Linda Ziemnick
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 Michigan. We moved all over the state, as my Dad was a State Police Officer and in order for him to get promoted, that was a requirement. I have 3 degrees. I have an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, a BS Degree in Business Administration (Industrial Management) and a Master’s Degree in Education and I am a certified teacher in the state of IL. I am currently not teaching, but plan to within the next few years.
I started my career as a technician working for General Motors and then I came to UL. I have worked as a Project Handler, Auditor and now as a Quality Engineering Manager. I guess I have always been curious as to what makes things work and how they are put together. I remember as a child taking my bike apart and putting it back together.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I am a Quality Engineering Manager and I work For UL LLC. I have 10 auditors who report to me. We audit UL Customer Laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025 (A Testing and Calibration Provider Standard) who perform testing used by UL to make certification decisions. I am responsible for the fulfillment of these audits and for program policy and audit fulfillment.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?
How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job? My team performs audits to quality standards. I myself have worked as a test technician and I have also audited for many years. I would use STEM skills on a daily basis at the beginning and I still use them when technical issues arise.
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?
Yes, early on in the 1980’s there were very few female engineers at UL or at most engineering companies for that matter. I believe as early females engineers we had to prove ourselves more than our males counterparts. The good news is that things have evolved and we have made great strides in leveling the playing field, but we still have a ways to go.
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?
I manage people and that is the hardest part. I have to adhere to corporate policies that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I have to support them with my employees. I wish I had more influence over my team in regards to salaries and bonuses. I inherited my staff and it’s interesting how their salaries vary and they do similar work.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
I struggle with this, I think sometimes work wins out. I feel like I am on call 24 hours a day and I have a hard time putting my phone down. I try to block out certain times of the day when I’m home and I don’t pick up my phone unless it rings. No checking e-mail.
7. What do you define success as?
Making a positive difference in the lives of others.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Flexibility, things are changing at warp speed and you have to be able to keep up with the changes and not fight them.
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?
One of my managers, Mike Caruso. He is about to retire, but he was one of the best managers I have had in my career. His goal was to help me grow as a person and push me to the point where he knew I would develop new skills, yet not fall off the cliff.
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?
We have to work for a long time and you should find a career that makes you happy and challenges you. It’s okay to change mid-stream as we grow and our interests change.
I grew up in Michigan. We moved all over the state, as my Dad was a State Police Officer and in order for him to get promoted, that was a requirement. I have 3 degrees. I have an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, a BS Degree in Business Administration (Industrial Management) and a Master’s Degree in Education and I am a certified teacher in the state of IL. I am currently not teaching, but plan to within the next few years.
I started my career as a technician working for General Motors and then I came to UL. I have worked as a Project Handler, Auditor and now as a Quality Engineering Manager. I guess I have always been curious as to what makes things work and how they are put together. I remember as a child taking my bike apart and putting it back together.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I am a Quality Engineering Manager and I work For UL LLC. I have 10 auditors who report to me. We audit UL Customer Laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025 (A Testing and Calibration Provider Standard) who perform testing used by UL to make certification decisions. I am responsible for the fulfillment of these audits and for program policy and audit fulfillment.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?
How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job? My team performs audits to quality standards. I myself have worked as a test technician and I have also audited for many years. I would use STEM skills on a daily basis at the beginning and I still use them when technical issues arise.
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?
Yes, early on in the 1980’s there were very few female engineers at UL or at most engineering companies for that matter. I believe as early females engineers we had to prove ourselves more than our males counterparts. The good news is that things have evolved and we have made great strides in leveling the playing field, but we still have a ways to go.
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?
I manage people and that is the hardest part. I have to adhere to corporate policies that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I have to support them with my employees. I wish I had more influence over my team in regards to salaries and bonuses. I inherited my staff and it’s interesting how their salaries vary and they do similar work.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
I struggle with this, I think sometimes work wins out. I feel like I am on call 24 hours a day and I have a hard time putting my phone down. I try to block out certain times of the day when I’m home and I don’t pick up my phone unless it rings. No checking e-mail.
7. What do you define success as?
Making a positive difference in the lives of others.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Flexibility, things are changing at warp speed and you have to be able to keep up with the changes and not fight them.
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?
One of my managers, Mike Caruso. He is about to retire, but he was one of the best managers I have had in my career. His goal was to help me grow as a person and push me to the point where he knew I would develop new skills, yet not fall off the cliff.
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?
We have to work for a long time and you should find a career that makes you happy and challenges you. It’s okay to change mid-stream as we grow and our interests change.
