Written By: Audrey T
Thank You, IEEE
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is one of our biggest sponsors and a constant source of support for our team. It is thanks to them that we were offered this opportunity to attend one of the IEEE WIE (Women In Engineering) events. They even generously reduced the price of our participation to allow for as many people on the team as possible to attend. This was a wonderful event full of inspiration and connection, all made possible by the wonderful women who put it all together; we’d like to thank everyone involved in this conference; they have made an impact on many!
Constant Connection
The conference was structured in a way that allowed all attendees and speakers to be able to connect. After every two presentations, there would be a coffee break (with lunch provided in the middle of the day) that gave everyone a chance to get up and mingle. We found ourselves connecting with both speakers whose subjects we connected with and other attendees alike. Connections are one of, if not the most, valuable things you can have in an industry, so being provided with the opportunity to make them with some of the most accomplished women in their fields was incredible.
The Speakers
Every speaker who volunteered their time and energy to present at this event is a superhero in our minds. We got to see people from a wide variety of backgrounds and fields share their journeys, passions, and dreams, and help inspire a future generation of engineers. They taught everyone a lot about what it takes and the incredible things you can accomplish. Their speeches were helpful, and their passion was infectious, both to our teammates who wanted to go into engineering and those whose goals lay elsewhere.
Erin Ramirez
The first speaker up that day was Erin, who presented on engineering your future. Her presentation combined advice and storytelling, with a particularly memorable segment dedicated to the story of The Oak and The Willow. A main topic of her presentation was adaptability and how much that mattered to growing your future success in an ever-changing world. Being able to both unlearn old, outdated beliefs and remain flexible enough to allow in new ideas and perspectives is vital to success and, most importantly, growth.
Kimberly Kirkpatrick
Kimberly shared her story of her career in academic leadership. Her story is one with humble beginnings and continued growth and exploration. An interesting point raised in her presentation was the concept of the “leaky pipeline,” where the further you advance in a career field or higher education, the more women “leak from the pipeline.” Many factors are causing this leakage, and it can mainly be observed during transitional periods in advancement. She aims to keep women in the field and raise interest and confidence in young girls about pursuing an academic career.
Danielle Oscarson
After our first coffee break of the day, Danielle shared her findings on the equation of influence. She defined it as all the traits needed to lead an influential lifestyle/career. The equation she presented was: influence = (credibility x connection) + courage + clarity. All these traits were then explained with metaphors and real-world examples. Throughout her presentation, she offered chances for the audience to participate and connect the topics to their lived experiences. A part that we found most impactful was the segments where we were asked to talk to other attendees; this allowed us to gain a new perspective on the topics.
Emma Orfield Johnston
With one of the most unique presentations of the night, Emma opened a dialogue about a concept known as Perceptual Silence. This is a topic that they explore a lot with her work at her business, Orfield Laboratories, Inc., which she runs with her grandfather. Orfield Lab’s claim to fame is being the location of the “quietest place in the world,” with their anechoic chamber.
A large talking point was how human perception is unique to every one of us and how they factor that into product design and testing, using different methods of engagement to see how the consumer reacts to the product/experience. She invited everyone to think differently and focus on how they perceive the world around them in all its sensory glory.
Jean Sage
Jean’s presentation was very career-focused. She shared her story of moving up to her current position and the challenges she faced. A large part of those challenges was taking the next step forward and the moments that matter in shaping your career. Something in her presentation that felt very important for us to hear was about the importance of finding both mentors and sponsors in the industry. Making connections and building relationships can often be overlooked in favor of acquiring more on-paper accomplishments.
Both are very important, but balancing them is what you really need to do to succeed. Another big part was finding confidence and taking your seat at the table. This applies a lot to all the women in their fields, as we often have less certainty when it comes to putting ourselves forward.
Jalonda Combs
Jalonda’s presentation really connected with many of our teammates. On her walk through her journey, she shared how life experiences and role models shape your future ambitions and career goals. Throughout her presentation, her passion and drive were clear, and it was impossible to listen to without getting inspired to go out and make a difference. The primary way she works to make change is through her organization, OIC of America. They work to bring STEM opportunities to those who wouldn’t otherwise have access.
This cause aligns with our team’s values and gives us more energy than ever to put behind our outreach operations. OIC offers training, exploration, and most importantly, a reminder that STEM is for everyone and nobody should be forgotten or left out.
Janine Kamath
She had just traveled a long way back to Minnesota from a previous presentation in Houston. Janine came prepared and excited to talk with us. She presented on human action, courage, curiosity, focus, and humanity. These core values are what can carry people far in life. Her speech drew upon quotes and speeches of others, showcasing that humanity will always inspire one another. She talked about not just falling in love with your field, but putting in the effort to stay in love.
Her closing remarks left us with a mission: to do the least we can. She told us to do little things with great love. No matter how small, an impact is still an impact. Something insignificant to us can make a big difference in someone else’s day or even life.
Monica Swanson, Abir Chermiti, and Lei Feng
The presentation portion of the event ended with a panel on entrepreneurship from three influential women in the industry. They shared their experiences working their way through the industry and opened the floor to questions at the end. Their discussion touched on challenges, failures that shaped their journey, and much more! It was a great way to wrap up the event and allowed three distinct perspectives to shine and engage in a dialogue.
Our Takeaways
Our team learned a lot from this event. We all left feeling more confident in our futures, whatever direction we choose to go. Everyone at this event was incredibly welcoming and ensured we were included. We were treated as peers rather than high schoolers, allowing us to have productive conversations and really connect. Overall, we are so thankful to everyone involved and couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
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