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Where the light is brightest, the shadows are deepest. My career has been blessed to see more good days than bad ones, but I haven’t been immune to the ugly side of inclusion. I’m sharing this example below with hopes that we can all adjust our lenses to #embRACE our differences, whether it be race, age, gender or educational background. This 3D rendering is the production line that I helped to design and it’s also where I meet my first diversity challenge. I had to go deep into the archives for this story but in my first engineering job, I experienced a situation in where production was halted to due to having quality issues. The superintendent requested that I adjust the parameters to overcome the problem.  Even though I was a young engineer, my ethics would not allow me not be dishonest in changing my calculated specifications.  He said he’d give me 15 mins “to get my (expletive) machines working”. I wasn’t upset because I was more focused on the problem not his ignorance. I had planned months for the startup of the new products … I had done my calculations even did cross reference checks. Twenty minutes later he came back and this time with a vengeance, “if you don’t change the (expletive) parameters I’m gonna run your (expletive) out of this plant … these new engineers don’t know what the hell they’re doing, what school did you come from anyway?” He said much more but I think you get the point. I felt angry, disrespected, embarrassed, and confused but what hurt the most was all of the operators and some of my colleagues were there to witness me being dehumanized. I told him that he could do whatever he wanted to with his production line but if he wanted subpar settings then he’d have to find another engineer because I was not going leave there until I found the root cause. Five minutes later my manager and advocate comes on the scene and asked if I had it under control and he encouraged me to take as long as I needed. I told him about the condescending comments, and he said don’t worry about it I got your back. Long story short, my mentor and I investigated the failures over the next hour and discovered that the design engineer made a typo in the bill of materials. If not addressed, the failures could have caused millions of dollars in warranty losses. I learned a valuable lesson that day, trust your gut and fight through the layers of diversity challenges no matter what obstacles are thrown in your way.

In God we trust, all others must bring data - W. Edwards Deming I recently posted a survey on LinkedIn regarding the replacement of two identical pumps. The question is below with more details, but the intent of exercise was to get everyone to look at problem solving with a strategic lens. Question: Which pump would you replace (LinkedIn survey)? Pump #1 - Six failures in two years, $6 million of downtime Pump #2 - Eight failures in two years, $8 million of downtime Without further ado, the answer is Neither. Whomp, Whomp. Sorry, it was a trick question ... but I won't leave everyone hanging. Pump #2 has a much higher financial impact than the other pump, so the simple solution would be replacing that pump. 74% of the survey participants selected this answer, however, how would you know if the return on your investment is justified? The second pump has more failures and the highest lost revenue, but if you approach this challenge with a reliability mindset, then your intuition would lead you towards asking for more data. At its core, equipment reliability is R(t) = e-λt, where λ is the failure rate and t is the period of time over which reliability is measured. The key variables are failure rate and time. It can be deceiving but averaging failures over time does not tell the whole story. A more statistical method is needed to capture the true reliability profile. Methods like cumulative failure plots, Crow-AMSAA reliability growth models, etc., provide a normalized distribution of failure data. Here's the other side of the story that was missing from the problem statement: Pump #1 has sustained more failures in recent years than from the beginning of the study, hence over time, the initial Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) is larger than the final MTBF (figure A). With this failure rate, if you extrapolate out for two years, then the final number of failures within this study is 59 (figure B). Pump #2 has a lower MTBF initially but a change within this system has driven an increase in reliability performance (figure C). Maybe the team started applying preventive predictive maintenance (PPM) or they improved how they operate the pump or the craftsmen received more training. We don't know exactly what changed but when you extrapolate the data out for two years, the final number of failures is 10 vs 59 from Pump #1 (figure B). That's $10 million vs. $59 million of lost revenue!! Now I ask the question again (with more data), which pump would you replace if you only had funding for one pump? Pump #1 !!! In conclusion, reliability analytics is one of the core fundamentals of improving our equipment strategies which ultimately improves our system performance. It enables us to shift from basic to precision decision making and it accentuates the voice of the equipment. As reliability practitioners, all we have to do is LISTEN. *all data used in this exercise is fictitious and was only assembled to be used as a basis for the explanation of reliability principles.

