Episode 12: Atlanta Women in STEM Panel 2025

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Thank you all so much for coming. This is my
first string of events. So last week was my first
event ever in Dallas. I just started all thanks sim
was actually in January. But I'm super excited for what
it we'll grow into. And I appreciate all my great
friends here supporting me and sharing their knowledge and tis
for success with.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
You all so we can help the next future leaders
in SEM.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
So I'm actually a teater and we're gonna go around
and introduce you different panelists and then we would get started.
So Natalie, please introduce yourself.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Good afternoon everyone. Can you all hear me? Okay? Yes?
So yes.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
My name is Natalie Tilson. I am in the aerospace industry. Specifically,
I'm an electronics engineer. I've been with this role for
five years. I am the subject matic subject matter expert
for two safety critical systems at my job.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
How I got into.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
STEM, it's just the influence I had in high school,
the different mentors and everything that we're in my network,
and I'm just really passionate about student.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
Thank you great.

Speaker 4 (01:11):
How everyone. My name is saf Regeta.

Speaker 5 (01:14):
I work as a project manager for an aerospace company.
Been in that room for about a year and a
half now and I got into STEM primarily from my
would say elementary school, so my parents kind of pushed
me towards math and science, and turn out I really
liked it. That's what I decided to pursue. Hi everyone,

(01:36):
I'm not sure Roy. I am very sighed to be
here today.

Speaker 6 (01:40):
So I'm currently a systems engineer UH in the aerospace
and defense industry.

Speaker 5 (01:45):
UH.

Speaker 6 (01:45):
My work is focused on integrating digital tools to make
system design and lifecycle management of air vehicles who more connected,
more efficient, what we often refer to as advancing the
digital thread and systems engineering and UH, I guess I'm
from uh Queens, New York and that I'm very proud
of that that I plays a big part in me

(02:07):
advocating for STEP spaces to be more inclusive and more
you know. Uh, yeah, I'm more inclusive and I'm excited
to be able to share the space with you all today.
I'm great to see a lot of UH women in
men's stateman, a lot of aways of women in STEM
as well.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
He love alone.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
My name is Armand's screen. I am a project manager
at a mechanical and engineering firm. I have recently worked
on one of my favorite projects, which was the Atlanta
Airport dy but we do a lot of data center
work as well, the aquarium.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
And a lot of other projects. So I got.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Into construction because my parents actually had a construction company, Grona,
and I started off from virtual construction, which people don't
know a lot about what is called building information modeling management.
So from that digital side, I was like, oh, this
is pretty cool, and then I transitioned over to operations
honestly because I there's a lot of my money, so

(03:10):
which a lot of people that does you know inter
people when it comes to STEM careers, But.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
My path is a little bit different.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
And I can't wait to talk to you about it
because you don't have to go to college to get
to Mariam.

Speaker 2 (03:24):
Good afternoon everyone. My name is Shanidulans.

Speaker 7 (03:27):
I am a cosmetic scientists, cosmetic formulation scientists.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
I've been in the industry for over ten years. I
have a degree in chemistry from North Carolina at go Aggies.

Speaker 7 (03:39):
I'm originally from New Jersey, Boom from New Jersey to
be exact. Uh, my goal is to essentially, no one
really gave me the pathway into cosmetic science unless you
were going to college. Or well up within your master's.
There was really no pathway before.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
Bachelor's or into bachelors, so that's my goal.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
Now.

Speaker 7 (03:57):
I'm my owner of self Worth Cosmetics and I go
around and teach formulation workshops and I'm also a consultant,
so I also helped brand owners come up with formulations
and you know post formulation help.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
All that stuff, uh, quality all that. So that's what
I'm here for. So I'm excited to talk to you guys,
to the Thank you, Hi everybody. My name is Jessica
the VAM.

Speaker 8 (04:20):
I am currently on materials and process engineer within the
aerospace industry.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
I graduated from a North Carolinia State University.

Speaker 8 (04:31):
With a degree in UH textile technology, and then I
went straight into my master's with textile chemistry. I even
pivoted within my undergraduated career.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
I did engineering, and then.

Speaker 8 (04:44):
I went into more of like a science technology side,
and then my first job was more of a R
and D chemist, and then I pivoted within that career
or two an engineering role. So my cot wasn't as
clear to me. I did naturally, just more to the
side of science and math, and so I think that's
how I got it pushed into it.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
But yeah, I'm excited to talk to you about.

Speaker 8 (05:08):
My journey and really help and support a lot of
these people, allies that are, you know, wanting to pursue
something in STEM, but maybe don't feel confident enough or
just have some questions that I'm happy to help answer.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
Oh excellent. I'm actually a teater.

Speaker 9 (05:25):
I studied mitlerigical engineering at the University of Alabama or
all Side. I continued and got my master's that they'd
built in engineering management. I am currently a project engineer
and an aerospace defens industry So we're glad to have
you be So now we're gonna go around and ask everybody.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
How they got introduced to STEM and what.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
Inspired them to pursue STEM as a career.

Speaker 8 (05:49):
So what you said just uh so, as I said,
I didn't really have a clearer path just my culture
in general. I think my parents wanted me to become
a doctor or you know, something of the sort.

Speaker 2 (06:04):
And I would kind of pushed towards that, and then
I realized just going to school and being.

Speaker 8 (06:09):
Around people and learning about what everyone else did, I
was like, this is.

Speaker 2 (06:13):
Not really for me. I wanted to pursue something that
I have an interest.

Speaker 8 (06:18):
In, and I want to be able to make an
impact on a large scale. So and it took a
lot of trial and error, trial and error trying to
figure out what.

Speaker 2 (06:30):
Exactly it is that I liked.

Speaker 8 (06:33):
I think the most of my forming came from high school.
I think that was the most time where any child
was stressed out right, trying to go into college and.

Speaker 2 (06:43):
Figuring out what major.

Speaker 8 (06:46):
But I've always been interested in just product development, whether
it was in textiles, clothes, how things worked.

Speaker 2 (06:55):
I always ask a lot of why questions as a child,
So I think that kind of.

Speaker 8 (06:59):
Now actually led into engineering and how to solve problems
and stuff like that. So yeah, and then a lot
of my friends as well, you know, growing up in
that community.

Speaker 2 (07:11):
I grew up in Cary, North Carolina, so various suburbs.

Speaker 8 (07:15):
We had a lot of resources available for us, especially
in the STEM field, and so that definitely pushed me
along that track.

Speaker 7 (07:26):
How I got started was into the cosmic industry. During
my junior year, I was getting all a's and b's
and all courses access. Chemistry was the most challenging subject
for me, and my junior high school teacher was RENALDS.
Essentially asked me what I wanted to be when I
grew up, and I was watching YouTube at the time
before anyone got monetized. Everyone's doing the tutorials and everything,

(07:47):
and said, oh, I would be a makeup artist.

