Knowles Corporation’s Post

I decided I wanted to be an aerospace engineer when I was just 13 years old while driving past LAX with my mom. From that moment, I never looked back. When I started my very first corporate aerospace job, it took 3 minutes to realize I was not ‘normal.’ My new boss welcomed me warmly. He mentioned there was a team meeting going on, and walked me down the hall to meet everyone. Turns out ‘everyone’ was 32 men. Some young, some old. Mostly white. All men. In my 16 years as a structural engineer, lead engineer, design manager, and senior manager, it was the first time in STEM I truly felt like the ‘other.’ Then, a thoughtless coworker told me that my career advancement goals held no value. He said, “Someday you will have a bad day and just quit to be home with your kids.” His comment broke me. For years, his belittling of my career aspirations sat right under my skin. His ignorant generalization of all working moms and his perception of their lack of commitment made me so angry, but for the life of me, I couldn’t articulate why. Despite (or maybe in spite of) his comment, my career flourished. I became a leader of leaders on major programs in the air and subsea. I began mentoring women, developing training programs for high-potential engineers, and did my first speaking engagement at a national conference. As I grew, I felt my passion shift from developing products to developing people, and yet I stayed. I was so afraid to let that man (who I can’t even remember the name of now) win. Today, I no longer allow ignorant biases to define me. I chose to grow past corporate engineering to open my own coaching business focused on supporting women and mothers in technical careers. This does not mean I lack aspiration. I’ll wager it might just take more aspiration. And writing and self-publishing a book about my journey as a STEM Mom took courage. And some might be inspired by my choice to do exactly what I love. Those are the people I want to connect with. By sharing our journeys, we can continue to make progress towards eliminating ignorant gender bias and outdated social norms together. Cassie. Cassie Leonard, MS, ICF-ACC

Celebrating Neurodiversity is a priority at the Northeastern University College of Engineering. Read more about the neurodiversity support pillars at Northeastern University and the neurodiversity academic and career initiatives spearheaded by the College of Engineering. https://ow.ly/V2XR50RinLs

Late post: "I had the privilege of speaking on 'Universal Human Values' as part of the induction program for the engineering batch of 2024-25. The session focused on key concepts such as inner evolution, understanding the natural world, interdependence, and fostering a sense of global citizenship. It was an enriching experience to engage with young minds at the start of their academic journey, exploring how these values can shape their personal and professional growth."

A sense of belonging can transform a student's learning experience, leading to greater engagement and active participation. To me, belonging means creating a space where a recently immigrated girl can share her culture with classmates, helping them understand her unique speech, dress, mannerisms, and food. It’s about embracing and celebrating each student’s unique story. 🔗Get more insights in our complimentary 'Inclusivity' Checklist: https://bit.ly/42q2UD8

🌍 Excited to have represented the ESD Interns at this year's ESAI Environ 2024 conference at SETU. 🌱 Environ, the 34th Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium, hosts some of the foremost environmental researchers in Ireland, and I'm honored to have had the opportunity to contribute to the dialogue on sustainable development alongside ESD Fellow John Gallagher. Everyone I spoke to in the past two days is researching something fantastically interesting and as one of the only undergraduate presenters, so many talented professionals gave me fantastic advice and guidance. Our poster, titled "Enacting Education for Sustainable Development in Trinity: a students-as-partners approach to incorporating Sustainability into the curriculum" received tremendous interest and engagement from attendees. This collaborative effort between Trinity College Dublin's interdisciplinary ESD team and student interns showcases the value of student-staff partnerships in driving meaningful change within educational frameworks. The poster highlights our journey in co-creating and beta-testing interactive workshops aimed at integrating sustainability into Trinity's curriculum. By leveraging students-as-partners approach, we aimed to make the curriculum more relevant and engaging for future learners. The feedback received during the beta-testing phase underscores the potential of this approach to not only enhance the curriculum but also foster professional and personal development among interns. It's heartening to see the impact of our efforts in generating valuable ESD resources to support TCD's ambitions while empowering interns to become leaders in sustainable development. As the demand for effective sustainable development curriculum continues to grow, it's essential to recognize the significance of student-staff collaborations in maximizing impact. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a transformative initiative and look forward to further contributions in the field of sustainability. #Environ2024 #ESAI #SETUWaterford #SustainableDevelopment #StudentLeadership #ESDInterns #TrinityCollegeDublin