One Friday afternoon my manager comes into my office and mentions that on Monday the Site Maintenance Director will be coming to the building to do a meet and greet session. He asked me to be prepared to discuss everything that I had done so far that led to value creation. His request totally blindsided me! I was not prepared to talk about my projects yet alone share the value that they would create! I was terrified because even though I had made some great progress, I hadn’t formally documented anything. I spent the entire weekend putting together a summary of all of my projects and included the potential $ value. This was the highest-ranking Maintenance Leader for the entire division and as I’ve learned, you only have one shot to make a great first impression. Fast forward to Monday, the Director came into my office, and we made small talk for a few moments. He eventually asked me about the things that I was working on. I generally spoke about the first project but quickly transitioned to my presentation. I prepared more than he had expected, and he was surprised that I actually developed a detailed summary of my projects and their associated value opportunity. Needless to say, I KILLED it! I learned a valuable lesson that week, always be prepared to share your value. Ever since that experience I keep a portfolio of every project I’ve created value on. It’s easier to update it once every several months then it is to get caught off guard. Here's an example:

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About Bea Mendez-Gandica Bea Mendez-Gandica works on a team that focuses on usage billing data at Microsoft. Usage billing tracks the number of resources that a third party uses in the Microsoft cloud. This helps determine a customer’s bill on monthly basis. As a result, Bea’s efforts allow Microsoft to charge customers based on their use of Azure resources with minimal impact to developers building the Azure offerings. She helps make the current technologies she works on more efficient and compliant. Furthermore, it is important to Mendez-Gandica that all students have an opportunity to learn about technology and STEM. Consequently, she started the Nuevo Foundation to help students from underrepresented groups become STEM leaders. Interested educators should contact the Nuevo Foundation to schedule a STEM expert virtual speaker session for their classroom. Mendez-Gandica grew up in Venezuela, studied in Germany, China, and India. She says: “Be proud of who you are and where you come from. Remember that is what makes you truly unique!” What lessons have you learned in your STEM journey? Be a learn it all versus a know it all! Remain curious, there are so many things to learn throughout your career. Give back and start doing so early on. What has been a critical factor in your success? My family, friends, and mentor support have been critical. But also believing in myself. What advice do you have for students and young professionals in STEM? Find your passion and try it; by trying things you can make sure if you like that specific thing or not. For me, it has been staying curious and trying new things. Currently, I am learning about Data as my background is in Security.

About Aisha Lawrey STEM advocate, Aisha Lawrey, has 25 years of experience on this journey. Working in industry, government, nonprofits, and education she knows how to engage many different stakeholders, at all levels. Her focus is on increasing the number of women and minorities in engineering. Aisha currently works for AWS (Amazon Web Services), as the Training & Certification Global Lead for Education Programs, AMER (North, Central, and South America). Her role represents all the Education Programs spanning K-12, higher education, and professional skilling, reskilling, and upskilling learners. The goal is to show multiple pathways to learners that lead to professionals joining the cloud workforce. Prior to joining AWS, Aisha worked at the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), Inc. as the Senior Director, Programs and Scholarships. She was responsible for planning, directing and executing all scholarships and program activities. She was also the Director of Engineering Education with the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME). She directed and guided the work of ASME in helping to shape the future of mechanical engineering and engineering technology. Aisha obtained a Master of Public Policy and Administration from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. A New Jersey native, Aisha now resides in Maryland with her husband and 14-year-old twins. What lessons have you learned in your STEM journey? There are many life lessons and skills I learned in the STEM subjects. These have been helpful to my personal and professional development. Performance Character traits such as grit, creativity, and curiosity are also important lessons I have learned in engineering. These apply to the other fields of study as well. As an engineering student, I explored more about my curiosity and about how the world works. This has helped me find simple ways to teach engineering concepts to young scholars through hands-on projects. Like I have experienced, as kids become more familiar with engineering, it becomes less intimidating and more inspiring for creative potential. I have