Women in Fluid Power: What Drew Them to a Career in Hydraulics and Pneumatics
There are numerous talented people working in the fluid power industry who are helping to ensure hydraulics and pneumatic continue to meet a range of applications and their requirements.
Given that March is Women’s History Month and March 8 is International Women’s Day, Power & Motion wanted to spotlight some of the many women who are working in the hydraulics and pneumatics sector.
In this first of our three-part Women in Fluid Power Q&A series, we asked respondents to discuss how they got started in the fluid power industry and what they like about working in it.
Editor’s Note: Questions and responses have been edited for clarity.
Power & Motion: How long have you worked in the fluid power industry, and what sparked your interest in a career working with hydraulics and/or pneumatics?
Sumaiyyah Nizam, Control Systems Engineer, Mobile Hydraulics, Bosch Rexroth: I have been working in the fluid power industry since June 2022. From a young age, I’ve always been fascinated by complex systems and how they work. I like solving challenges and coming up with innovative solutions. My interest in control systems drew me to the fluid power industry since it offers a vast range of applications where these systems can make a significant impact.
Elia Pepper, Applications Engineer, Bosch Rexroth Corp.: I began working in the fluid power industry in 2021 right after graduating from college. I had always been interested in a career in fluid dynamics (which was my favorite college course), and hydraulics fit right into that. I did not know much about hydraulics before starting at Rexroth, so a lot of my knowledge has come from being on the job.
Jessica Horn, Product Manager, Bucher Hydraulics, Inc.: I’ve been in the industry for about 3 years. I don’t come from a fluid power background; I honestly didn’t know much about the industry until I started with Bucher Hydraulics. I am lucky to have landed in a role and industry that has been very rewarding and shown how great of an impact hydraulics has on everyday life. To put it simply — fluid power helps the world move — whether it is a snowplow moving snow, so the roads are clear for travel or a lift gate providing a smooth and safe transition for groceries to be unloaded at the store. I definitely have a greater appreciation for the industry.
Karina Robinson, Vertical Head, Industrial Solutions Americas, ContiTech: I have worked in the fluid power industry for 28 years since the very beginning of my rubber industry career. I have always enjoyed the technical aspect of working with a wide variety of customers to understand their unique hydraulic hose system requirements. I also enjoy the problem-solving opportunities brought forth each day by finding the right product to fit our customers' needs to help extend and/or improve their overall performance. This is especially true with the advanced rubber compounds Continental brings to the market. I have also always appreciated the fact each day is different. This keeps each day interesting along with bringing forth simply new opportunities for me to learn personally. Most of all, I enjoy working with the people within our organization and our customer relationships.
Molli Butler, Product Application Engineering Leader, Motors & Gears, Danfoss Power Solutions: I have been working in the fluid power industry for almost 10 years. What drew me to this field was the opportunity to have a career near my family and to be involved in making people's jobs easier by solving practical problems.
Dr. Elvira Rakova, Direktin Ltd.: I have been working in the fluid power industry for 13 years. My journey started with studying fluid power (hydraulics and pneumatics) at university in Moscow. Later, I pursued my career as a researcher at the University of Dresden’s Institute of Fluid Power, where I conducted research on various pneumatic technologies and explored thermodynamic effects and obtained [a] PhD in compressed air efficiency. My background is deeply rooted in pneumatics as a scientific discipline.
However, I wanted to gain hands-on experience in the industrial sector to understand real-world challenges. While working in the industry with Emerson, I realized I could have a bigger impact, particularly in the area of energy efficiency, which is my area of expertise. This realization led me to establish my own company, where I developed software designed to assist engineers by providing calculations and simplifying their projects and founded Direktin Technologies.
Cindy Cookson, VP and GM of Fluid Power, Americas, Gates: For the past 12 years, I’ve been immersed in the fluid power industry, starting in engineering and development, moving into product line management, and now leading as General Manager of the North America Fluid Power division at Gates Corporation. Before that, I spent a decade in the tire industry, where my expertise in rubber products naturally transitioned into fluid power, given the shared principles of reinforcement and materials science. As an engineer, problem-solving runs in my veins and started very early in my life. Luckily, I had a fantastic high school guidance counselor who helped me recognize how I could turn that passion into a career. Industrial Engineering was the perfect fit, combining my technical curiosity with my desire to collaborate and create solutions that make an impact.
Rachel Hunter, Project Engineer, E-Controls, Husco: I started at Husco as an intern in the summer of 2018, and now am a Project Engineer. I didn’t know much about hydraulics until I started at Husco but quickly learned to appreciate the complexity of hydraulic systems and the applications they go into.
Kellsi Ellis, Product and Applications Engineering Team Lead, Moog Inc.: I have worked at Moog for the last 6 years beginning as a Product Engineering Co-op with the Flight Simulation group while getting my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in my junior year. I stayed on working part time and going to school full time, then I began working full time when I graduated in 2019. I stayed with the Flight Simulation group up until 2023 when I was given an opportunity to work within the Mechanical Feedback Valve group at ICD, where I began working as a Product and Applications Engineering Manager. Having the opportunity to see Moog up close and personal through my co-op experience is really what sparked my interest in a career in hydraulics and pneumatics. I found myself fully immersed in the business and the product, and I am always inspired by the diverse range of applications that our products support.