How often, as a coach, have you been asked, "Can I pick your brains?" and found yourself agreeing without hesitation? This ingrained behaviour stems from society expecting women to always say yes, to be agreeable, polite and biddable. It's certainly what I was taught as a child. If you have primary school-aged children, you'll know how many requests you get for your time… Can you come in and read with the children? Can you help on this school trip? Can you run a stall at the summer fair? Fancy being a class rep? Often it’s put more on women to fulfil these roles. Yet times have changed and we work too! These patterns of behaviour often lead us into cycles of over-commitment, sidelining our ambitions and business goals in the process. I want to remind you that your time, needs, and expertise are invaluable. Every step you take toward asserting your boundaries and valuing your contributions is a step closer to the freedom and space you want. #WomenInBusiness #SelfCareForSuccess #WorkLifeBalance #HealthyBoundaries

How often, as a coach, have you been asked, "Can I pick your brains?" and found yourself agreeing without hesitation? This ingrained behaviour stems from society expecting women to always say yes, to be agreeable, polite and biddable. It's certainly what I was taught as a child. If you have primary school-aged children, you'll know how many requests you get for your time… Can you come in and read with the children? Can you help on this school trip? Can you run a stall at the summer fair? Fancy being a class rep? Often it’s put more on women to fulfil these roles. Yet times have changed and we work too! These patterns of behaviour often lead us into cycles of over-commitment, sidelining our ambitions and business goals in the process. I want to remind you that your time, needs, and expertise are invaluable. Every step you take toward asserting your boundaries and valuing your contributions is a step closer to the freedom and space you want. #WomenInBusiness #SelfCareForSuccess #WorkLifeBalance #HealthyBoundaries

Some scientists take a slightly different approach. They successfully choose their own path in the academic world. In “Het Loopbaanpad” we follow several of these inspiring colleagues who don’t conform to ‘traditional’ expectations, but instead, prefer the carve their own way. Listen to the stories of Corien Prins, Kenny Meesters, Ingemarie Sam MEd and Sander Bax 👉 Watch the video series and get inspired! https://lnkd.in/e3WenNj6 #RecognitionRewards

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of sharing my journey in an interview for British Science Week’s Smashing Stereotypes campaign. Throughout my journey with The Blair Project, I’ve seen firsthand the untapped potential in young people who, too often, are underestimated and overlooked. Nurturing talent isn’t just about providing opportunities - it’s about smashing the stereotypes that hold so many back from realising their full potential. It’s not enough to call for change. We must be the change. When I started my career, there was a clear need to disrupt the idea that motorsport, STEM, and engineering were only for certain types of people. It wasn’t easy, but breaking down these barriers has proven one thing: when we nurture talent in all its forms, the possibilities are endless. Every young person deserves the chance to develop their skills and confidence, regardless of their background. Whether it’s through innovative programmes like ProtoEV or our soon-to-launch hydrogen skills platform, we are committed to creating pathways that help people from all walks of life thrive in industries traditionally closed off to them. Talent is everywhere - opportunity, sadly, is not. It’s up to all of us to create an environment where the next generation can grow, innovate, and challenge the norms. Because real progress happens when we stop asking, “Who can do this?” and start asking, “Who needs the opportunity to try?” Are you actively nurturing the next generation of talent and breaking down barriers? What more can we do, collectively, to ensure diversity is celebrated, not overlooked? Let’s commit to making that change today. Link to the full article here - https://bit.ly/3zvVWCD British Science Association Marilyn Comrie Blair Henry THE BLACK UNITED REPRESENTATION NETWORK #BlackHistoryMonth #STEM #DiversityInTech #SmashingStereotypes #NurturingTalent #BeTheChange #FutureSkills

The diverse perspectives at Hofstra University have been one of the highlights of my Master’s in Marketing experience. Every class discussion is enriched by students from various backgrounds and experiences, sparking fresh ideas and challenging us to think in new ways. 🌍💡 This inclusive atmosphere has taught me the value of approaching problems from multiple angles and how diversity in thought can drive creativity and innovation in marketing. It’s an incredible feeling to learn in a space where every voice adds value! #DiversityAndInclusion #CreativeThinking #MarketingMasters #HofstraUniversity Li Huang