learned that I am just as good as everyone else. It has made my skin tougher because I have had many challenges along the way, being the only woman or minority in many spaces. One big lesson is that the world is full of endless opportunities in this field. You can do whatever you want with this degree. Engineering can jump into any other career field but other careers can't just jump into engineering. What has been a critical factor in your success? Keep Your Eyes On the Prize. A critical factor in my success has been focusing on the main goal of increasing the percentages of women and minorities in engineering. This goal has been my motivation to keep pushing when I'm tired or feel defeated. Doing that has absolutely contributed to my success making them the focus. For both women and minorities, academic and social support is critical. Although I didn't have role models that looked like me, I had support from my family and friends in STEM. I want to be that critical factor of success for the next generation of STEM stars. Network Your Way To Success. I have definitely networked my way to success. It's what you know and who you know. When answering this question last year, I emphasized the importance of busting the math myth; a myth in which excelling in math was a prerequisite to pursuing a career in STEM. While this sentiment still rings true, I want to emphasize the importance of networking. Fostering meaningful relationships for your professional career is necessary to enter and succeed in a STEM field. Networking can be as simple as participating in school clubs, signing up for tech newsletters, going to your professor’s office hours, or even hanging out after the meeting is over to socialize with colleagues. What advice do you have for students and young professionals in STEM? Get Comfortable Feeling Uncomfortable. My advice for students (women and minorities) wanting to enter the STEM field would be to not be afraid to get uncomfortable. Oftentimes, you may find opportunities that you think you can’t do, but the truth is that you really can. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable and try things you’ve never done before, because you never know, it might turn out that you actually like it. Push Past Stereotypes. Choosing to follow a path less traveled by those of your demographic will always be a difficult decision. Even more challenging, however, is sticking to that path as you’re continually faced with the actions and opinions of those who are implicitly biased towards maintaining a particular status quo. My best advice here is to succeed in the face of this opposition with as much grandeur as possible. Recognize that there exists in some, this internal bias but refuse to let it corrode your sense of self-worth and limit what you think yourself capable of. Bring to the table your unique perspective and hard-earned talents and no one can reasonably refuse you a seat. Or you can always just start showing up with your own seat too.

About Danielle Robertson Dr. Danielle Robertson is an internationally recognized vision scientist and clinician. Now an Associate Professor, she has spent the last 15 years of her career ascending the ranks at the UT Southwestern Medical Center as the only woman investigator in the Department of Ophthalmology. From her experiences, she knows firsthand how important it is to promote young girls and women to enter into science and healthcare fields. Dr. Robertson received her Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State University. She holds a Doctorate in Optometry and a PhD in Physiological Optics and Vision Center from the University of Houston. She received her first NIH grant approximately 10 years younger than the average first time grant recipient and is the only optometrist in the country to have ever received a prestigious Career Development Award from Research to Prevent Blindness. She writes and lectures extensively on multiple topics that pertain to eye health including diabetes, autoimmune diseases, dry eye, and contact lens-related eye infections. Dr. Robertson, her husband, and son live in Dallas. She loves watching her son play sports and spending time at home on the lake. What lessons have you learned in your STEM journey? One of the most important lessons I learned on my STEM journey is the significance of perseverance. You have to work hard and stick with it throughout the ups and downs. There is some truth in the quote “90% of success is just showing up”. I think it is also important for those beginning their STEM journey to know that it can be tough and stressful at times, but always make sure to carve out time for yourself. Particularly as women, we play a lot of roles. Our physical and emotional well-being is essential for our success in each one. What has been a critical factor in your success? Mentorship. I have been fortunate to have had good mentors who saw my potential and encouraged me. I always try and pay that forward with my own trainees. I want to see all of my trainees succeed and know I had a hand in shaping their life. It is a great feeling. What advice do you have for students and young professionals in STEM? Never let someone tell you that you can’t do it and don’t be afraid to push yourself to try, even if you may fail. Failure is just a stepping stone on the pathway to success.

