves in my story, then I’ve done something meaningful.”
That’s the thread that runs through every conversation on this podcast. The American Dream doesn’t end with you. It multiplies when you use what you’ve built to make space for someone else.
How She Is Using Her Story to Open Doors for Others
Griselda’s work doesn’t stop at engineering. She has taken everything she learned from navigating spaces where she was underrepresented and turned it into a platform for advocacy, storytelling, and community.
Griselda speaks about her experiences to inspire young Latinas and girls from immigrant families to pursue careers in STEM. She shares the parts of the journey that are rarely talked about — the moments of doubt, the rooms that felt unwelcoming, the pressure of representing an entire community while also trying to just figure it out.
And she wrote a book.
Because she knows that visibility is not enough on its own. You need to be able to hand someone a story they can hold onto. Something that says: this path exists, someone like you has walked it, and you can too.
That is the work Griselda is doing. And it is exactly the kind of work this podcast was built to amplify.
FAQ: Latina Women in Engineering and STEM
What challenges do Latina women face in engineering?
The barriers are both structural and cultural. Underrepresentation means fewer mentors who share your background. Bias, both conscious and unconscious, affects hiring and advancement. And for many Latinas from immigrant families, there is also the pressure of being the first to take a non-traditional career path. Griselda’s story touches on all of these and shows what it looks like to push through them anyway.
How can Latina women in STEM find community and mentorship?
Organizations like the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the National GEM Consortium are specifically built to support underrepresented engineers. But community also comes from platforms like this podcast, where stories like Griselda’s reach young Latinas who need to see someone who looks like them doing the work.
About the Author & Podcast Coach
Heidy De La Cruz is a podcast coach who helps Latinas start podcasts without feeling overwhelmed.
After launching her first podcast in 2022, she saw how many women had powerful stories, experiences, and business ideas but felt stuck by the planning, tech, and moving parts of podcasting.
Now she helps women go from idea to published show with simple, clear support that makes launching feel doable.
Whether you need a roadmap, hands-on help, or ongoing support, explore her services, including 1:1 Podcast Launch Strategy, The V.O.I.C.E. Method Podcast Launch Course, and Podcast Editing and Production Services.
Your voice deserves to be heard, and Heidy is here to help you bring it to life.
Key Takeaways from Griselda’s Story
- Growing up between two cultures is not a disadvantage. It builds adaptability, empathy, and a perspective that is uniquely powerful.
- Being the only Latina in the room is hard. Deciding to be the first of many changes everything.
- Representation in STEM matters not just for visibility but for the girls who need to see what is possible.
- The American Dream is not a solo achievement. Griselda’s version is about lifting others as she climbs.
- Purpose is what keeps you going in spaces that weren’t built for you.
Ready to launch your show? The V.O.I.C.E. Method Podcast Launch Course will take you from idea to launched, without the overwhelm ?
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This blog post is sponsored by 360 Immigration Law