Dr. Kirsi Tikka says diversity at alma mater played a pivotal role on the path towards a 'truly global career' in the shipping industry.
Dr. Kirsi Tikka, President and COO of the ABS Europe Division, provided the 2015 Engineering Master's and Doctoral Commencement address at the College of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, on Monday 18 May.
The ceremony was held in the Hearst Greek Theatre at the UC Berkeley campus for over 550 M.T.M., M.Eng., M.S. and Ph.D. graduates, their families and faculty members. The Commencement formally celebrated the achievements of graduates from multiple engineering disciplines including: bioengineering, civil and environmental, industrial, materials, nuclear, mechanical and electrical engineering.
Tikka, who holds a Master's and Doctorate in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University, now serves as a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Board.
In reference to her own experiences as a student at Berkeley, Tikka told the graduates: "Coming from Finland, Berkeley was like the United Nations, I embraced the diversity and it led me eventually to a truly global career in the shipping and offshore industry. My story is based on working with people to maximize the impact of my engineering background to make the maritime and offshore industry safe and sustainable. Now it is time for you to live the next chapters of your stories."
Dr. Tikka spoke at the invitation of S. Shankar Sastry, the Dean of the College of Engineering, and Professor Roy W. Carlson. "Addressing our class of graduating master's and doctoral candidates is a great honor, and we were delighted to have Dr. Tikka join us for this celebration," Sastry said. "By sharing her uniquely global perspective with us, she raised the aspirations of our graduates."