Emerson Exchange 365

Every woman who pursues a STEM degree has been in the following situation: Someone asks you, “What are you studying?” Likely, you answer their question with the technical degree you are pursuing. As a senior at Baylor University, my answer to this is, “Mechanical Engineering.” Their eyes widen a little as they smile and say, “Woah! That’s not very common, is it? Good for you!”

I will never forget a moment when I was sitting around a table with six other girls in STEM majors. We had some computer science majors, electrical engineering majors, and mechanical engineering majors discussing this interaction that we all seem to face on a weekly basis, at least. One student made a comment that the reaction of astonishment when one hears we are pursuing a technical degree is insulting. She claimed, “Why is that so surprising to people? Don’t they know that women are perfectly capable in these fields?”

I sat and listened to my five friends go back and forth about the disrespectful nature of acting impressed by a female in a STEM major when a male in a similar situation would not cause so much perplexity. After a few minutes, I finally built up the courage to give my opposing opinion. “Well… I feel like a unicorn in this major and unicorns are cool.” They looked at me like I was insane. I can’t say I can blame them after making such an eloquent comment comparing us to mythical creatures. I continued, “What if being a female in STEM is a good thing for us? Maybe it is a relatively new thing for society, but I don’t find it insulting when somebody seems impressed by my degree choice. It makes me feel special! It’s okay to be a little different.”

The blank stares didn’t stop.  They soon shot down my opinion, claiming it is wrong for us to be treated any differently than our male counterparts. Perhaps my unicorn remark was off the beaten path, but I still stand by it. I do not think we should be treated differently as intellects and professionals. We deserve just as much respect as anyone else in technical fields, but somebody being impressed with our pursuits is not intended to be an insult. It’s a compliment. The fact of the matter is that women in STEM are different; we’re women. There is nothing wrong with that. We bring a new perspective to the work force and a valuable one.  A positive outlook simply makes that perspective more powerful and inspiring.

My STEM story began in modern-day suburbia, North Dallas. What I wanted to be when I grew up changed so frequently it was hard to keep track. I wanted to be a veterinarian, then a racecar driver, then a pilot, then a doctor. The list went on and on. Finally, in my junior year of high school, my physics teacher mentioned to me that I seemed to have a knack for math and science. He suggested that I pursue an engineering degree. Something about that resonated with me. I had never even thought about becoming an engineer, but the more I research I did, the more it stuck. An engineering degree would give me the flexibility to be just about anything I wanted. How had I never thought about this before my junior year of high school? It was perfect. I heard it would be a difficult pursuit, but anything worth having will be hard to obtain.

In the fall of 2013, I began my quest for the most valuable piece of paper I would ever own, my engineering degree. Freshman year felt like drinking from a fire hose of information. Sophomore year was very similar, but this is the year that I began getting involved with the Baylor Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. This was one of the best decisions I made during my college career. Sophomore year was also interesting, because I had to have a bone surgery on my left foot in December. I spent the majority of the spring semester on crutches and in this silly looking boot. I relearned how to walk that semester; it was more of an awkward limp at the time, but I was proud of my progress.

Just as I was beginning to be able to get around at an almost normal pace, the girls in SWE invited me to join them at the Region C SWE Conference in Austin, Texas. I didn’t know it at the time, but my life changed when I went to that conference.  I went to networking events, professional development sessions, a career fair, and a tour of Emerson in my silly little boot. I met so many inspiring people; they told me of their experiences within STEM fields and showered me with words of wisdom. I loved it. My favorite people that I met were the women in pink vests. They worked for Emerson. (Surprise!)

When talking to Jennifer Martinson  and Nina Golder, I felt like I was talking to my friends. I had been to career fairs before, but I had never felt like I personally connected with the recruiters. I saw that there was something special about Emerson, so I pursued an internship within their company. After the conference I researched the company, emailed everyone I knew, and asked tons of questions. One day I received an email from Brian Atkinson informing me that the internship application had been posted. I dropped everything I was doing and applied right then. Soon I drove from Waco to Austin for an interview with Brian Atkinson and Nikki Bishop; I connected with them just as much as the people at the SWE conference. The next thing I know, I am walking around outside while on the phone with Pete Sharpe and I hear him say “We can’t wait for you to join us!”

