Cambodian trailblazer driving into cutting edge future career with Tesla
AT 23, Tepolak Seth embodies inspiration, blending her Cambodian heritage with Silicon Valley innovations at Tesla. A Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, her journey reflects resilience, determination and an unwavering pursuit of excellence.
“Tesla fosters diversity, allowing individuals to express their unique identities. Within this environment, I find the freedom to be authentic, supported and respected. While my Cambodian heritage is an integral part of who I am, it doesn’t define my entire identity; I encompass a multitude of facets,” she says.
She notes that her Cambodian background has a subtle influence on her work but significantly shapes her demeanour. As the first encounter with a Cambodian person for many, she recognises her role as a representative of Cambodian identity, underscoring the importance of being a positive ambassador for initial impressions.
Embarking on a transformative journey at 15, Tepolak relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, for her education at the Lovett School. Navigating the shift from Cambodia’s rich tapestry to the energetic corridors of American academia, she displayed remarkable grace and tenacity, excelling academically and laying the foundation for her future.
Her academic excellence propelled her to Georgia Tech, where she delved into civil engineering with enthusiasm and dedication. Graduating in 2022 and achieving another degree a year later, the young woman’s accomplishments earned her a place in a graduation ceremony video
presentation, a selection assessed by the school committee based on academic merit and social contributions.
Despite occasional imposter syndrome, doubting her intelligence in comparison to peers, Tepolak says she found support from friends and professors who encouraged her along the way.
“All of these people told me, ‘You got this.’ My parents also believed in and supported me. So, I wanted my [graduation] speech to show people that although we may sometimes feel like an imposter, that doesn’t mean we are one.
“I am forever grateful for the people who believed in me,” she says.
Confronting challenges
Tepolak’s journey transcends academic achievements; it encompasses breaking barriers and defying stereotypes.
“Cultural challenges, including linguistic barriers, entail some instances of minor prejudice. Fortunately, my experiences with discrimination have been limited, though it unquestionably persists,” she says.
“Feeling uncomfortable stems from a sense of being looked at in a peculiar way,” she adds.
Initially grappling with a sense of inferiority, Tepolak later cultivated confidence, disregarding external opinions. She emphasises that judgments from those lacking a personal connection do not significantly influence her self-perception.
Addressing the language barrier, she notes the importance of adapting language use to diverse contexts. Expanding her vocabulary proves beneficial, recognising the demand for different sets of words in various settings.
Additionally, her natural inclination towards listening enhances her understanding of communication dynamics and shapes her presentation style.
Navigating a field largely dominated by individuals of European descent, as a woman of Cambodian heritage, she acknowledges encountering distinct challenges.
From manoeuvring job interviews to gaining respect in the industry, Tepolak confronts adversity head-on, drawing strength from her cultural heritage and unwavering determination.
“In a predominantly white and male-dominated field in the US, being a woman of colour presents a certain set of challenges,” she says.
“In job interviews, I’ve faced challenges, and while proud of my Khmer name, I am aware of its potential as a perceived disadvantage,” Tepolak tells The Post
An inherent stigma exists, yet she believes that companies are striving for improvement. Grateful for working with companies that value and respect her perspective, she acknowledges the opportunities despite the challenges.
In her role as a design engineer, working with construction workers presents an additional challenge, necessitating her presence in the field to verify compliance with design specifications.
Occasional tensions arise between design and construction, particularly when the latter clings to traditional methods, resisting change. Design consistently seeks more efficient approaches. Her gender adds a layer of difficulty in gaining trust for her abilities and designs, particularly among certain men.
Tepolak, as a civil engineer, offers insight on how her Cambodian background enriches the technical skills she gained at Georgia Tech, influencing her role at Tesla.
While her Cambodian identity doesn’t directly impact the technical aspects of her job, she underscores its profound influence on her soft skills, shaping her demeanour, respect for others and values as an employee.
“Rooted in my culture is the principle of respect, fostering a two-way interaction – I extend respect to those who reciprocate. While my default stance is one of respect, I adapt based on others’ actions, assessing their worthiness of continued respect,” she says.
Inspirational trio
Supported by her family, Tepolak’s journey has been enriched by a trio of mentors shaping her perspective and fuelling her ambition. Joe, a steadfast supporter in civil engineering, and trailblazers Malory and Thuy exemplify resilience, courage and kindness, she says, mentioning the trio only by their first name.
