Christine Sigmen

Christine Sigmen

Mechanical Engineer

Christine is a mechanical engineer, currently serving as the engineering manager and mechanical lead on an off-gas management project.

Christine is also leading the development and management of a new office in Trois-Rivières, Canada. The office supports Hatch’s client in the region with building and optimizing plants pertaining to battery materials. The Bécancour region has been targeted to welcome numerous initiatives to respond to the energy transition.

Christine was a recipient of a 2023 Positive Change Awards, a program to recognize employees who contribute to building Hatch’s inclusive organization, who exemplify the values of our Manifesto, and who actively work towards strengthening our diverse teams.

Why do you believe in diversity and inclusion?

From a young age, I've believed that to generate the most creative, innovative, effective, and sustainable ideas, a strong team is essential. The ability to harness diverse capabilities, strengths, and interests appears to be a dependable approach for overcoming challenges. Ensuring every team member can contribute to their utmost potential and evaluating ideas solely based on their merit, rather than the contributor's traits, is crucial for attaining exceptional outcomes.

What do you think we need to do as individuals to improve inclusivity?

I believe it's our individual responsibility to establish a safe environment where every colleague feels at ease sharing their viewpoints and engaging in tough discussions. Engaging in open conversations with those we may differ from might seem straightforward, yet it's a significant endeavor. Given that most of our projects involve interdisciplinary teams and various stakeholders, communication hurdles constitute a significant portion—around 90%—of our daily tasks. Our focus must remain on our shared objectives that brought us together, outweighing personal frustrations, long-standing resentments, or unconscious biases. Ultimately, we share more similarities than differences.

What does positive change mean to you?

Creating a growth-oriented atmosphere in my surroundings involves simple actions like attentive listening, asking questions, and making people laugh and smile at the workplace. Additionally, presenting colleagues with challenging tasks while allowing room for mistakes seems to foster a lasting foundation of trust, ultimately leading to positive and impactful transformations.

What do you think are the toughest challenges facing our clients?

Since we know more than yesterday, we tackle more complex challenges while looking at a broad range of possible outcomes. The massive quantity of available data is expanding relentlessly. The level of collaboration required is then multiplied. Consequently, nurturing individuals skilled in constructing effective communication is key for solving problems, creating specialized tools, devising tailored solutions, and sustaining a culture of innovation.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of creating a work environment characterized by trust, the pursuit of excellence, and enjoyment. Generating such an atmosphere across diverse settings—client sites, construction sites, corporate offices, communities, and schools—has been truly fulfilling. Seeing those around me navigate challenges with a positive outlook and witnessing their growth is a consistently rewarding experience.

What do you like most about working at Hatch? How do you think the Hatch culture is different from other companies?

Hatch is about the people and the common values that we embody every day; the care we take in doing our best, and the exceptional people who all share a common mission and work towards that ideal in a flat, well-connected environment.