Speaker 2 (07:49):
And she was like, you're too smart to play a
make up Go and make the make up.

Speaker 7 (07:53):
So that's essentially how I got I went to North
Carolina at got a degree in chemistry.

Speaker 2 (07:58):
I graduated on a Friday. I walked into the biggest.

Speaker 7 (08:00):
Makeup manufacturer on that Monday, which is Cosmics USA up
in New Jersey.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
And then essentially I went to try K Industries, which is.

Speaker 7 (08:08):
Denville, and then I came down here COVID hit. Of
course that was furloughed like happens, and I started working
for Ecocert USA, which is where I go around domestically
to all make up manufacturers, brand owners who are Cosmo
certified and essentially checked their formulas, their product development from

(08:29):
thought to finish. Everything the production area I check and
if anything is wrong, it.

Speaker 2 (08:34):
Gets pulled off the shelf. So I'm like the shriff
in the.

Speaker 7 (08:36):
Cosmetic industry essentially, And so that was kind of my
journey and path and into the cosmetic industry was just.

Speaker 2 (08:44):
Be essentially jumping into it.

Speaker 7 (08:46):
I really didn't have a roadmap into the cosmetic industry.
So now I'm going back to make the roadmap for
other people and other future chemists who want to be
in the cosmetic industry and also let them know that
they're different.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
You don't have to just be behind the banks. You
could be in quality.

Speaker 7 (09:03):
You can be in wherever you wanna be, essentially, but
there's so many different positions within cosmetic chemistry.

Speaker 2 (09:09):
As well.

Speaker 7 (09:09):
As we are the biggest dollar black dollars, the biggest
dollar in the cosmetic industry, were the least in a lot.
So that's another goal of mine, is to essentially introduce
cosmetic chemistry into communities that look like me and people
who look like me.

Speaker 9 (09:23):
So yeah, that's really good.

Speaker 1 (09:25):
So I already told you y' all.

Speaker 2 (09:32):
My parents had construction company.

Speaker 1 (09:34):
So from the age of twelve up until I graduated,
I was like an employee, but like not always getting paid.

Speaker 2 (09:43):
So I was able to get engulfed into the.

Speaker 1 (09:46):
Construction at a young age and it was really intriguing.

Speaker 2 (09:49):
But honestly, I'm not like everyone else. I didn't like math.
I liked science and I like English. I love to write.
So when I went to school, at first, I was like,
i'm'a be an English ujor.

Speaker 1 (09:59):
And then I, you know what A come a job
I'm not gonna get and I don't feel like I'm
gonna make enough money and I'm an a bougie, so
I was like, I need a maney of your child's.

Speaker 2 (10:07):
Gonna pay a little more.

Speaker 1 (10:08):
So, so I ended up going into the cool Southern Pollege
Technood University.

Speaker 2 (10:13):
And majoring in construction management, and I went to school
for that.

Speaker 1 (10:16):
I graduated, and I ended up working government. Well, if
you know, government limited money because unless someone is like
passing away, hard to move up and there's a lot
of politics you gotta deal with commissioning. And so after
a few years of that, I was like, you know what, I
gotta pivot.

Speaker 2 (10:34):
Let me actually do it. I went to school or
I I ended up get a lot.

Speaker 1 (10:38):
Of certifications and things that were valuable, but it was
just limiting as far as like what I could do
career wise.

Speaker 2 (10:43):
So I ended up going into project management on the
virtual construction side, and I went back to school for them.

Speaker 1 (10:50):
I'm actually the first woman to graduate with a degree
to them, and it's a newer degree. Cause I was like,
if I'm gonna pivot it, I don't. I didn't wanna
do project management. I wanna do something that involved tech
cause I felt like that was the future, Like, let
me figure out something.

Speaker 2 (11:04):
That was gonna sustain me for years to come. So
then was it was it?

Speaker 1 (11:08):
Virtual construction was something that was new, but it was
really big globally, like in Europe. A lot of.

Speaker 2 (11:14):
Countries over there are using it. It's mandatory on any
construction project. You have to have them views.

Speaker 1 (11:19):
And it's only mandated in Washington State and one other
state in the United States, so it's not mandatory, but
it's so beneficial and it helps save money, it cuts risks,
It oh alleviates a lot of problems before you start
actually building it, cause you're building it it virtually first
you're able to do class detection. So once I got
into that, it was really cool. And then I started seeing,

(11:41):
you know, the project managers at my job. I'm like,
cold one, how much social boys? So honestly, i'm'a i'ma
be here with you. That really made me want to
see what the operation side is. And I think being
the oldest daughter already had history of managing people and
being a leader, so a project management really fit my
role and once I got into it, it was all

(12:03):
natural from there and being on the project being able
to experience like new things before people hear about it.
It's like it's really interesting to me. So just growing
being in my company, I'm the only female that's a
project manager that that looks like me. So it's also
just my way to go out into the into the
world and be able to encourage other women that hey,

(12:25):
you can do this too, Like there are people.

Speaker 2 (12:27):
To lucky you and don't wanna be able to give
back to the community in that way, and like educate
women on other.

Speaker 1 (12:32):
Opportunities that aren't to boost them jobs before you pass it,
can you explain them them?

Speaker 2 (12:38):
Is building information modeling management. That's what it stands for.

Speaker 1 (12:43):
And this is why I wanna say that, so you
can you don't you to become a project manager. You
can make six figures. You can get monts that are
up to six figures, and you don't have to go
to college. And that's something that I want a lot
of people feel like you have to go to college.
You can go into a trade you can go to
get a two year degree. There's other ways to get
to where I am and when them it's a similar

(13:04):
situation is it is a four year degree, but you
can get into them in.

Speaker 2 (13:08):
An untraditional way. And then you're working in.

Speaker 1 (13:11):
Soltware like redivated tendular structures AUTO. Okay, you're learning all
these different programs to help companies build things virtually, to
see what are.

Speaker 2 (13:21):
Clashing with other trades virtually before you actually build it.

Speaker 1 (13:25):
You you said it it costs ten times more to
face something in the build than it does virtually, so
imagine the call saves.

Speaker 2 (13:33):
So yeah, thank you.

Speaker 7 (13:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (13:37):
So how did go introduced to STEM?

Speaker 6 (13:40):
From an early age, I was very drawn to math,
and you know, once I kind of started to uh
see it apply in chemistry and physics as I went
through schooling, I think that was even more exciting, kind
of opened up a world of possibilities for me. I
would say, what made me pursue a career in STEM
were really the uh pig full hands on experience that

(14:01):
I was able to engage in through high school and college.

Speaker 2 (14:05):
So in high school, for instance.

Speaker 6 (14:07):
I was able to do a project at a research
center in New York city on a focused.