Tepolak acknowledges Joe as an incredible mentor, someone who has always believed in her, even during moments when self-belief falters.
“Joe, an inspiring engineer, provides continuous support, guiding me in my decisions. I frequently seek his advice when making career choices,” she says.
Malory, co-founder of a Georgia-based structural engineering firm, imparts lessons on self-advocacy and risk-taking. Tepolak says she draws daily inspiration from Malory, finding her efforts in supporting female engineers truly admirable.
“Her selflessness and passion inspire bravery, hard work and kindness. The lesson is that standing up for oneself doesn’t demand words of anger; instead, employing the right words and attitude proves tremendously effective,” Tepolak says.
Thuy, co-founder of an engineering firm in California, guided her young mentee on balancing life and work as a female engineer.
“Thuy’s courage and compassion leave me in awe, and I’m delighted to have her in my network,” she says.
Innovative impact focus
As Tepolak enters a new phase in her career, her focus remains on utilising her expertise to drive innovation and create a meaningful impact. In Tesla’s civil engineering design team, she is ready to tackle a variety of projects, ranging from transportation initiatives to utility infrastructure.
During her master’s programme, she started the internship application process at the tech giant, a four-month journey culminating in multiple interview invitations. She ultimately accepted the position. Upon being offered the internship, she wisely requested a delayed start date until after her graduation.
While navigating this, she concurrently pursued a job opportunity at the company, but transitioning to a full-time role proved to be a challenging endeavour. Assigned the crucial responsibility of managing the building’s drip system in response to climate change, she faced an exhaustive aptitude test and endured numerous hours of interviews.
“I’m thrilled to kick off my full-time role at Tesla in early February,” she shares.
She’ll be contributing to various projects, including utility, transportation and erosion as a part of the company’s civil engineering design team.
She says that being at Tesla has accelerated her professional goals, with the fastpaced environment pushing her out of her comfort zone frequently, fostering substantial personal and professional growth.
“I’m not only striving to enhance my engineering skills but also developing essential soft skills such as communication, work ethic, leadership and time management,” she tells The Post.
Regarding work-life balance, she expresses gratitude for having a manager who prioritises both her professional contributions and overall well-being. Despite demanding workloads and tight deadlines, her team values her health, recognising that wellness is fundamental to productivity at work.
“I would love to witness a rise in the number of women in engineering and STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] overall. It brings me immense joy to see women succeeding in historically male-dominated fields. It evokes the spirit of J Howard Miller’s ‘We Can Do It!’ poster, illustrating the strength of women and boosting their morale,” she says.
“Within the company, there’s a group called ‘Women in Tesla’, uniting to foster growth and share knowledge and experiences. I want to be an active part of this group, contributing in any way I can,” she says.
She notes that, for the foreseeable future, her primary work location will be California, specifically at the Tesla facility in Fremont. She remains uncertain about the timing of any potential return to Southeast Asia.
Future contribution goals
Tepolak’s journey from Cambodia to the US reflects resilience and determination, influenced by her academic experiences in Georgia. Despite encountering significant challenges upon arriving in the 10th grade, she attributes her educational growth to these institutions and their supportive educators. Adapting to the intense pace and high expectations, the teenager had to revamp her learning methods and embrace adaptability to excel in her studies.
She says that her tenure at Georgia Tech, a research institute known for intense academic competition, further refined her skills and equipped her for the professional world.
Looking forward, she intends to accumulate more experience under a professional engineer, aspiring to become a licensed professional engineer. Acknowledging the sacrifices involved, she is ready to dedicate months to exam preparation, temporarily putting a pause on recreation.
“I’ll temporarily halt my social life and travel plans to dedicate months to exam preparation. Concurrently, I anticipate continuing my work as a civil engineer for a period, and then I’ll assess the path as it unfolds,” Tepolak says.
She envisions leveraging the knowledge and experience gained at Tesla and in her engineering profession to potentially contribute to technological or environmental advancements in Cambodia down the line.
“I would love to contribute to my country when the timing is right, the opportunity arises, and it complements my life. Sharing my knowledge and experiences to enhance the country’s progress later in life would be a fulfilling path for me,” she says.