Carol Smith
Interview Posted By: Ashley Smith
1. Can you tell us a little about your background? i.e. Where you grew up, what education do you have, a summary of your resume, did you always want to do what you are doing now, when did you start to become interested in STEM, what internships/ volunteering
I was born and raised in Vallejo, CA (San Francisco bay area) and attended the University of Stockton CA, graduating in 1986 with a BSEE. I started working for UL shortly after I graduated (Santa Clara, CA) and transferred to the Northbrook facility shortly after I married. I had now idea I wanted to do what I do now, but I enjoy my job, I respect what UL stands for and am very thankful to have been with the company for so many years. My love in high school was biology (although I enjoyed ready and writing) but back in the early 1980’s engineering was the way to go. I started out as a computer engineer major, but changed to electrical after completing a semester. I have not pursued a master’s or an MBA, but I plan on getting my PE license this year (passed the EIT back in 1987, it’s a goal I’ve been putting off way too long) and would like to go back to school in the next few years. I honestly don’t know much about STEM, but I believe in giving back, I’ve tutored young people in low income areas, I tutored in college, I speak to new tour groups and train new hires, mentor young women at UL, etc. I would love to see things turn around in the next 20 years so that the engineering workforce is more gender balanced.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I’m classified as a compliance engineer or certification engineer. UL LLC is an independent third party test lab. We certify electrical products, performance materials, and other stuff to nationally recognized standards. For example, the power supply you use to charge the battery in your lab top is UL Listed (and certified by many other agencies to IEC/EN/UL 60950, the Standard for Information Technology Equipment. The standard outlines construction, performance, marking and documentation requirements. I evaluate the construction, review markings/documentation and design a test program to confirm compliance. Today, I met with an engineer in our fire protection division to get a quote on smoke testing for a condensation sensor that needs plenum ratings (intended to be installed in an air handling duct). I send out quotes to customers which includes estimated cost, turnaround time, sample requirement, test program, etc. I answer technical questions and interpret how to apply requirements outlined in the standard. I also deliver public seminars. From time to time I setup and run my own tests (yesterday I spent more time than I would have liked with software and hardware engineer on the phone getting help trying to program their controller so we could have it operate under worse case conditions until temperatures stabilized. So…..problem solving, negotiation, communicating, learning, research, reading writing ….one in a while a get to design a test fixture, trouble shoot or repair…but not very often!
3. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Yes, absolutely, but not in a way that would discourage me or make me regret selecting engineering for a career. I deal with it by remembering who I am and who is ultimately in control. Also, you can’t internalize what comes at you from less than favorable people. You just wait or go elsewhere, learn to recognize those who are supportive and encouraging and you be the same way. My best advice is to stand solid on your own two feet, don’t let them rattle you. You can always think more clearly and learn better when you are calm, relaxed and solid.
4. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
Best part – never a dull moment, great people, opportunities to try different things, being exposed to new technology and great people at UL and other companies all over the world
Worst part – Time spent completing tasks that don’t directly support the bottom line, but that are necessary to get done what you need to get done. Not always getting the amount of fruit for your labor that you would get if everything was aligned just right.
5. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
As a young mother I was told by someone my age that “motherhood never gets easy, it just becomes a different kind of hard”. The work life balance is still a challenge even though my sons are not young adults, out on their own, but I was so thankful for this advice. It helped me not to set unreasonable expectations, and to face each challenge everyday as it came, knowing that “this too shall pass.”
I was born and raised in Vallejo, CA (San Francisco bay area) and attended the University of Stockton CA, graduating in 1986 with a BSEE. I started working for UL shortly after I graduated (Santa Clara, CA) and transferred to the Northbrook facility shortly after I married. I had now idea I wanted to do what I do now, but I enjoy my job, I respect what UL stands for and am very thankful to have been with the company for so many years. My love in high school was biology (although I enjoyed ready and writing) but back in the early 1980’s engineering was the way to go. I started out as a computer engineer major, but changed to electrical after completing a semester. I have not pursued a master’s or an MBA, but I plan on getting my PE license this year (passed the EIT back in 1987, it’s a goal I’ve been putting off way too long) and would like to go back to school in the next few years. I honestly don’t know much about STEM, but I believe in giving back, I’ve tutored young people in low income areas, I tutored in college, I speak to new tour groups and train new hires, mentor young women at UL, etc. I would love to see things turn around in the next 20 years so that the engineering workforce is more gender balanced.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I’m classified as a compliance engineer or certification engineer. UL LLC is an independent third party test lab. We certify electrical products, performance materials, and other stuff to nationally recognized standards. For example, the power supply you use to charge the battery in your lab top is UL Listed (and certified by many other agencies to IEC/EN/UL 60950, the Standard for Information Technology Equipment. The standard outlines construction, performance, marking and documentation requirements. I evaluate the construction, review markings/documentation and design a test program to confirm compliance. Today, I met with an engineer in our fire protection division to get a quote on smoke testing for a condensation sensor that needs plenum ratings (intended to be installed in an air handling duct). I send out quotes to customers which includes estimated cost, turnaround time, sample requirement, test program, etc. I answer technical questions and interpret how to apply requirements outlined in the standard. I also deliver public seminars. From time to time I setup and run my own tests (yesterday I spent more time than I would have liked with software and hardware engineer on the phone getting help trying to program their controller so we could have it operate under worse case conditions until temperatures stabilized. So…..problem solving, negotiation, communicating, learning, research, reading writing ….one in a while a get to design a test fixture, trouble shoot or repair…but not very often!
3. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Yes, absolutely, but not in a way that would discourage me or make me regret selecting engineering for a career. I deal with it by remembering who I am and who is ultimately in control. Also, you can’t internalize what comes at you from less than favorable people. You just wait or go elsewhere, learn to recognize those who are supportive and encouraging and you be the same way. My best advice is to stand solid on your own two feet, don’t let them rattle you. You can always think more clearly and learn better when you are calm, relaxed and solid.
4. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
Best part – never a dull moment, great people, opportunities to try different things, being exposed to new technology and great people at UL and other companies all over the world
Worst part – Time spent completing tasks that don’t directly support the bottom line, but that are necessary to get done what you need to get done. Not always getting the amount of fruit for your labor that you would get if everything was aligned just right.
5. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
As a young mother I was told by someone my age that “motherhood never gets easy, it just becomes a different kind of hard”. The work life balance is still a challenge even though my sons are not young adults, out on their own, but I was so thankful for this advice. It helped me not to set unreasonable expectations, and to face each challenge everyday as it came, knowing that “this too shall pass.”
