Rosa Márquez: Chemical Engineer and Commercial Technician in the Environmental Sector

We talk with Rosa Márquez about her experience in the environmental sector, the technical challenges of remediation, and the role of women in a technical environment.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we speak with Rosa Márquez, Chemical Engineer and commercial technician at Envirotecnics, about her professional career, the evolution of the environmental sector, and the technical challenges associated with soil and groundwater remediation projects.

Her experience combines scientific knowledge, applied vision, and client proximity, three key factors in a sector where understanding contaminant behavior and ground conditions is essential to defining an appropriate technical solution.

What does it mean to you to be a woman in a field like chemical engineering and in commercial technician positions?

For me, it means growth and responsibility. University education gave me a very solid technical foundation, but over time I have understood that it is not only about knowing but knowing how to apply that knowledge with judgment.

In our sector, where we work in soil and groundwater remediation, it's not enough to know the equipment. You have to understand the entire system. It's not the same to treat free-phase hydrocarbons, dissolved compounds, or complex landfill leachates. Each contaminant behaves differently, and that totally conditions the strategy.

Being a woman in this historically male environment has meant proving, first to myself and then to others, that technical knowledge and decision-making ability have no gender. And that we can contribute a rigorous, analytical, and strategic perspective with total naturalness.

What chemical engineering skills do you consider most valuable in facing commercial challenges?

The ability to interpret data and understand processes globally.

In the commercial part, we are not just selling probes, pumps, or multiparametric equipment. We are managing variables that influence environmental, economic, and legal decisions.

My training allows me to understand how parameters like pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, or volatile organic compounds interact and translate that complexity into coherent technical solutions.

And I believe that interpreting data and giving them meaning within a technical strategy is what adds value to the project.

How do you see the evolution of women in science and the technical sector?

I view it with optimism. The environmental and technological sectors are evolving very quickly. The ecological transition and digitalization require technical profiles with strategic vision, and there are increasingly more women prepared to lead these projects.

I believe that in the coming years we will see more female role models in sustainability, environmental control, and field data management. And that will create a multiplying effect.

What strategies are essential to close gender gaps in technical sectors?

Visibility and normalization.

It's important for women to be present in industrial environments, fieldwork, or complex technical projects. And for their presence to no longer be seen as exceptional.

It's also essential for young women to see female role models in technical sectors like instrumentation or pumping systems, where traditionally male presence has been predominant.

What personal skills are key in technical consulting focused on the use of field instrumentation?

I believe the first is technical confidence, but understood as something built with study, experience, and humility. When advising on instrumentation, whether it's level measurement, multiparametric equipment, or recovery systems, you're directly influencing important environmental decisions. And that requires rigor.

Another fundamental skill is the ability to listen. Every remediation project has its hydrogeological context, its historical data, and its constraints. Before proposing a solution, you must understand what's really happening at that site and what the technical team working in the field needs.

And finally, I would say that having judgment and responsibility is key. The best solution is not always the most complex or expensive. Sometimes the real value lies in adjusting and optimizing existing systems. I've learned that technical consulting is not about showing how much you know but using that knowledge to guide, provide confidence, and help make more informed and sustainable decisions.

What barriers exist today for more women to lead in science and technology?

Cultural barriers still exist, especially in industrial or field sectors. Sometimes the idea persists that certain roles are “masculine.”

We cannot overlook the importance of work-life balance. In technical and industrial sectors where travel and availability are part of the daily routine, it's crucial to move towards more flexible models that allow for professional development alongside personal and family life.

Facilitating this balance not only promotes female talent but also enhances the balance and sustainability of a society. And perhaps most importantly, there are still not enough visible role models. When you don't see someone like you leading complex projects, it is harder to envision yourself there. But I genuinely believe we are making progress. More and more women are demonstrating that competence and leadership depend on talent and preparation, not gender.

How has your experience been working in the field in a traditionally male-dominated sector?

It has been a very enriching experience, although not always easy. My beginnings were more challenging, especially when I didn't yet have enough experience to feel confident in what I was doing. At those times, I learned a lot, not only technically but personally too.

When you demonstrate that you know the process, understand the equipment, and that your decisions are rigorous, respect comes naturally. Today, I look back and greatly value that journey because it has helped me grow professionally and also strengthen my character. I feel fortunate to have worked with professionals who prioritize knowledge, commitment, and well-executed work over any other consideration.

If a young woman accompanied you tomorrow on a complex technical proposal, what would you like her to learn?

I would like her to understand that being a commercial technician is not just about selling equipment but about making important decisions. It is about analyzing data, understanding the project context, and advising responsibly so that the client makes the best possible decision.

I would also like her to see that communication is as important as technical knowledge. We can discuss pumps, instrumentation, or very complex remediation strategies, but if we cannot translate that information into something clear and understandable, we do not generate trust. And trust is the foundation of everything.

And, above all, I would like her to learn something more personal: that leadership is not about imposing but about having knowledge, judgment, and consistency. That she can hold any professional space if she prepares herself, works rigorously, and especially if she trusts in her ability even when she might initially feel out of place.

Because we've all been there.