Speaker 2 (14:13):
In nanotechnology for drug development. So that was very formative
because it showed me.

Speaker 4 (14:18):
As a you know, as a very early you know,
in my very early.

Speaker 6 (14:23):
On in my career, right, I can contribute to research
for such important applications. And then afterwards I went to
m I team for chemical engineering, and when I you know,
in that experience, I basically went out out of my
way to find all the opportunity tunities where I could
use my engineering skills and knowledge and be able to give.

Speaker 2 (14:44):
Back to my community.

Speaker 6 (14:45):
So one of the projects that I think really shaped
my kind of experience there was being able to work
with the Navajo Nation going.

Speaker 2 (14:53):
Out there in New Mexico and helping to build a
water tank system for the community there.

Speaker 6 (14:59):
That these showed me that I can use my skills
and knowledge to be able to bring something better for
the communities that I'm part of, and therefore that a
career in STEM is truly going to be.

Speaker 2 (15:10):
Rewarding, fulfilling.

Speaker 6 (15:13):
So yeah, and that's kind of what led me to
produce STEM post bread as well.

Speaker 5 (15:20):
So I started really exposed system in elementary school, especially
getting fields of math and science or math Olympia and
science Olympia, and I would say I'd come from a
family of engineers, so it's kind of stun seeming like.

Speaker 2 (15:35):
The right path to take.

Speaker 5 (15:38):
But once I got into high school and started taking
those advanced placement classes, I realized I really enjoyed math
more than science. So when it came to going to
college and figuring out which major, kind of narrowed it
down to industrial engineering, which is when I pursued at
Georgia Tech. Everything else really role lined on science, which

(16:01):
wasn't my strong.

Speaker 2 (16:02):
Suit all of the time.

Speaker 5 (16:04):
And then another care aspect of industrial engineering is it's
so broad and can kind of go into.

Speaker 2 (16:10):
Any industry you want.

Speaker 4 (16:11):
You're not really siloed into one place.

Speaker 5 (16:14):
So that's how I basically navigated from early elementary school
into college. And then now I do use aspects of
the industrial engineering with that root cost correct analysis, and
I think having that ID degree makes them pretty versatile
for me to go into whichever job I wanted to

(16:36):
get into the future.

Speaker 3 (16:40):
I would say that the way I got interested into
STEM was just pretty much based on my interest. I
always had interest in math and science. Even though the
classes sometimes would be difficult, I enjoyed that challenge so
the reason is very simple. However, my journey was a little,

(17:00):
a little well beat. So I got my bachelor's degree
in exercise science and with that agree typically people become
a physical therapist. Life does happen. You switch your focus,
you switch your desires. So then I went back and
got a software engineering degree. So currently I am at

(17:21):
an aerospace industry working not in software engineering, but as
an electronics engineer. So it's almost like I liked it
so much I bounced everywhere in STEM.

Speaker 2 (17:30):
I'm all over the place.

Speaker 3 (17:32):
So I'll just say it's okay to switch your focus.
If you just are really passionate and just can't make
up your mind, it's okay. As long as you get
to the finish line that sounds good.

Speaker 2 (17:45):
You can do fine.

Speaker 1 (17:46):
Because for Natalie, Shanaia and our money, I want to ask,
have you had any mentors who helped shake your journey
in STEM?

Speaker 2 (17:53):
And so who are they and how did they impact you?

Speaker 3 (17:57):
I would say my dggest mentor in STEM is my father.
He works actually at the same industry career that I'm
at right now. Just seeing him growing up just having
a stable job, having a job on what she's passionate
about That's what really sold me.

Speaker 2 (18:14):
I know, I'm went on a journey of what type
of career.

Speaker 3 (18:17):
I wanted in the STEM arena, but I knew it
would always be Stemmed.

Speaker 2 (18:22):
So I'm very thankful if you have had him in
my life. That's lovely.

Speaker 6 (18:28):
Mind.

Speaker 2 (18:31):
I my name, and Toor is my mount. She also
went to work for my auntie.

Speaker 10 (18:38):
Elect here.

Speaker 1 (18:39):
And just seeing her path at a young age, I
used to literally crib and she would go to office college.
But seeing her go and strive and and just be
such a trailblazer in in her job and she works
for the Seemings. So just seeing her and the pack
that she's thinking and going from one company to another
and just kill every time and just progressing it throughout

(19:03):
her career. And just started off very young in the
industry before STEM was like u uh a popular you know,
or like everyone wanted to be the STEM like she
did it from like sh cause she's older. So seeing her,
seeing her go to school and just be successful and
seeing where she is in life now, I'll go to
her for advice as far as like even just how should.

Speaker 2 (19:25):
I negotiate, like how much money I should make?

Speaker 1 (19:28):
How should I handle this situation as a woman, like
she gives me advice not just career wise, but like
just navigating the the whole process.

Speaker 2 (19:36):
So she's my person.

Speaker 7 (19:41):
My mentor is Naketa Wilson, who is the VP of
product development for Pattern, which is Tracy Ellis Ross's brand.
I don't know if you guys ever heard that she's
been Me and her basically have essentially the same story
in the cosmic industry as far as just trying to
find a roadmap to get into the lab, to get
into these positions, to just.

Speaker 2 (20:01):
Make a difference. She has been just so.

Speaker 7 (20:06):
Supportive of me and my journey, telling me, you know
how to move, you know what, stay on top of
things as far as in the cosmic industry because it's
so many new trends, things are constantly changing, you have
to be on top of it. As well as encouraging
me to understand that you always don't need a degree.
She recently just got her degree three years ago far
as in masters, and that was kind of one of

(20:28):
the things I was a little insecure about, and she
was just like, it doesn't matter as people who have
master's degrees who are failing at their job, so.

Speaker 2 (20:35):
You can as long as you know what you're doing,
and you get your name out there and you make
a difference within the community, it really doesn't matter what
piece of paper you have attached to you.

Speaker 7 (20:45):
So I think with that that kind of really opened
the whole door to live and learn where I wanted
to bring it onto universities and campuses, but as well
as bringing it to the community for those people who
will not be able to get on college campuses.

Speaker 2 (21:00):
That's my mentor awesome.

Speaker 1 (21:02):
Next, we have a question for Shanayah Happy in Option saying,
for those seeking mentorship, how should they go about minding
a mentor?

Speaker 7 (21:12):
You start, okay, talk to your job, talk, keeping contact
with people, even if they are difficult with you at work.
Essentially go where your value always, of course, go where
your value and respected.

Speaker 2 (21:27):
Number one. However, making sure you're keeping those connections.

Speaker 7 (21:31):
The cosmic industry is such a small industry, even though
it's large and it's international. However, literally my old manager
here domestically new minding manager over in Europe, that's how
small it is. So being able to keep those connections,
good reputations, really showing people and honing in on people
who are essentially who you deem as a master or

(21:53):
want to be like and then learning form from them and.

