I’ve been an engineer for over 30 years and worked at Cummins for over nine. I was ready to retire in the summer of 2019 and go explore the U.K. with my husband. We had it all planned out, but then I met Kendra Eads, New Power’s Americas and Europe Engineer Lead. She knocked on that figurative door I was about to walk out of and told me about the newly acquired battery team located in Milton Keynes, U.K. – right where we planned to live – and how they could use my expertise.
Every company change I’ve made was for a life change, and each change contributed to my personal growth. The opportunity to bring my expertise to New Power was life giving me another great opportunity for growth. Who was I to ignore this new and exciting opportunity?
So, I put off retirement and joined New Power. My husband and I lived in Milton Keynes (MK) for four months (pre-Covid), and I met the whole MK team. The assignment allowed me to build working relationships – much stronger than virtual – with the battery team. I learned about batteries, and they learned about Cummins tools and 7-Step problem-solving. It was a fabulous experience, and I had loads of fun! I even learned to drive on the left side of the road!
We returned to Columbus in January 2020 where I continued with New Power Reliability and assisted with launching Cummins' first battery system.
To every woman wanting to be an engineer or work in STEM – GO FOR IT!
I have seen a space shuttle launch and land – in person, not just on TV. I’ve witnessed computers go from hand calculations to room-sized machines to fits-in-your-purse-sized devices. The world has evolved immensely, and businesses have evolved from individual offices to cubicles to open seating to work-from-home. With all this evolution, demographics in each career field have become more diverse.
When I went to college, the female engineering population was minute; today the percentage is approximately 18-20%. We still have a long way to go to get that number higher, but it’s a clear indication that engineering is no longer just a “man’s world.” STEM is certainly no longer just a “man’s world.”
There are plenty of opportunities for you to join in the fun. You just have to say “yes” and go for it.