About Wendy Bohon Wendy Bohon is a geologist who studies earthquakes and works to improve the communication of hazard and risk before, during and after rapid onset geologic hazards. She has worked on many tectonics related projects in her career, including the B4 LiDAR project in Southern California, climate and tectonics studies in Northwestern Argentina, GPS deployment projects in Bolivia, thrust fault studies in Argentina and the tectonic evolution of the southwestern margin of the Tibetan Plateau in India. Her research interests include geomorphology, paleoseismology, landscape evolution, geologic hazards communication and geoscience education. She is currently the geologist and Senior Science Communication Specialist for the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology. Wendy has served on the Executive Leadership Board of 500 Women Scientists and is the author of the blog “Twinning at Motherhood“. She is also the founder of the social media managing and consulting company SpaceFace Social Media. She lives in MD with her husband, daughter, twin boys and a menagerie of animals. What lessons have you learned in your STEM journey? One of the things that I've learned on my STEM journey is that I can and should bring my whole self to my science. Who I am as a person - a mother, an actress, an advocate, a nature lover - all of those things influence the way I see the world and the questions that I ask, and science is fundamentally about asking questions. What has been a critical factor in your success? A critical factor to my success has been my support system. From the beginning I've had friends, colleagues and family members who believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. Seeing myself through their eyes helped me to stay focused and grounded and push through the hard parts and the self-doubt. What advice do you have for students and young professionals in STEM? One piece of advice for people just starting out in STEM is to think broadly about what you want out of your life; not what others expect of you or what you think you should be but what YOU want. Once you know what you want you just need to figure out how to get there. AND, it's ok to change course along the way! Nothing that we learn is ever wasted, so it's ok if your path is winding.

About Olivia Castellini Dr. Olivia Castellini knows how to make science fun. A physicist by training, she creates award winning exhibits and experiences at the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) in Chicago, making science and cutting –edge research accessible and engaging for all. Olivia excels at translating complex topics into relatable experiences on everything from nanotechnology and math to music and sports. She was part of the core creative team behind Science Storms, MSI's 26,000sq.ft. exhibition about the amazing science which underlies natural phenomena. She holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a B.A. in music and physics from DePauw University. In addition to her science career, Olivia is an accomplished musician, model, athlete and actor. What lessons have you learned in your STEM journey? You have to have grit. Science is hard, but it is rewarding. You have to have the courage to try, the humility to fail, the openness to learning from your experiences and the audacity to try again. What has been a critical factor in your success? Having strong female mentors through every step of my education, from high school through my postdoc. I didn’t appreciate how rare that was until I was past my formal education and working in informal science education. In my career, I have the opportunity to interface with many students of all ages and those conversations always highlight for me how rare my experience was. I was lucky to female role models to not only support my education, but to mentor me and help me navigate being a woman in a field that typically lacks diversity. I hope through the work I do and the example I am setting that the next generation of STEM pioneers doesn’t have rely on luck. What advice do you have for students and young professionals in STEM? Pursue everything that interests you. You never know what opportunities you might have because of it. By exploring your own interests – whatever they are or how disparate they may seem – you will learn what you’re passionate about and build a diverse skill set that will position you well when the right opportunity comes your way.

