Nélia Mazula is a chemical engineer born in Maputo.
She arrived in the United States (USA) as a baby, when her parents emigrated. Family support marked her trajectory, as she tells Economia & Mercado.
“My parents always believed in me and supported me a lot at school. That was crucial for me to move forward,” she recalls.
The daughter of Mozambican parents proudly carries her roots with her.
“My father’s family is from the North. I visited Nampula and Pemba, and there was always an effort on their part to preserve our memories and our history,” she says.
Childhood: A Talent for Math and Science
In her childhood, she stood out for her aptitude in mathematics and science. Teachers quickly placed her in specialized programs:
“They said I was very advanced. Even as a child, my teachers always promoted me in these schools. They put me in various engineering programs, even though I didn’t know what an engineer was at the time.”
Mathematical Talent, but a Different Dream
Despite her talent for technical subjects, Nélia had another ambition: “I wanted to study international law because I thought: Mozambique is suffering, we need to have the skills to defend what is ours.”
Her path changed when she won a scholarship to study at Arizona State University, Tempe Campus. At the reception, the dean was direct, asking her which engineering field she wanted to study.
“I’m not going to study engineering; I want to study law,” she replied.
The dean then showed her a list of the highest-paying careers.
“The first was chemical engineering. The second was computer science. I didn’t know what a chemical engineer did, but I thought that at least this way, I could pay for law school in the future. So, I chose chemical engineering.”
And thus began an unexpected journey.
“The first chemical engineer I met was the school director, and that’s how my journey started.”
Mozambique and Hands-On Experience
In the 2000s, at 21, Nélia returned to Mozambique to work on strategic projects in the natural gas industry. She worked at the Mozambican Hydrocarbons Company (CMH) for about four years, in the Temane and Pande blocks, participating in the validation process and commissioning of oil and gas production units—experiences she considers transformative. These were Mozambique’s first commercially exploited natural gas reserves, under a concession to the South African state oil company Sasol.
“We built various infrastructures. It was practically like transforming a rural area into a city. I never thought something I did could have so much impact,” she says.
“When you’re an expert, people choose you—not because you’re a woman or Black, but because you’re the best. Because you know.”
Her work had challenges. Often, Mazula went months without a salary, but her passion kept her motivated.
“I loved working so much that I memorized the entire configuration, from the valves to the networks. I wanted to know how everything worked. My curiosity had no limits,” she says enthusiastically, emphasizing that this phase reinforced her respect for engineering.
“It made me respect the industry and what it does in terms of development. I realized I was on the right path.”
USA and Tech Startups
Back in the USA, she ventured into tech startups related to industrial programming.
“It was practically a new career. I was an engineer in construction, in labs. But there, I was almost in the field of computer science,” she recalls.
The startup environment was intense, according to her: “It was always volatile. Lots of energy, lots of work. I like innovation, but sometimes, there is no structure. It depends on the company owner.”
Despite the instability, Mazula excelled.
“That company was bought by Siemens. The second startup too. I always brought in big projects.”
Her prestige opened doors: an international oil company started recommending her as a reference in digital transformation. Soon after, she received an invitation from French giant Dassault to join their team.
“They called me. I didn’t even know the company. They sent me a plane ticket to Boston. I liked it. I loved it. Because it was an innovative company with research infrastructure, something I enjoy.”
The Leap Into Patents
At Dassault, she began writing patents without imagining their impact.
“I just started writing. I didn’t know if they would be accepted. I wrote several, but five were approved. Some started being implemented years later,” she tells E&M.
Her patents focus on algorithms applied to industry.
“In simple terms, it’s about how a robot can see and analyze information” about “equipment, installations, how it can observe these issues, analyze them, and extract data from them. That’s the essence of my work.”
Some awards recognized her software patents focused on augmented reality, data visualization, and artificial intelligence—technologies that contributed to the digitalization of engineering in the oil and gas industry.
Her list of patents includes highly discussed technologies: 3D CAD model augmented reality updates; 3D CAD laser scan reengineering; density-based graphical mapping; embedded frequency search and 3D graphic data processing; and 3D-to-2D research re-digitization. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the relevance of her inventions grew.
“It’s like Google Maps in 3D, but applied to industrial units,” she explains.
Inspiration for Other Women
Thanks to her work, she received the Fiatech Superior Technology Achievement award in 2016, and was honored by the Houston Business Journal as a “leading woman.” She was also recognized by the National Inventors Museum, alongside numerous certificates and technical publications. Mazula also received awards from the Society of Women Engineers, which had provided her a scholarship in her youth.
“When I was recognized, it was really great because it also showed other girls that it’s possible,” meaning that gender does not have to be a barrier.
Currently, Nélia Mazula lives in Houston, Texas, and continues to be a global reference in digital innovation applied to industry. But her dreams remain tied to Mozambique.
“What I really want to do? I want to help rural areas, create specific scholarships—not just for study, but to foster an entrepreneurial culture, to start businesses. I think it’s very important, even small businesses, because it creates a different mindset.”
For Mazula, the secret is curiosity and dedication.
“When I get a machine, I want to know everything about it, how it works. For me, the most important thing is to understand. And when you’re an expert, people choose you—not because you’re a woman or Black, but because you’re the best. Because you know.”
Text: Germano Ndlovo • Photo: D.R.