Speaker 2 (21:56):
Not learning from them lazily, actually putting in the effort.
It's easy to stay at seven.

Speaker 7 (22:01):
To four shift, but if you're there till six o'clock,
they'll and that's showing someone, Okay, you're.

Speaker 2 (22:06):
Really serious about this. So now I can go into
my treasure chests and gems and really show you.

Speaker 7 (22:11):
What I know and how to do it, versus just
giving you service level information that you can google or
chat GBT.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
So that's my advice, do the work, go the extra mile.
It's worth it all the time.

Speaker 6 (22:23):
Yeah, Yeah, I would say definitely utilize the groups or
communities that you're part of. For instance, you know, college
or high school, like being part of groups like society
and women Engineers or whatever groups you're part of. Those
oftentimes have strong alumni networks and there's folks that want
to stay part of those even like college.

Speaker 2 (22:44):
Chapters or high school chapters. Right, So get in touch.
You know you will find folks that are.

Speaker 6 (22:49):
Like minded or that you share a lot in common
with background wise or your stories wise, or you know
how you're kind of navigating the step journey. So you
use that as a conversations to make connections in that way.
I will say that before you've been going out and
seeking mentors, do kind of a self reflection exercise asking
yourself what do you expect.

Speaker 2 (23:10):
Out of that mentorship?

Speaker 6 (23:12):
Right, asking yourself, what are some skills that you want
to hone in or are you interested in learning about
a particular industry or do you want a mentor who
can speak to various industries and gave you kind of
that broad overview that you're looking for.

Speaker 2 (23:27):
And So when you do this kind of self reflection
before you've been going out and finding mentors, then you're
better prepared, you know.

Speaker 6 (23:34):
For those conversations when you do approach potential mentors and
can articulate these things and set those expectations straight. And
I think that helps you kind of determine the compatibility
between yourself and potential mentors as well.

Speaker 5 (23:49):
Great I think everyone here is doing a great job
in terms of company from a networking event.

Speaker 4 (23:53):
I think that's a great way to find a mentor.

Speaker 2 (23:57):
So seek out those little heads. Not the way I
found a mentors.

Speaker 5 (24:03):
Was through work and through college, so letterature alumni networks,
because oftentimes I lovely just wanted to help students. We've
all been through it, talk about their journey. And they're
also very connected out of the world. So even if
they're not in the field that you choose to go into,
or you're seeing someone of a different background, chances are

(24:24):
they can find someone. And then, last, but not least,
I would say, really build your mentor and editor network
at work, at an internship or where you work currently.
So if you're in a position, For example, I was
in a position where I didn't want to pursue this career.

Speaker 2 (24:44):
I was looking for a way out. My manager was very.

Speaker 5 (24:49):
Nice in the way of having that conversation and then
connecting me with the mentors in that organization that I
want to go into.

Speaker 2 (24:57):
So that was very valuable.

Speaker 4 (24:58):
So just be vocal about it, reach out and then yeah,
make a chance.

Speaker 2 (25:03):
Sorry, you'll probably find someone that wants.

Speaker 4 (25:06):
To grow their network and help you grow as well.

Speaker 1 (25:12):
You can keep the MinCD because for you, Jessica and
not should we have what are key skills, both technical
and soft skills, so you think are critical for women
in STEM to develop early in their careers.

Speaker 5 (25:22):
So so I would say technical is not really super
technical skill, but have a curious mindset.

Speaker 2 (25:31):
I think, especially in.

Speaker 5 (25:32):
STEM, focusing in on the science and the technology. Really
being curious and thinking of innovative solutions will get you
pretty far, I would say, and saw skills something that
I it took me time to develop this, especially as
a woman, is growing a thick skin.

Speaker 4 (25:50):
So personally for me, I'm a peopil pleaser. I love
getting along with people.

Speaker 5 (25:54):
I'm not very confrontational, and it took me, i would say,
working for about two or three years to realize not
everyone's going to like me, and it might be for
reasons that are very absurd and it's nothing that I
can change. For example, they might not like me because
my favorite color is paint.

Speaker 2 (26:10):
Well I can't change that. So growing ethic.

Speaker 5 (26:14):
Skin, it took me time to not really hone in
on what people say to me and to get to
me and whatnot.

Speaker 2 (26:21):
So girl, looking into ways.

Speaker 5 (26:23):
Into how to make sure other people's thoughts don't affect
you will go a long way.

Speaker 1 (26:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (26:32):
So I definitely agree what you've said there very important.
I think technical skill. One thing that I wish I
focused on a little bit more in college was learning
scripting and coding. I didn't prioritize this us it as
much it did come up because I did do engineering,
so I had to do a little bit of coding.
But it's very important now no matter what industry you

(26:52):
go in. No at least the basics of it. No
different languages, programming languages, if you can not, just to
kind of meet the requirements of that job, right. But
also because when you know those things, you can begin
to see certain processes or activities at work from a
different perspective, right. A lot of manual kind of things

(27:13):
that happen. Coding gives you a unique perspective where you
can see, like, Okay, you know what, I can actually
automate this using these tools, right, So I think definitely,
I would say that is a technical skill that if
you can develop, doesn't even have to be in college.
You can take courses on your own, like on YouTube whatever, right,
Like you can learn anything from YouTube these days, but
whatever you do, Like, definitely that's a skill that you,

(27:34):
I think want to prioritize now.

Speaker 2 (27:37):
So social so I guess soft skills.

Speaker 6 (27:40):
So soft skills, I would say public speaking very very
important because ultimately.

Speaker 2 (27:46):
When you're in the industry, you'll make.

Speaker 6 (27:48):
Something super technical it's going to be super cool. Well,
guess what, You're going to have to deliver it and
explain it to someone higher up in management or someone
outside of your organization, stakeholders, customers who are not super
familiar with the technical side. You're going to have to
know how to deliver right right and explain your product
in a way that makes sense to those people so.

Speaker 2 (28:10):
You get their support and their concurrence.

Speaker 6 (28:12):
And to be able to do that, that is an
art and that takes practice. And I think also knowing
how to tailor it based on your audience too. The
way you deliver it to your technical lead is not
going to be the way you deliver it to a
customer who has no familiarity.

Speaker 2 (28:27):
With the technical side. All yeah, so you know that
is but that takes practice, to be honest, And.

Speaker 6 (28:35):
I think one thing so we talked about mentors, and
one thing you can utilize your mentors for is that,
you know, ask them if you can do practice sessions
for your presentations, right, like, utilize them in that way,
and I'm sure they will say yes and give you
honest feedback, you know.

Speaker 2 (28:49):
If they really want to be your mentors.

Speaker 6 (28:51):
So yeah, I would say those two skills definitely are important.

