Written by Camille White // Photo by Caleb Chunn

The American Studies Institute (ASI) hosted Ilya R. Espino de Marotta, deputy administrator of the Panama Canal. She spoke in the Benson Auditorium Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Espino de Marotta said she had not heard of Harding until she was asked to come speak with ASI.

“When I got here, and I saw all the speakers that had been here, I was mega impressed and blown away,” Espino de Marotta said. “I’m very honored to be here and very happy.”

At the ASI lecture, she discussed the history, modernization and future goals of the Panama Canal. Additionally, she explained the importance of overcoming challenges and celebrating achievements, both professionally and personally.

Espino de Marotta became the first woman deputy administrator of the Panama Canal in 2020. She said that as the deputy administrator, she oversees all of the vice presidents, such as finance, human resources, legal, operations, engineering and environmental.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Espino de Marotta said. “Basically, you’re a problem solver. You are there to provide support for whoever needs it and whenever they need it.”

In 2012, as executive vice president for engineering and program management, Espino de Marotta became director and chief engineer of the Panama Canal expansion project until it was completed in 2016.

“It was a little bit challenging getting there because in a non-traditional job for women, it’s not as easy to, let’s say, be recognized,” Espino de Marotta said. “There was a little bit of doubt like, ‘Can she do the job? Is she going to be able to do it?’”

Espino de Marotta offered a final piece of advice.

“Your attitude is more important than your aptitude,” Espino de Marotta said. “If you have the right attitude, you will learn anything. But if you’re a brilliant person, but have a very wrong attitude, who doesn’t like to contribute or work in teams, you are really not that valuable. I think people need to keep that in mind.”

Junior Sydney Soto attended the event and said she enjoyed hearing about Espino de Marotta’s journey to becoming deputy Administrator of the Panama Canal.

“She aced many different challenges and was able to overcome them in order to have a successful outcome in not only her job, but her life as well,” Soto said.

Dr. John Richard Duke, executive director of ASI, said Espino de Marotta is a talented and respected leader.

“Hopefully the lessons that she was able to share from her pioneering and compelling personal journey can inspire all of us as we move forward in our studies, careers and personal lives,” Duke said.