QUESTION: What is your position at PHYTEC?
Applications Engineer. It is a bit different than a typical development engineering role. Most of my day is spent working with people to support integration of PHYTEC products into their design. It is a cool job as I get to see a new idea from concept, through development, and then brought to reality. I didn’t truly appreciate how much engineering, design, testing, and people come together to make devices we use every day until I worked at PHYTEC. I am very proud when I see a device on the bus, at the grocery store, or at the hospital that has a PHYTEC SOM on the inside.
QUESTION: What made you want to get into your field?
Technology facilitates solutions to complex problems. I really wanted to be a part of solving problems to better the world. Electrical Engineering, especially with an embedded systems focus, was a good fit for me because it a combines hardware and software. Knowing a bit of both has been helpful in being able to bring crazy ideas to life.
QUESTION: What is your favorite thing about being a woman?
The prerogative to have a little fun… being able to belt out that Shania Twain song.
QUESTION: What woman inspires you and why?
I am very lucky to have many people in my life (both men and women) that have paved the way and helped me become the person I am today. The person that inspires me the most is my mother. She leads by example with her strong work ethic, unmatched compassion for others, and supportive nurturing.
QUESTION: Are there any assumptions about women that you would like to change and why?
The representation of women in the Engineering field. I had assumed and was nervous that there would be few female engineers once I entered the workforce. I was pleasantly surprised about the make-up of our engineering team at PHYTEC. We have many strong female engineers at not only PHYTEC America, but at all PHYTEC global offices.
“We have many strong female engineers at not only PHYTEC America, but at all PHYTEC global offices.”
QUESTION: What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
The rate at which the world is changing. It will be hard to find balance between keeping up with technological advancement and every day life.
QUESTION: What advice would you give a woman who wants to enter the same field as you?
Be yourself. Stay true to yourself and find something that you enjoy for a career. If you like what you do, motivation and hard work will take you far.
