February 11, 2023 is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. So we asked women at Boom Supersonic how they got interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and what advice they have for others getting into the field.
Erin Young
Aircraft Systems Lead for XB-1
“I went to Space Camp when I was in 7th grade, and it was an amazing week. Ever since then, I wanted to be an astronaut! I decided to study aerospace engineering because of this, and I ended up falling in love with aviation as opposed to space projects. I even got my private pilots license after graduating!”
What advice would you have for others trying to get into the field?
“Find out what excites you, and what challenges you want to solve. There are so many different ways engineering can change the world! No matter what your interests are, there is likely a field in engineering where you can make an impact.”
Terra Cooke
Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance Manager
“I’ve always loved technology and was very lucky I had a computer growing up and adults in my life who encouraged my tinkering versus telling me I should do things for girls. I would take apart computers and spend a lot of time on the internet, which just continued to open my door and mind to things. I’d get into trouble for all the time I spent on the internet which ultimately led me into the early days of cybersecurity.”
What advice would you have for others trying to get into the field?
“Don’t let people discourage you. Pursue the interests. Do the things. Don’t give up on finding mentors — and you’ll have mentors that don’t look like you and that’s okay. There is so much in STEM and you can absolutely merge any love of arts you have into a STEM career. You don’t have to be good at math to have a career in tech because I am personally awful at it. You can do it. I believe in you.”
Allie Pelzel
Aircraft Performance Engineer
“When I was a kid, my grandma would take me to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science every time there was a new exhibit. I always loved going to the planetarium and the space exhibit.”
What advice would you have for others trying to get into the field?
“Fly fast, fail fast: don’t be afraid to try ideas and work quickly even when you know a solution isn’t perfect; finding where things fail early is the best way to find a solution that does work.”
Megan Young
SVP, Passenger Product Experience
“When I was little I loved factory tours and learning about how products are made. I took this love into my career by understanding consumers’ motivations and barriers to develop products that best meet their needs.”
What advice would you have for others trying to get into the field?
“Learn and explore as much as you can. There are so many different areas of science so keep searching to find what you are most passionate about.”
Lourdes Maurice
Boom Supersonic Advisor
“I was really good at math and science… and writing. Being an immigrant, (I had only been in the United States for 7 years when I started college) my mom steered me to practical engineering. Ironically my jobs have also required a lot of writing!”
What advice would you have for others trying to get into the field?
“Be open to change. You will probably have multiple ‘careers’ and your STEM training will provide a great base.”
Sarah Kelly
Airframe Structures Engineer
“I have always loved math and I grew up learning about airplanes and how things work from my retired Air Force dad, so when it was time to pick a college major, mechanical engineering was a natural fit for me.”
What advice would you have for others trying to get into the field?
“There are a lot of unique opportunities in the STEM field. Don’t limit yourself when starting out. Anything can be a great jumping off point to move toward your future goals or dream job. Stay humble and stay curious!”
Interested in a career at Boom Supersonic? Learn more here.