Speaker 8 (28:56):
Yes, some technical skills I think would be helpful on
top of everything that a mean Naxho has already mentioned.
A lot of the things nowadays is digital, right, there's
software and you know.

Speaker 2 (29:14):
Just even learning shortcuts on Excel.

Speaker 6 (29:16):
Right.

Speaker 2 (29:16):
I don't even know all those short cuts, but.

Speaker 8 (29:18):
I'm people are showing any things that's helping me become
more efficient. I'm showing those things, passing it along to
my teammates, and that's increasing the efficiency.

Speaker 2 (29:28):
Of the entire team.

Speaker 8 (29:29):
So I think having that knowledge, or at least that
curiosity to go out and learn something new that you
maybe you weren't well versed in before, whether that be
like coding or you know, just learning a system within
your job.

Speaker 11 (29:45):
That no one else really has, and that gives you
that extra edge.

Speaker 2 (29:50):
To stand out and perform even better.

Speaker 11 (29:53):
Soft skills I think, uh, especially being.

Speaker 8 (29:56):
A woman me personally, I was very timid a lot
of the times, more shy Mormon wallflower and kind.

Speaker 2 (30:04):
Of sit back. But now in my industry today, I
am a lot.

Speaker 8 (30:08):
Out of time it's the only woman at the table,
I think in instead, it's probably like twenty to thirty
percent is women. And then in my industry, it's probably
even less. So you have to have that confidence in
yourself to speak up. You are a subject of matter expert.
You were there for a reason, you know, so you've

(30:29):
got to be able to speak up and show everybody
here that you know, you're also a team player.

Speaker 2 (30:35):
You're not sitting here just to look pretty.

Speaker 8 (30:39):
And then on top of that, I think being flexible,
having just being able to pivot and being able to
take things on the chin and then get up and
get on a new path you need. Sometimes you aren't
handed in things and you have to, like a lot
of us here, really just figure out our own path,

(31:00):
uh and make our own And I think that's why
we're all yours to show everybody what we've done so
far and also help everybody hold that door for anyone
else who wants to come through.

Speaker 2 (31:11):
I love it. Keep in mind because everybody answers this
next question. It is when it's been a part of
achievement in your career or still journey.

Speaker 6 (31:18):
So far.

Speaker 8 (31:21):
I had, I'd say, in the different parts of my
life in school and uh, my first job and this job,
there's been some key moments.

Speaker 2 (31:31):
What I can talk about is from a college.

Speaker 8 (31:34):
I was part of a senior design challenge, and back
then I was doing textile technology. So I was working
with a company that it did clothing apparel, and they
wanted to get more into the innovative sector in terms
of trying to mimic biology in our clothing. So I,

(31:59):
along with my team developed a product and garment that
moved moisture.

Speaker 2 (32:05):
In however way. We wanted to basically get mimick and control.

Speaker 8 (32:12):
Moisture throughout a garment, and for example, we get sweaty
in our areas like our armpits and our back and things,
and then isn't comfortable and it's not a nice look.
So we've been able to along with our education, just
be able to realize research and kind of innovate a

(32:35):
product using new technology, new fibers, new threads, and pushing
it basically to the bottom of the garment where it
we'll evaporate off and you don't have any of those
quote unquote pit seeds.

Speaker 2 (32:49):
So and because of that, you know, we've won.

Speaker 10 (32:53):
Awards from the school, we want, awards from the company
that sponsored that project, and we got to essentially deliver
a presentation to a lot of important.

Speaker 8 (33:06):
People in the industry, and those are I think some
of my greatest achievements, especially since college.

Speaker 7 (33:15):
I would say, well, one of my greatest achievements, of
course is my own company, so for cosmetics, but within
that company is live and learn, where essentially I go
to universities, colleges, or just within the community and teach
cosmetic formulation workshops. So that was a really big goal
of mind, was to figure out a way of not
to only just reach out to students who were.

Speaker 2 (33:36):
Able to meet within college, but also how to.

Speaker 7 (33:39):
Kind of fit in with the community, reach out to
other programs that are within the community, and host events
as well.

Speaker 2 (33:45):
And then I would say also, I've created my own
edge Control, which.

Speaker 7 (33:49):
Is a very very hard product to do in house,
especially when you're not looking to your senior chemist or
you don't have a team around you.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
It's just me and the love. So, uh, that's two
years and uh that was successful. So that was one
of my greatest accomplishments so far. Thank you, Thank you.
I would say.

Speaker 1 (34:12):
One of my greatest accomplishments was first off, going back
into college with a child and getting a degree and
being the first female to graduate with that degree.

Speaker 2 (34:21):
That was That's absolutely my.

Speaker 1 (34:24):
My greatest achievement career wise, and then also being the
first woman to get some of the certifications I had,
such as uh Bier Plans Examiner or some ICC certifications
I have. I was the first one to get first
woman in my company, and I was the first woman
period to get the fire certifications that I have. So
I think a lot of the certifications are additional pieces that.

Speaker 2 (34:46):
I've obtained being the first fan that's my greatest achievement.

Speaker 6 (34:49):
Awesome.

Speaker 2 (34:52):
Yeah, by the way, all impressive story, right, I was
just so impressed. So last year I led a digital
transformation that a project at my company, and I'm going
to try to not go in to the technicals here
again like audience.

Speaker 6 (35:05):
Making sure, but you know, the essentially the goal or
for some background, our defense customers want our proposals of
our products to be more model based. Essentially, everything that's
been happening, you have documents, they want to see those
as digital artifacts within a model. So the goal of
this project was to lay out an initial process and

(35:27):
framework for our company so that we can properly respond,
you know, to whatever the customer is requesting in.

Speaker 2 (35:35):
A model based format.

Speaker 6 (35:38):
So the reason this was a pretty big accomplishment for
me is one, you know, I was able to do
some very foundational work, basically set the foundation you know
for this kind of process, which will continue to build
and utilize as we pursue new business engagements as a company.
But two, and I think this is the most important part,

(35:58):
is I got to engage with a lot of different
disciplines at my company and really learn about what they do,
so not just the engineering and technology side, but also
the program management side, the business development side, various other groups.
To understand, you know, what what part do they play
in this process, right, what is their current state, where

(36:18):
do they have to be, where are the gaps?

Speaker 2 (36:20):
So a lot of that information that I honestly didn't
even know. You know, those groups did that, right.

Speaker 6 (36:26):
So I think just being able to meet with these
different groups and understand who they are and what parts
they played in this process was really really eye opening,
and I'm glad that I was able to not only
you know, lay out a process that was that's so foundational,
but also be able to learn from these teams so
that in the future maybe I can be an advocate
or that if there's a need to so.

Speaker 5 (36:51):
So I would say my biggest accomplishment would be to
go into a leadership role. So I did a rotational
program of the company that I work with, and for
my last rotation, I went into a supervisor role. At first,
it was very intimidating because everyone or the team.

