Engineers in Leadership Program

       Due to the pandemic, my EIL experience looks a little different than the other classes. My rotation in Singapore was relocated to Sidney, OH- quite the difference! I was still able to explore a culture outside of my comfort zone: the Midwest! Through both of my rotations, I got to interact with multiple functions within the business and how they all interact to keep the company successful. I learned elements of marketing, business, supply chain, operations, finance, and what attributes to success in a publicly traded company.

       Another unusual part of my experience is I stayed within the same function of product marketing for both rotations, despite my input to get broader exposure. I made the most of this placement by learning about Product Marketing at the end of a new product's design process through launch in Ohio, and then learning about it at the beginning of new product development in New Jersey through gathering voice of customer data and creating a business case, for example.

      Through close interaction with high-level leaders, I was able to watch the team navigate the pandemic and the challenges that it brought. I also watched a CEO and C-Suite leadership change, and learned about change management as the team worked to instill a new modern culture in the organization. This allowed me to reflect on how I hope to serve as a leader and what I consider a tactful approach to hard times.

       During my rotations, I learned a lot about my own interests and strengths. I am grateful for the people I have met and worked with along the way and to those that taught me something about their work or advice for me as a young professional.