About Afua Bruce Afua Bruce is a leading public interest technologist who has spent her career working at the intersection of technology, policy, and society. Her work has spanned the government, non-profit, private, and academic sectors, as she has held senior science and technology positions at the White House, the FBI, IBM, and a couple of nonprofits. As a AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador, Afua engages in efforts to excite girls to consider STEM careers; she has partnered with GoldieBlox, appeared on CBS's Mission Unstoppable TV show. Afua has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, as well as an MBA, and is currently a Technology and Public Purpose fellow in the Harvard Kennedy School. Her newest book, The Tech That Comes Next: How changemakers, technologists, and philanthropists can build an equitable world, describes how technology can advance equity. What lessons have you learned in your STEM journey? First lesson is: Perseverance is key. STEM requires a lot of trial and error. You may question if you can figure things out -- or others may make you question yourself. But keep working hard, and just don't quit, and you'll be able to find your way in STEM. Second lesson is: Have fun! There are so many areas of STEM to discover and explore! Just because you don't like one thing doesn't mean you won't like anything in STEM. And, if you have multiple interests, that's fine too! You may be able to do something new by combining your multiple interests What has been a critical factor in your success? My willingness to try new things. Many of the things I studied, or even the jobs that I had, were new to me and I didn't necessarily even have examples of what success looked like. I took deep breaths, tried new things, and worked hard. What advice do you have for students and young professionals in STEM? Find -- and listen to -- mentors! You don't have to have everything figured out all by yourself. Find people who can encourage you and who will be honest with you about your development. Also remember that mentors may or may not look like you; you can learn from people in a variety of positions and from a variety of backgrounds.

About Joyonna Gamble-George With over twenty years of experience discovering cures for the most common health diseases and disorders, Joyonna Gamble-George is an internationally acclaimed scientist. She has traveled the globe sharing her research approaches to medicine with diverse audiences, including Nobel Prize winners. Joyonna has been granted membership in seven (7) honorary societies and is the recipient of over 30 awards for her leadership, philanthropy, and dedication to science while fostering diversity. During her doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University, she co-founded SciX, LLC, a biotech company searching for methods to combat brain disorders and other health issues. Her business acumen was honored with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Tampa Bay Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award. Joyonna holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biology with Honors in Mathematics from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master of Health Administration from the University of South Florida College of Public Health, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. She enjoys drawing, painting, writing poetry, and playing the alto sax and piano. What lessons have you learned in your STEM journey? I am the first one in my family to pursue an education and career in STEM. Most of my family members are working or have worked in other fields such as education, law, or administration. As a result, I did not have any role models in my family to guide me along my STEM journey. Also, as a woman of color, I have many times experienced being the “only one.” This has been the case when I majored in or worked as a researcher in a STEM discipline. The absence of Black/African American mentors, who worked in the biomedical sciences, was a tremendous challenge; often a concerned hand can make the difference in understanding an environment and give you clues regarding the invisible important work components. There is an apparent gap between male and female roles and a disparity of ethnic or racial minorities in STEM fields; I have endured social isolation, and limited access to resources and opportunities that could help me advance my STEM career goals. There have been times when I did not receive proper scientific credit for work I completed on research projects, and there have been not so subtle microaggressions. My experiences have been challenging since people at times do not accept me, even with my educational credentials, talent, and skills as a scientist, because they have assumptions and preconceived stereotypes about how they believe a scientist should look. That is why it is so very important to have and see representation of women, especially women of color, in STEM-related media and the workforce because it helps to dismantle the preconceived notions and ideas people may have of who is a scientist looks; seeing and working with examples of female excellence in STEM is vital. When faced with a challenge, there seems to be this innate human inclination to just learn to avoid conflict and its potential repercussions. This practice often leads to mental and physical fatigue. When we do this, we cut ourselves off from the possibilities that await us to be amazed by. Rather than shut down completely from the challenging experiences like the ones I have endured, I have learned to not dwell on them or let them deter me from my aspirations in life. I turn that negative energy into positive energy and continue to pursue my career path because I know who I am, I am proud of who I am, and I know I have what it takes to be a great scientist. There is a purpose for all parts of our