Michelle Gladysz, Product Line Manager – MFB Valves, Moog Inc.: I started my career in aerospace hydraulics in 2001 and have stayed in the hydraulics industry since, shifting from aerospace to industrial products in 2017. My initial interest in hydraulics was actually derived from an interest in mechanical engineering — during my studies I always liked things I could see, touch and interact with after I designed them so was drawn to mechanical design. Once I got out into industry, hydraulics was one of the few areas of exciting technology that used and built on those mechanical design principles that I enjoyed.
Shari Burton, Regional Sales Manager, Tolomatic: I've been involved in the fluid power industry since [the] early 2000’s, but my passion for hydraulics and pneumatics started even earlier while working alongside my dad. We tackled everything mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic together. I used to joke that it was "man's work," but he always reassured me that I had a natural talent for it. His confidence in me sparked a belief in myself that I didn’t even realize I was missing — and that passion has driven my career ever since.
Power & Motion: What is your favorite thing about fluid power technology and getting to work with it?
Sumaiyyah Nizam, Bosch Rexroth: My favorite thing about fluid power technology is its ability to provide precise, powerful, and efficient motion control in a wide range of real-world applications. As a control systems engineer, I enjoy the challenge of optimizing these systems to improve performance, reliability, and efficiency. I also appreciate the hands-on aspect of working with fluid power — seeing my solutions go from design to implementation and witnessing their impact in real-world applications is what makes working in the fluid power industry so exciting for me.
Elia Pepper, Bosch Rexroth: Hydraulic systems have high power density; using small amounts of fluid in compact systems can move large industrial machinery. Because of this, fluid power can be used in a very wide range of industries which is something I like about it, I never work on the same exact project twice!
Jessica Horn, Bucher Hydraulics: The top two that that come to mind are the advancement of technology, like electrification, and the longevity of people in this industry. The advancement of technology is significant because with it comes the understanding of a future filled with progress and growth.
The longevity of professionals in this industry is one of my favorite things because you meet people who know each other or have worked together for many years, and the knowledge and experience that can be gleaned from them are immense. So many connections I have made so far have been eager to share their experience and have helped connect me with other industry leaders and professionals.
Karina Robinson, ContiTech: One of my favorite things about fluid power technology is how essential it is to so many industries — whether it’s construction, agriculture, manufacturing and the vast array of industrial type machinery to help these industries accomplish their critical tasks. It is so interesting to see how our fluid power solutions, like hydraulic hoses and fittings, enable heavy machinery to operate efficiently and safely despite the overall complexities. Ultimately, the combination of our hydraulic hose engineering and real-world application is so very interesting to me; especially when we innovate to make our fluid power products more durable, sustainable, and high performing for our key industries served.
Molli Butler, Danfoss: My favorite thing about fluid power is the practicality. Fluid power is essential to everything we do and use every day, from the food that we eat to the roads that we drive on. Everyone needs working power equipment!
Dr. Elvira Rakova, Direktin: What excites me most about fluid power technology is that it is simply the best! Pneumatics is fascinating — compressed air has so many applications across industries, yet it is often misused. I see a great opportunity to make a significant impact by optimizing its use and improving efficiency. Throughout my career, I have worked on many exciting projects, from soft robotics and lumped parameter simulations in pneumatics to the development of innovative software and platforms for engineers and suppliers. Each project reinforces my belief in the potential of pneumatics and motivates me to push the boundaries of the field.
Cindy Cookson, Gates: My favorite thing about fluid power technology is that it is so unexpected! Fluid power literally moves our world — it’s everywhere. However, many never think about it or even know what makes a boom articulate or a scissor lift rise, or how a car wash gets the winter rubbish off my windshield. Even though this is an established industry — the SAE100R1 specification was first published more than 50 years ago — we’re still continuing to introduce new technologies that deliver value to end users.
Rachel Hunter, Husco: The fluid power industry is ever-changing and technology is evolving every day. I love that there are always new problems to solve and challenging myself to think outside the box.
Kellsi Ellis, Moog: The applications of this industry have always been a point of interest for me, as well as the endless opportunity to learn about the products and their history. With a highly established product like the servo valve at Moog, the industrial application potential expands far and wide. There are hundreds/thousands of existing models and configurations to choose from, which means we can support hundreds/thousands of applications across the globe. It is challenging yet rewarding that each day is filled with something new.
Michelle Gladysz, Moog: I’ll give you two! 1. It requires an exciting combination of many different engineering skills — mechanical, electrical, fluid dynamics and sometimes even software. It requires a stretch of traditional learning in any one engineering field to combine them all together and make a very powerful and impressive device. 2. There is always more to learn. I work with engineers who have been working on the same type of electro-hydraulic valve for a 40+ year career and are still learning new nuances about its performance or ways to improve it.
Shari Burton, Tolomatic: What I love most about fluid power technology is the sheer strength and capability it brings to applications — it's incredible to see what it can achieve. Every project is unique, presenting new challenges and opportunities to innovate. The constant variety keeps things exciting, and I enjoy finding solutions that push the limits of what fluid power can do.
