What does Empowering Women mean to you?
Empowering Women means clearing a path or paving a way for others to be successful even if you were not given the same opportunities. I am invested in reshaping the future of work so that equal opportunity is no longer a dream, but a reality.
How did you get started working in your field?
Starting out, I didn't have any connections in my field of work, so I had to go the traditional route and do a TON of interviewing and networking to land my first job (and subsequent positions after that).
What do you love most about your job? / What are you most proud of?
I love that my job takes on many facets and has an impact on so many different aspects of the company, such as training and process improvement, and even drilling down to altering the underpinnings of a company's culture. I also love the human element that comes into play when you are an Industrial and Systems Engineer. People are at the center of every system you design or improve, and working with front-line workers to managers to executives to solve problems is an incredibly rewarding experience.
What advice would you give to someone considering this line of work? Rejection can and will happen, even if you have all the data and facts to back your improvement initiative. It can be debilitating at times, especially when you put your heart and soul into your work. Learning to recognize and handle bias, bounce back from rejection, and continually improve things you have control over (like yourself) are essential in this line of work.
Anything else you would like to add?
I've been fortunate to have incredible professional mentors throughout my career, and it has shown me how important it is to have someone who teaches, encourages, and celebrates you. I am a firm believer in paying it forward, and empowering others will always be at the core of everything I do.
Connect with Casey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-spansel/