Jamie Krakover
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 grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and always had a strong interest in Math and Science. For a long time I wanted to be an astronaut, but as I got older I realized that wasn’t a viable career option for me. For a while after that I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, but ultimately decided that wasn’t for me either. It wasn’t until after my mom signed me up for a week long summer engineering program at Missouri S&T (formally University of Missouri Rolla) that I decided I wanted to be an engineer.
I attended Purdue University in the Fall of 2000 and there I took a class called Engineering 100 Every week a professor from each discipline of engineering came into to discuss what it was all about. It was there that I realized I could combine my love of space with engineering and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering.
Before my final semester at Purdue I interned at The Boeing Company as a strength engineer working on the KC-135 and some other small projects. After that I completed my Bachelor’s degree I came back to St. Louis and completed my Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at Washington University. From there, in 2006, I was hired on full time as a strength engineer at The Boeing Company in St. Louis to work in the research and development department.
After a few years at Boeing, I became actively involved in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). I honestly went kicking and screaming to my first conference in Long Beach wondering why anyone would want to hang out with a bunch of female engineers. That experience completely changed my perspective about women in engineering. There is power in being surrounded by so many strong, intelligent, accomplished women who have been through and are going through the same things you are. Since then I’ve become extremely active in SWE by networking with fellow engineers, developing career skills, and doing outreach with K-12 and college students. I really enjoy inspiring others to pursue STEM fields.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
As a strength engineer in research and development my job changes a lot because we are always trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology. This means I’ve gotten to work on a variety of amazing projects in my career. I’ve worked on future aircraft concepts, ways to make existing aircraft structure lighter and cheaper, developing new composite material systems, and analyzing test articles to predict when they might break to.
Currently I am moving into project management. I am leading a task involving additive manufacturing (3D printing) and also managing tasks to look at how to develop methods and tools to accelerate the certification and qualification of structural materials and parts.
My days can vary quite a bit depending on the current priorities, but in any given day I could be:
· interfacing with coworkers to make sure projects are moving forward and they don’t need help
· working with mentors to learn technical knowledge from them and get advice on hard problems
· attending meetings about project updates
· and of course doing technical work to support the number of projects I work on.
I do all of this while keeping an eye on my allotted budgets. And occasionally they let me go to the test lab to watch test articles break to see if my predictions are correct.
3. How does STEM relate to your job? How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
STEM is a huge part of my job. Everything from equations to theories that I learned in school, I use on the job. The critical thinking that I developed in school, as well as my ability to research and learn as I go are also important skills I use on a nearly daily basis. And while I may not go back and crunch numbers on a regularly, I do use those ideas to support how I think and analyze problems on the job.
4. 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?
I’d love to say that we have moved past those kinds of things, but unfortunately I’m really sad to say I have faced some discrimination and challenges in my career. I’ve had inappropriate comments and asides made about my gender out in the open as well as been witness to some unconscious biases in the workplace. They are by no means a daily occurrence but every once in while things come up.
I’d love to say I’ve dealt with these situations eloquently but honestly that’s not the case. In the past I’ve aired on the side of ignoring the comments. As I’ve progressed in my career, I’ve realized that ignoring the situation doesn’t make the problem go away. In addition, the person making the comments often doesn’t even realize what they’ve said is offensive. For anyone facing these kinds of issues, I recommend going into the situation with clear head. If you are angry walk away and try again later. And when you are calm, point out to the person that what they said upset you. Let them know that you hope in the future they will think about how their words and/or actions might affect others. It’s best to approach a person one on one so they don’t feel like you’ve made an example of them in public. If they seem to have issue with your response then seek out help from a manager or mentor.
It can be tough to have these conversations, but if you deal with them you can open eyes and change perspectives. I’m pleased to say things are changing and a bit more rapidly in more recent years, but there’s still some resistance to that change. I challenge everyone to look inwardly and think about the things we unconsciously assume about others. And if you find yourself disagreeing with someone about an issue involving diversity and you’re in the majority, it’s usually time to take a step back and listen to what they have to say. By understanding where others are coming from we can hopefully change perspectives one person at a time.
5. 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?
The best parts:
· When I finally solve a tough problem that I originally didn’t know how to begin to accomplish.
· Helping others learn and realize their potential, and inspiring others through my work in SWE and mentoring younger engineers.
