This week’s Wednesday’s Women in STEM features Courtney Seto, an Industrial Engineer in Portland who works with local governments to become more efficient in our neighborhoods and cities. Read on to learn how Courtney was first introduced to engineering in high school by her physics teacher and why she wants to mentor other girls interested in math and science!
When did you first become interested in STEM?
I have always had appreciation and love for math and science, but happened to learn about engineering at the end of high school when a physics teacher recommended that I attend a University of Washington Engineering information session. If it weren’t for that teacher I might never have found my passion for engineering. Thanks to that teacher and programs supporting underprivileged minorities and women in STEM, I have been able to pursue that passion. Oddly enough, I also took a career placement test my senior year and Industrial Engineering was my top match! I had never heard of the field before, but the test seemed to know me well as I couldn’t imagine a better fit for me as it focuses on solving problems, finding ways to do more with less, and helping people in their jobs.
Where did you go to school and what did you study?
I graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA with an Industrial Engineering degree. Industrial Engineering is all about optimizing processes and increasing efficiency to help people and companies do more with less. I was one of six girls in my graduating class, but I hardly noticed because I loved what I was studying so much! Outside of engineering studies, I enjoyed getting involved in clubs, competitions, and even studied abroad – school is more than just learning in class.
What is your current career and how do you use your interests in STEM on a day-to-day basis?
After university, I worked in Aerospace at Boeing and Honeywell. I recently relocated to the area from Seattle for a job as a Consultant at a small firm in Tualatin, OR. We work primarily with local governments (like cities, counties, and states) to help achieve their goals and improve their efficiency. I think one of the most valuable lessons learned from pursuing and studying STEM is how to solve complex problems. Whenever I am faced with a big challenge or lots of data, I try to break it down into smaller steps, brainstorm what tools I have available to address the issue, and think outside the box on how to build a solution!
What do you like most about your current job? What do you find most challenging?
Aside from getting to work with awesome people and helping to solve problems all day, I love being able to analyze lots of data to turn the numbers into a story. When I first started my position, I didn’t know a lot about local government – it took me some time to figure out how they operate and even the lingo was different from what I was used to!
What advice would you give to young girls who are interested in pursuing STEM activities or careers?
The lessons you learn in STEM don’t stop after school or even if you decide to change careers. Learning how to solve problems, think critically, and be creative can apply to anything you want to do. There are so many paths within STEM that you can pursue. Be curious, keep trying new things, and when you find something you are passionate about – stick to it!
Anything else our girls would be interested in knowing about you?
I am very eager to get involved locally and give back to my community by helping other girls find that same spark that inspired me to pursue a STEM career. Outside of work and volunteering, I love to read, spend time with my family, make websites, travel, and scuba dive!