Speaker 4 (37:10):
That I led, they all were working for a longer
amount of time than a number of years I was
alive or.

Speaker 5 (37:18):
So very intimidating going in there super young and then
also being a female as well.

Speaker 2 (37:25):
But it taught me so much.

Speaker 5 (37:27):
About myself as well as what it takes to be
a good leader. So I think really having mentors helped
me throughout the journey, as well as having the experience
of working under different managers and learning their leadership styles
to figure.

Speaker 4 (37:43):
Out what was effective and what was not. And in
the end, what I learned, which thing is like the
most important thing about a leader is you don't have
to be the smartest person in the room. You just
have to enable your team and remove those constraints that
they face every day.

Speaker 5 (38:00):
So yeah, I really think going into that leadership role
helped me a lot in terms of personal growth as well.
So going back to what I said about growing a
thick skin, that's where I learned how important it is
I love.

Speaker 6 (38:16):
So.

Speaker 2 (38:17):
I also was in a rotational program called EODP.

Speaker 3 (38:20):
Engineering Leadership Development Program, and through that program I was
able to bounce around to different engineering disciplines.

Speaker 2 (38:26):
So like you all remember, I uh graduated with.

Speaker 3 (38:29):
A software engineering degree, so through the EODP program, I
was able to bounce around to electronics engineering, so.

Speaker 2 (38:36):
I had a no degree to match with that exact discipline.

Speaker 3 (38:41):
Usually people in that field have an electronics engineering degree
of an electrical engineering degree, so.

Speaker 2 (38:48):
It was very challenging for me to kind of like
catch on.

Speaker 3 (38:51):
I did, but it was a learning curve at at THEREE,
so that was just very humbling and it just taught
me a lot about myself.

Speaker 2 (39:00):
An accomplishment I achieved on that.

Speaker 3 (39:02):
Team was there was in customer meeting sort of like
a demo, and I had to explain the system and
which on the subject MAT expert.

Speaker 2 (39:11):
For and I got calm with as from as the
customer on my delivery. So that was a very good achievement.

Speaker 1 (39:17):
That's so mean, you can't keep your mind because or
you mm yes, oh actually knock shift Shanaia and our money.
How do you balance being authentic? Will maintaining confessionalism instant spaces.

Speaker 11 (39:34):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (39:34):
So, uh, the balance between authenticity and uh, I guess
being diplomatic or being professional in the industry, it's a uh,
it's it's.

Speaker 2 (39:45):
A learning journey for me right now.

Speaker 6 (39:48):
And I think for a long time I was trying
to fit the mold and trying to you know, speak
a certain type of way or like down play aspects
of my identity just to like be can seriously or
get a seat at the table, you know, just as
a woman.

Speaker 2 (40:03):
I think we can be all had those times. And
I think what I've just realized.

Speaker 6 (40:10):
Over time working with different types of people, and also
just like talking about this challenge openly with my mentors,
is that authenticity is really your best friend if you
want to make strong, lasting connections with people, if you
want to build trust, because you know, when you are
like we're you know here right now sharing about our journeys,
and when you openly talk about your background and what

(40:31):
you've been through, I think you, if anything, you just
build more trust with other people and you open up
room for a lot of collaboration, right And I think
professionalism doesn't necessarily have to mean that you can't be
authentic because when I think of professionalism, I think of
just having respect, right, taking accountability, and having emotional intelligence,

(40:56):
and you can be all of those things whilst still
staying true to yourself, your.

Speaker 2 (41:01):
Values and just you know, being authentically yourself.

Speaker 6 (41:05):
You can still advocate for the things that matter to
you while still remaining professional. So it's it's easier set
than DNA completely recognize that, but I think definitely prioritize
the authenticity be yourself as much as you can to really,
you know, makes lasting strong connections with folks, and then
the professional will professionalism will kind of follow, and you'll

(41:26):
figure out the balance between the two.

Speaker 1 (41:32):
As we've already figured stim is not really dominating about women.
It's male dominated.

Speaker 12 (41:40):
Specifically for my industry and construction, it is a white,
male dominated industry, and seeing women in general is farm
people in between.

Speaker 2 (41:52):
In my company specifically, we only had one person, a
one female ever be.

Speaker 1 (41:58):
Apartment manager until twenty eighteen, so just to paint a picture.

Speaker 2 (42:03):
Of what it looks like.

Speaker 1 (42:05):
So coming into an industry like that, it can be
feel intimidating. It can feel is that if you had
to pretend to be something to make it.

Speaker 2 (42:15):
And I didn't wanna do that because I worked when
I worked in government and construction.

Speaker 1 (42:20):
Still on that side, they didn't even have anterney like
doubt because it was mo men that always had the job,
so they didn't feel a need to have that. So
coming into the company I'm at now, I came in authentic.

Speaker 2 (42:35):
I'm like, I'm not gonna shareen my hair. I'm gonna
murder its. I'm gonna have my hair curly. I'm gonna
come how I am. I'm not gonna put on a waist.

Speaker 1 (42:44):
I'm gonna speak the way I speak in that way
when I'm coming to the interview. If you like me
you hired me, then I know you're hiring me for
who I am, not who I'm trying to pretend to be,
because then that's gonna be the expectation I'm gonna have
to keep up.

Speaker 2 (42:59):
And I'm top of already managing projects.

Speaker 1 (43:01):
I don't wanna have to be trying to manage a
false person that I'm trying to pretend to be. And
I don't wanna have imposter syndrome either, So I just
I started being more confident in who I am and
understanding that I have the education I have the experience,
and I am capable and I am worthy of this position.
And if they hired me, they see that too. So

(43:22):
I came in with that confidence and be authentic and
now I'm am who I am at work and I
let my fruit speak through.

Speaker 2 (43:29):
Awesome. So for Jess to that happy beam, excuse me,
m U, I have as okay. So for me, I
kind of have the opposite story.

Speaker 7 (43:43):
I went into Cosmax that Monday, the friday after I
graduated being my authentic self, and that got me fired
three months in.

Speaker 2 (43:50):
So just to let me just give me.

Speaker 7 (43:52):
A another perspective. So within my industry, you have to
have a certain etiquete. In Alive, you have to learn
certain terminology. It's certain protocols and rules. I came in
there as my authentic self blocks black women. It was
only three black people in the whole Live one of
them was a manager, two and then it was two
of us, and we're on opposite side of the lab.

(44:14):
So I've never saw I didn't see anyone who looked
like me the whole day, every day. So with that
being said, I figured, yeah, let me be more of
my authentic self, Let me be the personality character.

Speaker 2 (44:25):
Let me.