It took every ounce of my being to not scream with excitement! I did do a little dance though; the other students walking around didn’t seem to mind.

That May, I joined the Industry Solutions Group within Emerson Process Management. My manager, Brian Atkinson, and my mentor, Nikki Bishop, became some of the most influential people for my career and life. The summer of 2015 was a season of growth! I met so many amazing people, worked on so many different projects, and learned so many new things. One of the most important lessons I learned was how to embrace who I was as a professional.

The people of Emerson taught me this by serving as mentors and role models for me every day. Brian told me before my internship began and throughout my tenure to, “Just be awesome.” As simply stated as this was, it was impactful. Nikki showed me what a successful work-life balance means for a woman in STEM.  I’ll never forget when Tinh Phan  told me I was going to grow up to be just like Nikki - I had to hold back the tears of joy! All of the professionals that I met during my internship with Emerson were simultaneously talented and unique. I learned that a team needs diversity in order to thrive, and embracing your individuality is the only way to bring that to the table and benefit your team.

There are general suggestions for how to behave professionally, but the strict rule book that I had previously been operating under no longer applied. Here are a few “professional tips” that I was given in the past; I follow each of them with a bit of advice based on my personal experiences:

1.     “Lower your voice when speaking in an interview to appear more masculine.”

There is nothing wrong with the way that you speak, and pretending to be more masculine is not going to open any doors for you. Be who you are so that you wind up where you belong.

2.     “Pants are more professional than dresses or skirts.”

Dressing modestly and dressing to fit a mold are two different things. You should wear what makes your feel comfortable and confident. If that is a dress, then go for it.

3.     “Do not behave in a girly manner."

When this point was said to me, it seemed to be equating girly with immature and ditsy. I choose to believe that suggestion was intended to say that you behave maturely and demonstrate your competence.

4.     “Don’t wear bright colors- nobody will take you seriously.”

This is false. I agree that wearing neon yellow to a career fair doesn’t display maturity, but there is a difference between wearing a bright color and an obnoxious color. If you have a bold personality, let that show.

After my summer with Emerson, I noticed a change in my confidence. I no longer felt uncomfortable in situations with professionals, because I didnt feel bound by the metaphorical rule book on how to handle them. It was as if something inside me clicked, and I finally realized that it was possible for me to be myself AND be “professional” at the same time.

I took my newly-found personal confidence with me to a STEM Career Fair that Fall. I believed in my own technical competence and ability to communicate effectively. The recruiters of Chevron Phillips Chemical company saw this in me too and soon awarded me an internship opportunity for the Summer of 2016. I accepted.

Working within Chevron Phillips was another fulfilling experience that presented new challenges that allowed me to utilize my strengths and gain new skills. I learned a lot about the company and the culture within it, just as I did with Emerson the year before. While the cultures I observed within the two companies were fundamentally different, I discovered that I was capable of thriving within both. This wasn’t due to fitting a specific mold. Instead, being an individual was what made me a valuable part of both teams I worked within. I believe that is true for all of us.

My advice to all the women pursuing a STEM degree (or ANY degree) and/or looking for a job is to embrace who you are. Being a robot will not make potential employers take you more seriously. Companies are seeking to diversify, so it is good to be different. You want to show who you truly are and what you can do. This can also help you ensure you will work for a company who’s culture is a good fit for you.

Emerson has a culture of innovation. I noticed this during my internship in the Summer of 2015, and I believe that this culture is upheld due to the diversity of the people working there. I did not meet one person there who did not strike me as unique and interesting. A diverse organization has access to a wider spectrum of ideas which paves the way for innovation like nothing else can. With that in mind, let me ask you what is so bad about being a unicorn after all?