Why This Engineer Said No to Houston and Yes to California

Diana Elizabeth Lima Sagui’s story takes you across borders and industries, starting in Mexico, winding through Germany, and landing in North America with a perspective you don’t hear every day. She breaks down what it’s really like building a career in the chemical world, finding her footing in oil and gas, and navigating culture shock while proving herself in STEM. It’s a mix of grit, curiosity, and those “figure it out as you go” moments that shape a career more than any degree ever could. Her path is full of leadership lessons, cross-cultural surprises, and a refreshingly honest take on what success actually looks like when you stop chasing titles and start trusting your own direction.

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Click here to view the episode transcript.

00:00 - Intro
00:57 - Diana’s Background
03:17 - Vink Chemicals - The Beginning
05:09 - What are Chemicals?
12:40 - Advantage of Speaking Spanish in Germany
13:35 - First Job Experience
19:30 - Working Internationally and Multilingualism
23:52 - Career Path Overview
28:10 - Mergers and Acquisitions in Business
29:15 - Moving to the US for Work
34:53 - Why Choose Houston?
39:34 - Defining Success in Business
41:18 - Importance of Personal Branding
45:18 - Understanding Success
51:00 - Insights from Women’s Conference
52:52 - The Rude German Experience
56:25 - Women in the Energy Industry
58:47 - Perceptions of Houston Before and After
01:03:11 - Enjoying Conversations
01:04:56 - Paying It Forward in Business
01:05:19 - Mexican Food: LA vs Houston
01:06:30 - Outro

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