INTERVIEW WITH 2 WOMEN IN STEM
Ashley McKinney, Senior Director of Marketing, Sagetech Avionics.
Q: Tell me more about you?
A: I graduated California State University East Bay with a degree in Mass Communications and an emphasis in Advertising. I started my career in San Francisco, CA working for fortune 500 companies but eventually made my niche in developing startup organizations marketing playbooks. My work spans across technology, aerospace, lifestyle publications and social enterprise industries.
Q: What do you like about the drone industry and/or your role?
A: It is an emerging industry, still being defined, and I get to be a part of this moment. How cool is that? Drones will have a significant impact on our way of life, like the internet did when the world wide web emerged. This stage in the game is very exciting and I’m learning so much!
Q: What would you recommend to a young woman student entering your field?
Get comfortable with the uncomfortable, because staying agile and flexible is very much needed to achieve success in marketing.
Q: What lessons and experiences can you share as a female in a male dominated industry?
A: You are hired for a reason. Speak up, share your thoughts, and create a collaborative environment that will bring people together. No matter male, female, or non-binary, people want to work for and with a winning team. Be that winning team! If you focus on this, your career will take you far. Passion and drive are key ingredients; however, listening to others and knowing what you don’t know, is just as important. Always be learning.
Q: Over the years, have you encountered any barriers to your success or growth as a female leader?
A: Of course. There is always someone in the room that thinks they are smarter than you. They question your decisions; they throw wrenches in your plans. They disrupt the meetings. But guess what? If your strategy is solid, then feel confident in your way forward. If you start to question yourself, then be glad that someone found the gapping hole that you did not. I used to get upset by people who posed these barriers, but now I welcome it!
Q: What are some strategies that can help women achieve the success they want in their workplaces in male-dominated roles or industries?
A: Being able to bring people along on your journey, buy in to your ideas, and learn, requires you to be a strong communicator. Written, verbal, and visual communication is key. I’m a big advocate of Toastmasters! But also working for the right organization and leadership carries more importance. When you take a position, you should really be thinking about saying “yes” to the team. Roles evolve and change, but do you have the right people in your corner that will enable you to be successful? That is of most importance.
Q: How do you unplug from work?
A: A little reality television and a pour of Blue Run Whiskey goes a long way!
Megan McCormick, Software Engineer
LinkedIn profile
Q: Tell me more about you?
A: I have a MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Oregon State University (The same place I got my BS). I have no industry work experience before Sagetech however, while in college I was an instructor, a lead researcher, and the Teaching Assistant manager. These roles and others gave me work experience that I translated to my job here at Sagetech
Q: What do you like about the drone industry and/or your role?
A: There’s always something new to learn. The coolest part of this job is creating/developing something that doesn’t exist yet.
Q: What would you recommend to a young woman student entering your field?
A: Be yourself, don’t let society/others define what an engineer is for you. By choosing this field YOU are an engineer. Continue to have a passion for learning, building, creating, and more.
Q: What lessons and experiences can you share as a female in a male dominated industry?
A: Seek out others like yourself. It is common to start in this field being the only female engineer but there are plenty of other female engineers in this world, you are not alone. Most colleges have a SWE (Society of Women Engineers) Club that you can join. Attend the Grace Hopper Conference and learn about the amazing female engineering accomplishments that are happening this year as well as meet others in your field. Reach out to others, if you are comfortable, become a leader that others in your community can look up to, if not try to make connections, invite other engineers to a study group/form a study group, etc.
Q: Over the years, have you encountered any barriers to your success or growth as a female leader?
A: Yes, I believe every female engineer does. However, I can’t say there is one occurrence of this that really stuck out to me. There will always be people who say you can’t do it or say you aren’t a real engineer because you’re female, but your worth is more than your gender. Never be afraid to break those barriers and thrive in what you do.
Q: What are some strategies that can help women achieve the success they want in their workplaces in male-dominated roles or industries?
A: Never be afraid to ask for help, there is always help. Don’t feel like you need to back down. If you feel strongly about something speak up. Do your homework and make a good case. Someone won’t listen? Seek out a moderator, ask for other opinions. The quote “Have courage and be kind” always resonates with me. Be kind and mindful about those around you and often they will do the same. Teams work better when the members trust and respect eachother. Have the courage to disagree, to speak up about a problem, to jump into a project that you don’t know much about.
Q: How do you unplug from work?
A: I have a lot of hobbies. I love playing video games, creating art, singing, playing the violin, and hiking. Most of my free time is spent sewing, creating either clothes or elaborate costumes. I like to integrate my engineering side into those costumes by adding electronics to them.
