Things you may not know about Seong Ah Jo.
What does your workspace look like?
Some people might call it disorganized, but I know exactly where everything is!
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love hunting for good food. My social media algorithm is basically a collection of Toronto restaurants and food spots.
What is your favorite type of music?
Being Korean, I guess it's no surprise that I enjoy listening to K-pop.
What inspires you?
I'm inspired by people who genuinely care about what they do and have strong principles.
If you could choose one superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation for sure! No traffic, no long flights, I could visit anywhere in the world whenever I want.
What's your favorite movie?
I'm a big fan of zombie movies, especially the 28 Days Later series.
If you could learn something new, what would it be?
Woodworking or plumbing. I'm always impressed by people who can build or fix things themselves.
What's your favorite food?
Korean BBQ. I could eat it every week and never get tired of it.
Do you have a favorite quote or piece of advice?
"It's never too late to learn something new."
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Seong Ah Jo Employee Spotlight
Meet Seong Ah Jo Employee Spotlight: Former Sports Producer Builds New Career in Non-Destructive Testing
Not so long ago, you would have found Seong Ah Jo working behind the scenes in Korea’s fast-paced world of sports broadcasting. These days, cranes are her comfort zone — and Canada’s crane operators could not be happier about that.
“My work in Korea mainly involved filming and editing sports events, such as baseball and golf tournaments,” says Seong Ah. “Working in fast-paced environments taught me the importance of attention to detail, teamwork, and adapting quickly to changing situations.”
Her ability to adapt proved helpful after Seong Ah relocated to Canada in 2021. Even as she adjusted to a new culture, Seong Ah sought a career change that would allow her to develop new skills.
Soon, the field of non-destructive testing (NDT) caught her eye — and the more she learned, the more interested she became. As Seong Ah would soon discover, her broadcasting career prepared her well for a career in NDT.
“Even when I worked in broadcasting, people often told me I had a good eye for detail and was quick to notice mistakes or unusual things,” says Seong Ah, who is based in Toronto. “In many ways, NDT felt like a natural fit because it involves identifying cracks, abnormalities, and details that might otherwise go unnoticed.”
Taking the plunge into the world of NDT, Seong Ah earned her diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technician from Durham College, and joined the Canadian Services Team at Industrial Inspection & Analysis (IIA) as an NDT Technician in 2023. She also earned Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) Level 2 and Ultrasonic Testing (UT) Level 1 certifications.
“In this job, every day brings new situations, new equipment, and new opportunities to learn, which is one of the reasons I enjoy it so much,” says Seong Ah. “My colleagues have always taken the time to answer my questions, explain things thoroughly, and help train and support me along the way. Since joining IIA, I feel I have grown tremendously, both personally and professionally.”
As a member of IIA’s crane inspection team, Seong Ah performs on-site structural inspections on crawler cranes, boom trucks, bucket trucks, overhead cranes, man lifts, and scissor lifts, as well as dielectric testing on bucket trucks and digger derricks.
While no two days are the same, each job starts and ends with a conversation.
Before beginning an inspection, Seong Ah meets with the customer and operators to learn about the equipment’s condition and history. After completing the inspection, she explains any repair recommendations or concerns to the customer and completes a field report on site.
As she says, “Communication is very important to me because even small details from conversations can provide valuable information during an inspection.”
One of her most memorable jobs came early in her NDT career when Seong Ah was tasked with inspecting a roughly 2,000-ton crane.
“The project lasted almost three weeks, and every component was enormous. It was also my first time seeing a crane fully disassembled up close, which was fascinating,” recalls Seong Ah. “What made the experience even more memorable was the opportunity to work in the Netherlands alongside senior inspectors. Beyond that experience, I’ve been fortunate to learn — and continue to learn — from many talented colleagues and mentors throughout my career.”
In her free time, Seong Ah indulges her love of learning by visiting museums, galleries, and local festivals.
“I also love discovering good food — especially pastries and different cuisines,” she says. “Living in a multicultural country like Canada feels like paradise for someone like me who enjoys trying foods from different cultures.”
When she embarked on an entirely new career in a new country, Seong Ah did not yet realize the sense of satisfaction she would find in the world of NDT. “
Knowing that my inspections can help protect equipment operators and workers on site gives me a strong sense of purpose,” she says. “Something as small as identifying a crack or unusual condition can ultimately contribute to someone getting home safely at the end of the day. That gives real meaning to the work I do.”
