The big decision
When it came time to resume her studies, Concordia was one of two schools Savage considered. Three undeniable benefits made Concordia the clear choice: diversity, experiential learning and flexibility.
“When you go into Concordia, you quickly find a nice balance of diversity. You are exposed to different perspectives and people who are passionate about technology,” she says. “No one cares about your social status or where you come from. It’s all about how smart you are, and I enjoyed that intellectual challenge.”
While Savage acknowledges that theory is essential in engineering education, she valued the hands-on element most.
“In your first year at Concordia, you take apart a car engine and put it back together again. I wanted to practice engineering not just study it,” she says. “The experiential learning at Concordia far outweighed other curricula I looked at, because I know that’s how I learn best.”
Savage didn’t enter a specific program right away. “I started out as an independent student,” she relates. “The ability to choose mechanical engineering one year into my studies was a perfect way to dip my toes into different topics before committing.”
Woman in engineering
It is no secret that women in engineering are significantly underrepresented in industry and education.
“I was one of few girls in Michael Rembacz’s class,” she recalls, referring to the manufacturing and machining instructor in the department. “And he made sure that everyone participated equally. He taught me how to build a gyroscope out of chunks of metal and he really helped build confidence in his students.”
Rembacz feels inclusion is an important element of teaching. “It creates a safe environment that nurtures learning experiences,” he says.
“My job is to provide all students access to the tools and the knowledge and let them explore. Regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other factors, their personal ‘aha’ moments and achievements are markers of success. It’s how I know that I’m doing things the right way.”
One of Savage’s skills stood out for Rembacz. “Charlotte was a great communicator,” he says. “If she had a problem or struggled with a concept, she was proactive in identifying and tackling the challenge.”
Inspiration and transformation
Lyes Kadem, professor of mechanical, industrial and aerospace engineering, also sparked Savage’s curiosity. “Professor Kadem set the foundation for me to understand biomedical engineering at a high level, which allowed me to independently dig deeper for a better understanding of my research,” she says.
This knowledge came in handy when Savage met the founder of NXTSENS Microsystems, a micro technology manufacturer that hired Savage as a product developer during her studies. In 2016, she helped NXTSENS win the McGill Dobson Cup Award at the startup competition.
The future investors of HaiLa then approached Savage, who became one of the company’s founders.