Speaker 7 (44:25):
You know, at pro Black it's a certain etiquette that
if you do bring in as your authentic self fully
before you could get into a position where you can
really fully be authentic, it can hinder you. You have
to walk before you grown.

Speaker 2 (44:42):
And I'm not saying to not be your authentic self,
but I came in with a big head. I have
a degree in chemistry. I know what I'm doing.

Speaker 7 (44:49):
I've been mixing, I've been doing all this in my
little kitchen apartment, so I already know what I'm doing.

Speaker 2 (44:54):
I'm gonna be Shanaiah and that didn't go overwhelmed.

Speaker 7 (44:58):
So I had to learn the traits, the tricks to
the trade as far as personality wise, in order to okay.
I know, I can't say certain things because Cosmas was
a Korean made skincare. So it's when you're working with
different nationalities who are not yours. It's a certain etiquette
in professionalism that you have to know and acquire that
your authentic self, especially as a Black woman as them,

(45:19):
may be seen as unprofessional, even though it is professional
and you're just being your your authentic self.

Speaker 2 (45:26):
It's not perceived that way to people who are superior,
superior to you far as controlling whether you work for
them or not. So that's just my perspective.

Speaker 7 (45:35):
Always, yes, be your authentic self, but learn the tricks
and trade of the game, and make sure.

Speaker 2 (45:39):
That you learn the role that you're in and the
power you have within that role. Don't go over stepping
just because it's you. You can beat you all the time.

Speaker 7 (45:49):
However, make sure you test the temperature of the water
before you go and splash and being yourself.

Speaker 2 (45:54):
So I think that's it. Back to Jess. Okay, this
next question is j.

Speaker 1 (45:59):
Justica have be Can you share some effective strategies for
networking with instant fields and how is networking play a
role in premer growth and how do you find networking opportent.

Speaker 8 (46:10):
I think it's very important to build a network like
a web, so out in any in all directions, right,
not just vertically, not just and I'm going to only
talk to the VP because that's who I wanna be.
I think it's important to talk to people laterally, people
of the same you know, discipline and even different.

Speaker 2 (46:34):
Red life, not even any stem.

Speaker 8 (46:36):
Especially at my job, we have it's basically a very
well oiled machine.

Speaker 2 (46:41):
You've got a lot of different moving parts a lot of.

Speaker 8 (46:43):
People who help you reach one goal, and so you
never know who you're going to need to talk to
and who that person knows, and so it's kind of
like building a stray and then that will eventually, you know,
just at a financially grow.

Speaker 2 (47:02):
So I think the easiest way.

Speaker 8 (47:04):
For me is to make a personal connection first and
be very mindful that you're still in a professional environment.

Speaker 2 (47:12):
But for me, I don't necessarily have to set up
a thirty minute call put it on your calendar for
us to have a connection. Right, I can walk down
the hallway, I can walk wherever.

Speaker 13 (47:25):
If I see you, I'll ask how you're doing, see
what you've had going on on the weekend, or if
I know you've had an event that was important, I'll
ask about it.

Speaker 8 (47:36):
And that kind of is very simple, but it does
a lot. You're going to remember somebody who remembers something
about you. Right, we don't want to just come out
of it and be oh, talk about work all the time,
and you know that's to.

Speaker 2 (47:52):
Me, that's a little boring, Like I'll.

Speaker 8 (47:54):
Talk about this, but I want to tell you and
know about something a little bit more personal, and so
that way you can continue building something that you know
is authentic and it's not just based on the job.

Speaker 2 (48:11):
Sometimes it couldn't feel a little.

Speaker 1 (48:15):
I guess.

Speaker 2 (48:17):
Not sincere if.

Speaker 8 (48:18):
Somebody is always just asking me about the job role
that I currently do, so and I think.

Speaker 2 (48:25):
It's it's gonna match your personality as well.

Speaker 8 (48:28):
If you're more of like a bubbly talking to person,
you know, you can't go around and say hey and
hi to everybody and just keep up. If you're more
of a structured person and you do prefer putting a
meeting on a calendar to speak, you know, by all means,
that's just personally how I grew my network a lot

(48:48):
of times credit to Ashley as well. I mean a
lot of people through Ashley, and then you know, from there.

Speaker 2 (48:55):
On it just kind of builds. I like to keep
things just more naturally. It's awesome, you're not happy.

Speaker 3 (49:06):
I like that.

Speaker 4 (49:06):
So, similar to what Jessa said, really grow that network,
whether it be at work, from school, it could be
from a workout plus.

Speaker 5 (49:16):
So for example, there's this one lady at my workout
class that works for Coca Cola, and one of my
really good friends works at Coca Cola. It runs out
their cubemates so they sit right next to each other
and maybe and it got me to realize the world
out there is really small. You never know who you're
going to meet, so really focus on building that network.

(49:39):
And the first step is intend events like this for example,
you never know who you're going to meet, as well
as just go and talk to someone. So I really
like that piece that you said about personal connection and
we're finding.

Speaker 2 (49:51):
Something like that.

Speaker 5 (49:52):
So what I'll do is involved buy meet someone new
and they went to Georgia Tech all in Stone and
be like, oh, well you're did you graduate?

Speaker 4 (50:00):
And then we'll just start talking about Georgia Tech for
thirty minutes. And that's really help me build a lot
of the connections that I have or I don't know.

Speaker 5 (50:09):
Sometimes I'll just look at their desk and if something
really strikes me, I'll ask them, oh where did you
get this?

Speaker 4 (50:15):
And they'll just talk about it.

Speaker 5 (50:16):
And people love to talk about themselves for what I've
so every reason really easy to build that connection.

Speaker 1 (50:23):
Wow.

Speaker 4 (50:24):
And then last thing I'll say is never be never
really stopped.

Speaker 5 (50:28):
So it might help you get your first job, but
continue to build that network cause you never know where
I'll meet you.

Speaker 7 (50:36):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (50:38):
So next four Jessica and her money we have.

Speaker 1 (50:42):
What resources would you recommend to young women or so
extent careers? I think it depends on the industry you're in.
It definitely changes as far as resources, So I'm gonna
just speak industry.

Speaker 6 (51:01):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (51:01):
I think just go will be able to share some
more stuff.

Speaker 1 (51:03):
But for me also networking, I think relationships are the
biggest component.

Speaker 2 (51:08):
People will support you just cause they like you, just
because they like you.

Speaker 1 (51:12):
You can be self, you might not even be the best,
but because they like you, they're gonna support you. So
building relationships is really important. Join communities even on social media,
like on Facebook, there's groups like for women in in
s different stem fields that you can join on social media.
If you don't if you're not uncomfortable going out in
in networking in person, you may have social anxiety or something,

(51:33):
you can join things virtually. There's so many webinars, free
webinars that you can join in that you can meet
people in network, find them on LinkedIn afterwards and just
send a message, so if you it doesn't have to
be in person. In person, it's obviously great because you
get to see the person's face, but definitely just take
advantage of like other resources online as well. There's also
a lot of free classes, free courses. We've talked about

(51:55):
YouTube University, you have you to Me, you have Horsera,
there's so many other on my programs.