· When they let me go into the test lab and break things. Seriously it’s the coolest thing ever!
The worst parts:
· The meetings. I have some many meetings talking about what we are going to do that sometimes I don’t actually have time to do the work. I usually end up multitasking quite a bit which can be good and bad.
· Being in a minority. In fairness this one fits under the best and the worst portions. Sometimes I look around and just want to talk to another woman. I love the guys club and I enjoy talking sports sometimes but other times I just want to talk to someone who understands where I’m coming from. That said, there are many pros to this as well, including the numerous doors that have been opened to me as a woman in engineering. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment when I show someone their notions about women in engineering were wrong. And being in the minority everyone usually knows your name, which means you tend to be a go to person.
The things I most look forward to on the job are synonymous with some of the best parts of my job. Waking up in the morning and being excited to tackle that tough problem. I also get excited to help others find their passion for engineering.
If I could change anything it would be that I wish more people were kinder, more open minded, and more accepting. But that’s more a consequence of our world in general than just STEM. I will say, the simple things like please and thank you go a long way.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
This can get tricky especially when your personal life gets hectic. The best way to deal with this is to make sure you set boundaries. Set general work hours for yourself, but also let it be known that you are willing to put in the occasional extra time if necessary. Being polite and a team player goes a long way.
The other big thing is learning to say no to some things, which is sometimes harder than you might think. But it’s also not just about saying no. It’s important to explain why you can’t do something. Also let whoever is asking know you are willing to help with other things in the future even though it didn’t work out this time. If you only say no, eventually people will stop asking and you’ll close yourself off to potential opportunities, but if you explain why then people will still come to you.
7. What do you define success as?
Oh wow this is such a tough question. I think for me success is working projects I enjoy and feeling like I am making a difference. It’s also continuing to learn and grow through more and more difficult assignments. And ultimately it’s inspiring and helping others to learn, grow, and reach their full potential as well.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Being proactive! It’s really important to get yourself out there, volunteer for things that interest you, get things done when they are asked of you, and let people know what you are interested in. Your coworkers and managers aren’t mind readers. If you don’t tell them what you need or ask for what you want, the answer will be no, 100% of the time. But if you speak up you are more likely to get those opportunities you are seeking. And honestly I’ve never been told no when I’ve asked for an opportunity or experience. It may take some time or some compromise to make it happen, but it does in some capacity. By being proactive, volunteering for things, showing initiative, and getting things done in a timely manner has opened up so many opportunities for me.
There’s also another element to being proactive and that is making sure you are included in those meetings, email lists, and servers that are important to the work you are doing. People have a lot on their plates and won’t remember everything you need access to, so make sure you have all the tools, meetings, emails, and resources you need to do your job well. Ask questions and make sure you understand what you are responsible for.
Being proactive is one of the most important things that can help you in your career and lead to interesting and unique opportunities.
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
I’ve had many mentors in my career. Several I’ve had for years, others I’ve outgrown and moved on for, but each served an important purpose. My current mentors are helping me advance my leadership and technical skills as well as navigate the career path that’s right for me. They are helping me find opportunities I need to grow in the areas I am interested in. Having mentors has allowed me to progress further in my career. The important thing to remember about mentors is not that you should have one, but that you should know why you have one. Great mentoring relationships are driven by the mentee and a need that the mentor can help fill.
10. 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?
Outside of being proactive, the greatest piece of advice I ever heard is “No one will ever care more about your career and your success than you.” You will have many mentors and managers that will be invested in your success, but at the end of the day, they will care more about their own careers before yours. So take ownership of your career, and go after the things you want.
The thing I would tell me younger self, is don’t be afraid to toot your own horn a bit. I’m not talking about being a braggart, but make sure you can clearly articulate your accomplishments and what those accomplishments have impacted. That can be everything from helping others, to saving money, time or weight, to developing new tools and ideas. The more you can quantify your accomplishments the better.
Be confident in what you’ve accomplished and express it using strong language. Did you just participate in something or were you leading, managing, or organizing an effort? If you were the main person working on a task then you led that effort, so make sure you own it. Leading although often about people management is also about taking ownership of the work you’ve done.
And the last piece of advice I can offer is, it’s okay to fail. I’ve learned far more from failed attempts than the things I got right immediately. Failure is an opportunity to learn and grow, to do better next time so you can succeed. And really the only time you truly fail is when you quit. Persistence pays off.
