ENGINEERING A DIFFERENT PATH: Katie Hubert

By -

Katherine Hubert Small.jpeg The lessons we learn in college don’t always come from our classes and professors; oftentimes it’s the people we meet and the organizations we partake in that shape the way we think and act after college. Katie Hubert, a 2005 Industrial Engineering graduate, proves not only that there is no “typical” engineer, but also that furthering the causes taken to heart during college don’t end when a diploma is received.

As the author of oneSTEMforall.com, Katie writes about the subtle and not-so-subtle nuisances found in the engineering workforce. Her articles range from topics dealing with being a woman engineer in a male-dominated career, why mentorships can go sour, imposter syndrome, and more. But it’s more than just in her online life that she exhibits traits separate from the “typical engineering mold”.
When asked what makes her unique in her field, Katie wrote “I would say what might make me not a typical engineer is that I love meeting new people and working with people. I am most energized when working directly with people on the floor or working on teams.”
Thus far in her career, Katie has varied her work experience; immediately after graduation, she worked for a consulting firm--utilizing her skills with people and commitment to making the right decision, from there, Katie worked as as Industrial Engineer for Avon and then for Kroger, a path she didn’t seem coming.
Katie writes that she never saw herself “working for a grocery store! One thing that you realize about engineering is that you can really go anywhere and do anything you want. There are engineers that work as traditional engineers, but there are lots of companies that hire engineers for other roles because of their ability to problem solve.”
However, retrospectively, Katie offers advice that any college student could use: take the classes the interest you, expand your skillset in ways that interest you and not necessarily what could interest an employer.
“Although you are focused on getting your engineering degree, [college] is a great time to take classes outside of engineering that can make you a more well-rounded person, or just explore a topic that interests you – whether that is communication, psychology, history – whatever!  You will never again have such open access to a world class faculty from which to learn new things!” Katie encourages.
All in all, Katie exemplifies traits that all engineers, female or not, can relate to. “My motivation to be an engineer centers around two things – people and processes.  I want to make people’s lives better.  I want to create processes that make people’s jobs easier and help them be happier.”

Stay tuned for more blogs on different paths through engineering!
Stay Connected with Purdue WIEP!
Twitter: @PurdueWIEP
Instagram: @PurdueWIEP
Blog: purduewiep.blogspot.com
Facebook: Purdue Women in Engineering

Purdue Women in Engineering


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Purdue Housing

By -
Image
One of the many concerns incoming freshmen have is what to do regarding their housing options. In addition to the roommate selection process, you may be interested in seeing your on-campus options in terms of amenities and the communities available within the building. For example, when I accepted my admission to Purdue as a freshman, I knew I was interested in a standard double that I had experienced at a summer college program. To ensure my University Residences housing, I applied to Vertically Integrated Projects so that I would be able to pursue a research project as a freshman while also guaranteeing my housing within Earhart Hall through the connected learning community. For more information on learning communities, read our previous blog! Many freshmen will live in a residence hall, even if they are not in a specific learning community. Now, as a Resident Assistant or RA in Earhart Hall, I have been trained on the term “residence hall”; our halls go beyond a traditional “dormito
Read more

A very (sub)objective review of dining options at Purdue

By -
Image
Jenn and her friends after the Thankgiving dinner Food is an integral part of our day. For some people, the very first thing they do in the morning is eat breakfast. I personally prefer my cup of coffee to a stack of waffles. Nonetheless, food has the power to pick up a bad mood, enhance a good mood, and even ease the stress you are feeling about exams and homework. The awareness I have of how food impacts my mood is recently found since I started college in August. at home I usually came home to my mom or dad making something delicious in the crockpot. Suddenly I arrive at college and there are so many options that it can get overwhelming at times to figure out what to eat. Navigating the dining options at college did not seem like something I should have been worried about, yet it was something that took a month of experimenting to perfect.  The key is knowing where to go and what is consistent. I decided to help you out and give you some insight into how I view each dining option on
Read more

Top 10 Extracurriculars Purdue Students Want You to Join Outside of Engineering

By -
Image
1. Purdue University Dance Marathon (PUDM):  The biggest student-run organization on campus! You can join as a dancer, where you get to fundraise leading up to the 18-hour long event or be even more involved and join a committee! Some of the committees include Riley Relations, where you fundraise to sponsor events for the Riley families throughout the year & are paired with a Riley family for the night of the event, Special Events Committee, where you organize 5K’s and other events around campus throughout the year, and so much more! 2. Boiler Gold Rush (BGR):  Whether it be as a new student, a team leader (TL), or even a Supervisor, there are so many ways to get involved with BGR! This week-long event is held the week before classes start in August. As a new student, it is your first chance to meet your new colleagues and participate in many games, fountain runs, and other fun activities throughout the week. It is also a great way to familiarize yourself with the campus an
Read more