For Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day 2025, we spotlight Estimator Daniela Mora, whose story demonstrates the power of perseverance and mentorship.
"I chose the construction industry because it intertwines altruistic ingenuity and people in one beautiful and complex experience."
As a young girl, Daniela Mora marveled at the innovation and collaboration needed to build roads and bridges. While others saw traffic jams, she saw infrastructure connecting communities — an outlook that continues to this day.
After graduating from California State University, Long Beach, in 2017, Daniela began her career as an intern, performing takeoffs and supporting multiple projects. Her strong work ethic propelled her through project engineer, estimator and project manager roles. By 2021, she joined Flatiron as a takeoff engineer specializing in concrete paving and quickly assumed critical responsibilities within her first year.
Now a paving estimator, Daniela evaluates innovative, cost-effective solutions for infrastructure projects. For example, in a recent value engineering effort, she identified a potential $3 million savings for a client.
Beyond her technical expertise, Daniela is dedicated to fostering future construction and engineering leaders. She volunteers at career fairs, speaks at universities and mentors college teams in national competitions. Her guidance has shaped California State University, Fullerton, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and California Baptist University students as they tackle real-world challenges.
“Mentorship allows me to share knowledge and experience I’ve gained, while also providing a safe space for college students to ask questions, make mistakes and grow. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch these students land internships and be excited to pursue a career in construction.”