I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and always had a strong interest in Math and Science. For a long time I wanted to be an astronaut, but as I got older I realized that wasn’t a viable career option for me. For a while after that I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, but ultimately decided that wasn’t for me either. It wasn’t until after my mom signed me up for a week long summer engineering program at Missouri S&T (formally University of Missouri Rolla) that I decided I wanted to be an engineer.
I attended Purdue University in the Fall of 2000 and there I took a class called Engineering 100 Every week a professor from each discipline of engineering came into to discuss what it was all about. It was there that I realized I could combine my love of space with engineering and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering.
Before my final semester at Purdue I interned at The Boeing Company as a strength engineer working on the KC-135 and some other small projects. After that I completed my Bachelor’s degree I came back to St. Louis and completed my Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at Washington University. From there, in 2006, I was hired on full time as a strength engineer at The Boeing Company in St. Louis to work in the research and development department.
After a few years at Boeing, I became actively involved in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). I honestly went kicking and screaming to my first conference in Long Beach wondering why anyone would want to hang out with a bunch of female engineers. That experience completely changed my perspective about women in engineering. There is power in being surrounded by so many strong, intelligent, accomplished women who have been through and are going through the same things you are. Since then I’ve become extremely active in SWE by networking with fellow engineers, developing career skills, and doing outreach with K-12 and college students. I really enjoy inspiring others to pursue STEM fields.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
As a strength engineer in research and development my job changes a lot because we are always trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology. This means I’ve gotten to work on a variety of amazing projects in my career. I’ve worked on future aircraft concepts, ways to make existing aircraft structure lighter and cheaper, developing new composite material systems, and analyzing test articles to predict when they might break to.
Currently I am moving into project management. I am leading a task involving additive manufacturing (3D printing) and also managing tasks to look at how to develop methods and tools to accelerate the certification and qualification of structural materials and parts.
My days can vary quite a bit depending on the current priorities, but in any given day I could be:
· interfacing with coworkers to make sure projects are moving forward and they don’t need help
· working with mentors to learn technical knowledge from them and get advice on hard problems
· attending meetings about project updates
· and of course doing technical work to support the number of projects I work on.
I do all of this while keeping an eye on my allotted budgets. And occasionally they let me go to the test lab to watch test articles break to see if my predictions are correct.
3. How does STEM relate to your job? How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
STEM is a huge part of my job. Everything from equations to theories that I learned in school, I use on the job. The critical thinking that I developed in school, as well as my ability to research and learn as I go are also important skills I use on a nearly daily basis. And while I may not go back and crunch numbers on a regularly, I do use those ideas to support how I think and analyze problems on the job.
4. 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?
I’d love to say that we have moved past those kinds of things, but unfortunately I’m really sad to say I have faced some discrimination and challenges in my career. I’ve had inappropriate comments and asides made about my gender out in the open as well as been witness to some unconscious biases in the workplace. They are by no means a daily occurrence but every once in while things come up.
I’d love to say I’ve dealt with these situations eloquently but honestly that’s not the case. In the past I’ve aired on the side of ignoring the comments. As I’ve progressed in my career, I’ve realized that ignoring the situation doesn’t make the problem go away. In addition, the person making the comments often doesn’t even realize what they’ve said is offensive. For anyone facing these kinds of issues, I recommend going into the situation with clear head. If you are angry walk away and try again later. And when you are calm, point out to the person that what they said upset you. Let them know that you hope in the future they will think about how their words and/or actions might affect others. It’s best to approach a person one on one so they don’t feel like you’ve made an example of them in public. If they seem to have issue with your response then seek out help from a manager or mentor.
It can be tough to have these conversations, but if you deal with them you can open eyes and change perspectives. I’m pleased to say things are changing and a bit more rapidly in more recent years, but there’s still some resistance to that change. I challenge everyone to look inwardly and think about the things we unconsciously assume about others. And if you find yourself disagreeing with someone about an issue involving diversity and you’re in the majority, it’s usually time to take a step back and listen to what they have to say. By understanding where others are coming from we can hopefully change perspectives one person at a time.
5. 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?
The best parts:
· When I finally solve a tough problem that I originally didn’t know how to begin to accomplish.
· Helping others learn and realize their potential, and inspiring others through my work in SWE and mentoring younger engineers.
· When they let me go into the test lab and break things. Seriously it’s the coolest thing ever!
