Daniela Torelli didn’t take the traditional path into welding. After realizing a career as a veterinary technician would not give her the financial independence she wanted, she started looking through the skilled trades, and welding stood out.

In this episode, Daniela, Membership Services Lead for the CWB Association and the welder and artist behind Think Pink Welding, talks about mentorship, community, and why one conversation can change someone’s entire career path.

From learning the hard way without a clear roadmap to becoming a resource for new welders across Canada, Daniela shares why mentorship does not have to be formal or complicated. Sometimes, it is simply answering a message, welcoming someone into the shop, sharing honest advice, or giving somebody the confidence to take the next step.

What You’ll Learn

• How Daniela found welding after exploring career paths that could offer more financial independence and long-term opportunity.
• Why her path into the trade felt unconventional, and how that experience helps her guide younger welders today.
• How an early connection with a woman ironworker became one of Daniela’s first experiences with mentorship.
• Why mentorship does not need to mean holding someone’s hand or telling them exactly what to do.
• How a few encouraging words helped one welding student push through test-day anxiety and successfully pass her weld test.
• Why responding to questions, being approachable, and welcoming people into the industry can make a major difference in retaining new welders.
• What the CWB Association does to connect welding professionals, students, educators, and industry members across Canada.
• How CWB Association chapters create opportunities through networking events, technical presentations, student outreach, and community meetups.
• Why Daniela believes the welding industry needs both mentors and mentees to keep the next generation moving forward.
• How Think Pink Welding gives Daniela a creative outlet through metal art, fabrication, and time under the hood.
• What Daniela is looking forward to next, including handheld laser welding education, women in metal industry events, and more opportunities to connect with the welding community.

About Daniela Torelli: 

Daniela Torelli is the Membership Services Lead for the CWB Association, where she works alongside chapters and volunteers across Canada to support welders, educators, students, and industry professionals.

With more than a decade in welding, Daniela has built a career around creating opportunities, sharing knowledge, and helping people feel welcome in the skilled trades. She is passionate about mentorship, community building, welding education, and increasing awareness of the many paths available in the industry.

Connect with Daniela Torelli:

• Instagram: @thinkpinkwelding   / thinkpinkwelding 
• Facebook: Think Pink Welding   / thinkpinkwelding 
• CWB Association https://www.cwbassociation.org/ 
• CWB Association events and local chapters https://www.cwbgroup.org/