Try different paths and seize every opportunity

17 Dec 2024

In each of our publications, we present two of the ten nominees for the female engineer of year 2024, which will be announced at the gala event on January 16th 2025. This time we are presenting Jasna Krmelj, electrical engineer and Jerneja Šušel, master of materials and metallurgy engineering. The former advises young girls to dare to try different paths, while the latter advises them to be more self-confident and to seize every opportunity.

Jasna Krmelj

Jasna Krmelj, co-founder and technical director of Gentler Stories, which develops applications to promote well-being, began her engineering career at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana.

In her company, she represents a vision that promotes long-term health and balance on all levels, both physical and mental, as he believes that »The same amount of attention should be given to both intense exercise and rest. « For the first product Gentler Streak, she and her team received numerous important awards, including Apple Watch App of the Year 2022 and Apple Design Award 2024 for social impact.

Even as a child, she liked to experiment and explore the world with a microscope. She then focused her curiosity into studying electrical engineering and chose cybernetics in biomedicine. She says that programming offered her the opportunity to solve problems in a practical way even during her studies. »Every problem has a solution if we approach it with persistence and curiosity. Technology offers endless opportunities for creativity, but it requires adaptability, as it is constantly evolving, « she is convinced.

She advises young girls to dare to explore, try different paths and find what really makes them happy. »We spend a large part of our lives working, so it's important to find something that fulfils us. «

Jerneja Šušel

Jerneja Šuše is a master of materials and metallurgy engineering. Already during her studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering of the University of Ljubljana, she star to work at SIJ Metal Ravne. Today, as a researcher, she deals with metallographic analyses, process optimization and research and development projects

Since her childhood, she loved many fields, from chemistry and physics to motor sports. She dreamed of one day working for teams in MotoGP or Formula 1. As a successful karate player, she wanted to go to the Faculty of Sports, but after an injury in high school, she had to choose another path. Choosing materials engineering turned out to be the right decision, as it allows her to combine diverse technical disciplines, which excites her: »The study of materials is fascinating and discovering the microworld through a microscope is something that always excites me. «

Despite a successful career in engineering, she followed another dream and began studying physiotherapy with the desire to help people. Her long-term goal is to research and develop biomaterials and use this knowledge in physiotherapy to improve patients' quality of life. One of the turning points in her life was a humanitarian expedition to The Gambia, where she taught English and helped the local community.

»I would advise the sixteen-year-old younger version of myself to be more self-confident, not to worry about small things, not to look for perfection, to be more relaxed, to be who you are and to seize every opportunity, « she adds.