The worst parts:
· The meetings. I have some many meetings talking about what we are going to do that sometimes I don’t actually have time to do the work. I usually end up multitasking quite a bit which can be good and bad.
· Being in a minority. In fairness this one fits under the best and the worst portions. Sometimes I look around and just want to talk to another woman. I love the guys club and I enjoy talking sports sometimes but other times I just want to talk to someone who understands where I’m coming from. That said, there are many pros to this as well, including the numerous doors that have been opened to me as a woman in engineering. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment when I show someone their notions about women in engineering were wrong. And being in the minority everyone usually knows your name, which means you tend to be a go to person.
The things I most look forward to on the job are synonymous with some of the best parts of my job. Waking up in the morning and being excited to tackle that tough problem. I also get excited to help others find their passion for engineering.
If I could change anything it would be that I wish more people were kinder, more open minded, and more accepting. But that’s more a consequence of our world in general than just STEM. I will say, the simple things like please and thank you go a long way.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
This can get tricky especially when your personal life gets hectic. The best way to deal with this is to make sure you set boundaries. Set general work hours for yourself, but also let it be known that you are willing to put in the occasional extra time if necessary. Being polite and a team player goes a long way.
The other big thing is learning to say no to some things, which is sometimes harder than you might think. But it’s also not just about saying no. It’s important to explain why you can’t do something. Also let whoever is asking know you are willing to help with other things in the future even though it didn’t work out this time. If you only say no, eventually people will stop asking and you’ll close yourself off to potential opportunities, but if you explain why then people will still come to you.
7. What do you define success as?
Oh wow this is such a tough question. I think for me success is working projects I enjoy and feeling like I am making a difference. It’s also continuing to learn and grow through more and more difficult assignments. And ultimately it’s inspiring and helping others to learn, grow, and reach their full potential as well.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Being proactive! It’s really important to get yourself out there, volunteer for things that interest you, get things done when they are asked of you, and let people know what you are interested in. Your coworkers and managers aren’t mind readers. If you don’t tell them what you need or ask for what you want, the answer will be no, 100% of the time. But if you speak up you are more likely to get those opportunities you are seeking. And honestly I’ve never been told no when I’ve asked for an opportunity or experience. It may take some time or some compromise to make it happen, but it does in some capacity. By being proactive, volunteering for things, showing initiative, and getting things done in a timely manner has opened up so many opportunities for me.
There’s also another element to being proactive and that is making sure you are included in those meetings, email lists, and servers that are important to the work you are doing. People have a lot on their plates and won’t remember everything you need access to, so make sure you have all the tools, meetings, emails, and resources you need to do your job well. Ask questions and make sure you understand what you are responsible for.
Being proactive is one of the most important things that can help you in your career and lead to interesting and unique opportunities.
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
I’ve had many mentors in my career. Several I’ve had for years, others I’ve outgrown and moved on for, but each served an important purpose. My current mentors are helping me advance my leadership and technical skills as well as navigate the career path that’s right for me. They are helping me find opportunities I need to grow in the areas I am interested in. Having mentors has allowed me to progress further in my career. The important thing to remember about mentors is not that you should have one, but that you should know why you have one. Great mentoring relationships are driven by the mentee and a need that the mentor can help fill.
10. 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?
Outside of being proactive, the greatest piece of advice I ever heard is “No one will ever care more about your career and your success than you.” You will have many mentors and managers that will be invested in your success, but at the end of the day, they will care more about their own careers before yours. So take ownership of your career, and go after the things you want.
The thing I would tell me younger self, is don’t be afraid to toot your own horn a bit. I’m not talking about being a braggart, but make sure you can clearly articulate your accomplishments and what those accomplishments have impacted. That can be everything from helping others, to saving money, time or weight, to developing new tools and ideas. The more you can quantify your accomplishments the better.
Be confident in what you’ve accomplished and express it using strong language. Did you just participate in something or were you leading, managing, or organizing an effort? If you were the main person working on a task then you led that effort, so make sure you own it. Leading although often about people management is also about taking ownership of the work you’ve done.
And the last piece of advice I can offer is, it’s okay to fail. I’ve learned far more from failed attempts than the things I got right immediately. Failure is an opportunity to learn and grow, to do better next time so you can succeed. And really the only time you truly fail is when you quit. Persistence pays off.