STEM journey. When we worry about “why is this happening to me” and “why is this happening at this point in time,” it minimizes our ability to find the true meaning. For me, the reason was to keep pushing forward to be a living, breathing example of black, female excellence in STEM. By doing so, I can contribute to STEM learning and work environments by enriching its diversity of thought and experience and making the future STEM communities representative of our diverse nation. Future generations that aspire to pursue a STEM education and career as a scientist will look to me one day for guidance and view me as a role model or potential mentor when they are facing similar adversity. What has been a critical factor in your success? There are two critical factors that contributed to my success as a scientist. One is my upbringing. As a child, I either wanted to become a professional artist, medical illustrator, a physician, or a scientist. My grandmother helped me determine that becoming a scientist was a part of my destiny. My grandmother, Mrs. Menda Gamble Pettway, raised me on a farm in rural Alabama; she was a retired elementary school teacher and business owner of my grandparent’s grocery store called the Pettway’s Place for over 50 years. Grandma Menda was also a voting rights activist and a registered voter, prior to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; she participated in numerous marches, including the Selma to Montgomery march, to help register African American voters without harassment and discrimination based on race. As a child, I remember going door to door with her to help homebound and socioeconomically disadvantaged African Americans exercise their constitutional right to vote. Grandma Menda’s activism taught me the importance of community service and how it can help an individual build character, find a new passion, and promote personal growth and a sense of accomplishment. Because of my Grandmother, I saw how scientific discovery could be seen as a form of humanitarianism, especially when it is used to save lives by creating cures for common diseases that affect people worldwide. The other critical factor is my crowning scientific achievement. I attended the 64th Lindau Nobel Laureate (Physiology or Medicine) meeting in Lindau, Germany after being selected as one of 600 young researchers on a multi-step competitive basis from approximately 20,000 applicants worldwide to attend this meeting. I was the first African American woman selected to represent Vanderbilt University School of Medicine at this meeting. During this meeting, I had the opportunity to network and meet with Nobel Laureates to discuss future research approaches to medicine. The highlight of the meeting was talking to Dr. Elizabeth H. Blackburn, who won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery of how telomeres protect chromosomes from being broken down. She told me and a few other young female researchers from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds that our selection to attend the meeting signified that we were “going to do extraordinary things” in science or medicine. Her encouraging words helped to see that I belonged in a STEM career even though many professionals in STEM did not look like me. I always look back on these two critical factors to help maintain my resolve and motivation as I pursue a career as a scientist. What advice do you have for students and young professionals in STEM? I have found the following advice helpful and hopefully students and young professionals in STEM will find them helpful: Tip #1: Appreciate Your Skills and Abilities and Think Outside of the Box. In high school, my art teacher, nicknamed Froggie, would tell us to always try to be different and unique when it came to creating a piece of art. This advice has been quite helpful in my research because sometimes you must think outside of the box when it comes to understanding how biological processes in the human brain and the rest of our bodies work, especially when you want to develop a cure to treat them. Tip #2: Know, Claim, and Own Your Worth. Do not settle for less in your life and know what you deserve in life, especially with regards to your STEM career. Do not give away your power or inner joy to others but aim for your dreams in STEM despite the odds that encounter. Lastly, be a living, breathing example of excellence in STEM. Future generations that aspire to pursue a STEM education and career will look to you one day for guidance and view you as a role model or potential mentor. Tip #3: Don’t Allow Negativity of People’s Actions or Words Deter You from Your Dreams. When you let people’s actions or events that you face in life defer your dreams, you are denying yourself the opportunity to see whether your dreams become a reality and how they can help you in your pursuit to become a STEM professional. Always strive to live the life you want to live, to pursue the dreams and career path you want to achieve, and to never give up on YOU and your life-long aspirations regardless of the hardships you face. A quote that sums up this is, “Life is like a camera. Focus on what's important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives, and if things don't work out, take another shot.” Tip #4: Live Your Dreams. I would tell myself if I could go back in time to not allow fear, intimidation, stress, or uncertainty determine the steps you take during your pursuit to become a STEM professional. Learn to take risks and explore the endless opportunities that await you on your STEM journey. According to Harriet Tubman, who was an Underground Railroad conductor, American abolitionist, and activist in the women’s suffrage movement, “Every dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world,” especially if your dreams are to become an extraordinary scientist, technologist, engineer, or mathematician.