Women in STEM: Financial Independence Blueprint for Success
Join Dallas SWE for our November Professional Development event, Women in STEM: Financial Independence Blueprint for Success! Speaker Sandra Park will share valuable insights about building a strong financial foundation. Bring any questions you may have and be prepared to learn how to set up your future.
Attendees will be entered in a raffle to win a SWE Swag bag!
The event will be virtual and a Zoom link will be sent to registered attendees.
Date: November 7th, 7-8pm
Sandra Park is a financial coach and engineer with experience working in the aerospace defense field. She helps women in STEM achieve financial freedom, offering personalized financial coaching with actionable strategies, mindset shifts, and ongoing support. A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, Sandra believes in empowering people to take control of their finances and shape the lives they want. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and exploring new cuisines. Sandra lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area and is a mom with a passion for fostering a love of engineering in the next generation.
Join Dallas SWE and SWE PepsiCo for Outreach at the Boys & Girls Club McKinney! Sign-up to volunteer to help students complete a hands-on STEM activity designed and led by PepsiCo. The event will be held on Thursday, November 14th from 4:45 – 6pm. Volunteers must be 18 or older. Volunteer sign-up closes on November 7.
Dallas SWE kicked off the new fiscal year with an insightful Ask-A-Manager panel event featuring three accomplished leaders from Collins Aerospace: Jamese Hamilton, Nichole McCown, MBA, and Shauna Pierce. Hosted on September 19th at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse in Plano, this interactive session provided attendees with the opportunity to ask questions and learn from seasoned managers about team leadership, growth, and navigating management challenges.
The panelists shared their thoughts on what it takes to successfully manage a team, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence, communication, and active listening. They highlighted the need to treat team members with respect, build trust, and give timely feedback, fostering an open and supportive environment.
One-on-one meetings were discussed as critical to the manager-individual contributor relationship. Panelists suggested keeping these meetings purposeful, setting an agenda, addressing issues as they arise, and tailoring the cadence based on the individual’s experience level. Flexibility was also encouraged, with an open-door policy for more real-time discussions.
When handling difficult conversations, the importance of face-to-face interaction, preparation, and finding common ground was underscored. The panelists also noted that managers shouldn’t shy away from corrective feedback and should approach challenges with positivity.
The discussion also touched on how to welcome new ideas and voices. The panel emphasized that change is inevitable, and leaders should always be open to hearing fresh perspectives. They advised evaluating new ideas carefully to balance innovation with practicality.
When addressing mistakes, especially from new team members, the panelists encouraged transparency and openness, suggesting that bringing issues to a manager’s attention early allows for effective problem-solving and creating a plan together.
Performance reviews were another key topic, with the panel stressing the importance of making them comfortable and productive. Regular communication with managers was recommended to ensure there are no surprises, and team members were encouraged to advocate for themselves. Managers were also reminded to advocate for their teams, ensuring that their value is properly recognized.
Dallas SWE would like to extend a big thank you to the panelists for sharing their time and insights. It was a rewarding evening full of valuable takeaways for both current and aspiring leaders. We would also like to extend our thanks to Collins Aerospace for their continued support and commitment to becoming a Dallas SWE as a Corporate Platinum Sponsor. We are truly grateful for your partnership!
Stay tuned for more professional development events coming soon!
Dallas SWE and Fort Worth SWE will be hosting a joint membership brunch on Saturday, Oct 19. Come out and meet SWE-sters from the Fort Worth section! This is also a great opportunity to meet others who will be attending National Conference. **You must register to attend this event**
If you register and cannot attend, please let Ashley Johnson (ash92johnson@gmail.com) know so we can give the restaurant accurate numbers.
Food & drinks will be available for individual purchase.
Dallas SWE is delighted to spotlight Robyn Broniewski as our October 2024 Member of the Month! Robyn’s dedication to engineering, leadership, and advocacy for women in STEM has made her an impactful leader within the SWE community and beyond.
Robyn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and has built a dynamic career spanning industries such as energy, technology, product development, and power conversion. She is currently a Senior R&D Project Manager at OmniOn Power, where she leads large-scale electrification product development projects, driving innovation while managing cross-functional teams to ensure successful outcomes. Her work has consistently focused on optimizing product life cycles, reducing costs, and ensuring regulatory compliance, all while navigating the challenges of an evolving industry. Her leadership has been instrumental in several high-impact projects, including managing product modifications during the pandemic to maintain production timelines.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Robyn is a passionate advocate for women in STEM and engineering. She has been instrumental in organizing outreach events such as Design Your World, which helps underserved middle and high school students explore careers in STEM through hands-on activities related to various engineering fields. This is the flagship event for outreach and is consistently well-received by both the community and sponsors.
Robyn also holds leadership roles within several SWE Affinity Groups, including Early Career Professional – Community Development Co-Lead, Entrepreneurs – Development Manager, and Global Women Engineers – Empowerment Lead. Through these roles, she actively fosters inclusive communities where women can connect, grow, and empower one another at different stages of their careers.
Beyond her involvement with SWE, Robyn is engaged in various organizations that focus on professional development and supporting women in their fields. As a Corporate Ambassador and Membership Team member for the Project Management Institute (PMI) Dallas Chapter, she works to strengthen corporate partnerships and promote membership engagement. She also serves as the Programming Team Lead for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA), where she helps organize educational and networking events for women in the healthcare industry. In addition, Robyn mentors women through Women in Tech and Tech Allies Mentoring, offering guidance and support to help them navigate their careers in technology. Her community service extends to her volunteer work with the Red Cross Hero Care Network, where she assists military families with casework and ensures they receive necessary support.
Robyn’s passion for mentoring and empowering others is a consistent theme throughout her work. Whether supporting young women exploring STEM careers, offering professional guidance to early-career professionals, or championing leadership opportunities for experienced engineers, Robyn is committed to uplifting others. Her mentoring efforts have positively impacted countless individuals, helping them gain the tools and confidence they need to succeed.
When asked about her involvement with Dallas SWE, Robyn shared, “The network of support that SWE creates for women in engineering is invaluable. I have found inspiration and growth through the relationships and opportunities within this community, and I’m honored to contribute in a meaningful way. Seeing other women succeed and supporting their journeys is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.”
Looking ahead, Robyn is excited to continue growing in her career and expanding her influence through mentorship and advocacy. Her leadership roles across multiple organizations demonstrate her passion for driving innovation, promoting inclusion, and making meaningful contributions to the STEM and project management communities.
Dallas SWE is proud to celebrate Robyn’s achievements and contributions, both as a leader in her field and as a dedicated advocate for women in engineering. Her commitment to empowering others, fostering community, and driving innovation is truly inspiring. Thank you, Robyn, for your continued leadership and for being a role model for women in STEM!
Dallas SWE hosted the official FY25 kickoff brunch for its members at Mexican Sugar in Plano September 14, 2024. Attendees connected as they discussed hobbies, interests, and shared personal stories. The positive energy and laughter filled the private room.
Our VP of membership, Ashley Johnson, donated a curated selection of books and wine to raffle to anyone who had renewed their national membership. We had a great turn out and look forward to the upcoming events.