Speaker 2 (52:01):
If you're not sure which dargs you.

Speaker 1 (52:03):
Wanna go into, you can buy a twelve dollars course
to start getting introduced to certain fills and see like,
oh okay, like I do like where that this is going,
and then continue from there. So yeah, just joining different groups,
joining different local like nessie for example, that's an organization
you can join.

Speaker 2 (52:22):
Women in Construction is what I'm part of. There's lead
of groups.

Speaker 1 (52:25):
There's so many groups to join that you can be
a part of and that do events like this all
the time. Women in Technology, There's there's a lot of things.
So just continue to network.

Speaker 2 (52:35):
And just join groups.

Speaker 1 (52:37):
If you can't just find, like, okay, a networking event.

Speaker 2 (52:40):
If you join the groups, they'll get you connected. Google
to be honest, I just Google.

Speaker 8 (52:51):
You know, stem resources you're just for today, right, and
so many things popped up that I never.

Speaker 2 (52:58):
Even heard of but are so easily accessible.

Speaker 8 (53:02):
When resources are out there, you just have to take
that initiative and go find it. I will say a
lot of uh, let's say for this area, or say
if you live in Texas or something.

Speaker 2 (53:14):
If you have a major engineering school, a STEMIs school,
a lot.

Speaker 8 (53:19):
Of the times they will have programs for students and
you know, kids in that area to get ahead and
just learn more about that.

Speaker 11 (53:29):
So you can just reach out and google Jordan Tech.

Speaker 2 (53:33):
I'm sure they have some some things.

Speaker 8 (53:36):
And then also if you have four or five hundred
companies or whatever company that you're trying to aspire to
work for and you know that that's in your area,
they a lot.

Speaker 2 (53:47):
Of times will also have volunteering events or set up
some sort of you know, professional.

Speaker 8 (53:55):
Development or kind of like an info verse old of
like what they do, and you can get connected through them.

Speaker 11 (54:04):
There's a lot of just very informal, lady that events
that are free.

Speaker 8 (54:13):
So as long as you are just you know, open
to researching and talking to people, you've got you know
seven or seven six, you're set on the bus side,
You've already put in your connection and you can reach
out to one of us and I want people.

Speaker 1 (54:32):
It's also want to add if you have any young cousins, siblings,
children and grandchildren and feces whatever Georgia te specifically has,
and then they do it every year they do on
a STEM fair and it's like I think it's it's
like a month longer maybe even longer, and it's free,
and it's a different classes, different courses, different programs, different

(54:56):
like activities that that you can do and agree with.
Case like a lot of us on getting that inspiration
at a young age, so IVI take them to those
situations as well and to those opportunities, and you can
network while you're there.

Speaker 2 (55:09):
A lot of them are students, a lot of them
are former alumni that come back and bring their kids,
so you never know who you made me.

Speaker 1 (55:16):
And it's also exposing the children to those experiences and
allowing them to see the different types of STEM opportunities.

Speaker 2 (55:24):
That they have as well. And it's very like hands
on interactive. So I just want to look that out.
That's some next production. Natalie. This is our last question
we have.

Speaker 1 (55:33):
What advice would you give to young women thinking about
majoring in a still field.

Speaker 2 (55:38):
Yeah I didn't.

Speaker 6 (55:40):
We all talked about networking so much, but it's because
it's so important.

Speaker 2 (55:45):
I you know, I I'm way pr happy.

Speaker 6 (55:47):
I think you had to set the networking never ends.
And I think that's something very important to keep in mind.
Started as early as.

Speaker 2 (55:53):
You can and make like just have that mindset it
never and so just continuously through that.

Speaker 6 (55:59):
And I think just you were saying, never limit yourself
to just you know, one function, but try and kind
of get out of there and get an idea of
different disciplines, different functions, different industries.

Speaker 2 (56:09):
Right, just really understand what's out there because you never know.

Speaker 6 (56:13):
You might like something now, but upon hearing about, you know,
another field, you might be drawn to that it might
choose to pursue something in that.

Speaker 2 (56:21):
So I would say definitely networking.

Speaker 6 (56:23):
And then secondly is ask be curious and ask questions,
right because I think what I think we all naturally
kind of do this, like at an early age, like
kids always ask.

Speaker 2 (56:35):
Like why is this guy blue?

Speaker 1 (56:36):
Or like why is this?

Speaker 2 (56:37):
Why is that?

Speaker 6 (56:38):
But it's so important to encourage that because that is
the start that being curious at that early age is
what it leads us to, like really to innovative work
later down the line. So I think just if you
have you know, relatives, younger relatives, or if you are
yourself or asking a lot of these questions. Don't stop
yourself from doing that. I keep on asking questions because

(57:02):
that is you when you ask those questions, and a
lot of the times you'll realize that the answers don't exist.

Speaker 2 (57:07):
Well, maybe you will find those solution, Maybe you will
find the answer.

Speaker 6 (57:10):
Right. So I think, just always be curious, ask questions,
and make sure you grow your network as much as
you can.

Speaker 3 (57:17):
So I would say, like we've stated before, seek how
a mentor, always bring your authenticity. And I would s
also say if you do fail, it's okay, get back up,
try again.

Speaker 2 (57:35):
You do not have to be the smartest person.

Speaker 3 (57:37):
You have to have the drive and you're in charge
of your career, your journey. Believe in yourself and you'll
find your way.

Speaker 2 (57:48):
So you got this awesome. Thank you and thank you
all for being on the panel today. Thank you to
everywhere for coming and joining this event. I really appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (57:57):
And uh, I appreciate your time on this weekend. And
so for the filming, we will stop in a moment.
We just want to say thank you for watching.

Speaker 2 (58:05):
Nope, don't stop yet.

Speaker 1 (58:06):
We're gonna all wait bye, Like subscribe, comment and each
of these ladies will have their individual episode Coast It soon.

Speaker 2 (58:12):
Afy, it's this upcoming week. We had actual lesting, so
tune in and we'll see you next time. Okay, we're
gonna wait for the camera and do Thank you all
for watching. All thanks and with Ashley. This was our
International Women's Day event in Atlanta.

Speaker 1 (58:29):
I want to say a special shout out to all
the panelis for sharing their wisdom, their knowledge, and thank
you for their time.

Speaker 2 (58:34):
Thank you for our setup crew with yon Ley and Ovdy.

Speaker 1 (58:37):
We appreciate everyone's support and the men that support us
in Allies and STEM.

Speaker 2 (58:41):
Thank you for watching. Make sure you like, subscribe and comment.
Bye dum Due

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