STEM Field of Dreams

In this episode of the podcast, Yoon Chung, a veteran in program management in the software engineering field, shares his journey on how he got into program management and the importance of communication in his role. He emphasizes the significance of being willing to ask questions and being vulnerable, especially at the beginning of one’s career. He shares a challenging situation he faced in his career and what he learned from it, including taking care of one’s physical and mental health and having a work-life balance. Yoon also gives advice to listeners starting their careers by encouraging them to travel the world, take care of themselves, and lead with optimism.

In this episode Michaela Long, a civil engineer at WSP, shares her journey of discovering her passion for water resources, integrating her love of math, and finding a sense of purpose in helping underdeveloped communities. One day she hopes to return to the Navajo Nation and help improve infrastructure and water resources for her community. Michaela encourages STEM students to take advantage of all available resources, including communication courses and internships, to become better engineers. She also highlights the importance of having a professional development plan to achieve personal and career goals. Finally, Michaela shares a challenging experience that taught her to always do her due diligence in checking her work.

In this episode Martine Stillman, Vice President of Engineering at Synapse Product Development, shares her two decades of experience in mechanical engineering and product development. Martine takes us on a journey from her humble beginnings in a small town to becoming a leader in innovative engineering solutions. Throughout the conversation, Martine shares insights into her diverse career, spanning from aerospace engineering to working on wearable health devices and large-scale installations for entertainment venues. She discusses her recent focus on sustainable design practices and carbon capture technologies, highlighting the importance of addressing environmental challenges in today’s engineering landscape. Martine reflects on the pivotal moments in her career, including her unconventional path to landing a job at Synapse through polite persistence and self-belief. She offers valuable advice on dealing with failure gracefully and shares a framework for navigating challenging professional situations with honesty and integrity. From her experiences, Martine emphasizes the significance of persistence, adaptability, and taking accountability, urging aspiring engineers and recent graduates to pursue opportunities beyond conventional job postings.