Caterpillar Company Culture & Values

What source of community have you created or sought out as a woman in tech?

Throughout my career, I’ve found that the community I needed was usually right in front of my face. I’ve always found inspiration in other people’s expertise and applied what they share with me to my responsibilities as a technologist. When I’m assigned a cross-functional project, it’s up to me to figure out what expertise others have that I can learn from. I love being surrounded by people at Caterpillar who are experts in their field. It’s where I draw energy, inspiration and refinement in problem-solving.  

I’ve never really gone the formal route of setting up mentorships or informationals with people. Instead, I take a real-life approach to forging a community that can only come from active listening and observations that drive shared inspiration to solve real-world business problems. In doing this, I build the communities I need to deliver the best results I can in my work. Because of this experience, I’m very intentional about sharing my experience or expertise with my team and the next generation of the workforce so they can benefit from the community as I have.

How have you benefited from mentorship and networking opportunities? 

As an introvert, networking is not something that comes naturally to me. But my drive to succeed in my career has helped me find authentic ways to do this. The approach that gives me the confidence to build the most authentic connections is having a common interest, project or challenge. Because of this, I have mentors everywhere for everything from all ages and backgrounds.  

Just recently, I was approached by a software engineer who is just at the start of her career. We had the opportunity to really get to know each other on a business trip. While those circumstances can be nerve-wracking for me, I found myself inspired by her passion and perspectives in her role, and we formed a great connection. That has helped me be a better leader in my field. 

Through her sharing her perspectives as a Gen Z in the workforce, I have been able to reflect on how I can best serve and support her generation’s growth. Being willing to learn and actively listen to others is the most meaningful way that I’ve been able to build an authentic community of amazing people who support me as much as I hope to support them.

What are the benefits of fostering a community of women in tech, and how does it contribute to individual and collective success?

I’ve found that a strong community will always lend a hand to encourage you to rise. I can recall multiple instances throughout my career where I doubted myself and the value I brought to the table. Through profound advice from people in my community at Caterpillar, I was reminded of my value.  

Many years ago, I was part of a project that involved engineers with different skill sets and domain expertise than I had, which made me doubt my role and purpose within the project. I reached out to a trusted leader for advice, and she reminded me that success and innovation come from building a table with enough seats for everyone’s perspective and expertise. Now, I’m applying that wisdom to help develop the next generation of software engineers. 

I recognize the importance of visibility as a female leader in tech, but I know it wasn’t my gender that helped me succeed in my career. Rather, I believe success comes from the commitment to learning from and connecting with diversity of every kind. My goal in building a community is to inspire tomorrow’s tech leaders to pursue servant leadership and authentic connections, both of which have impacted my career trajectory.

When asked why I’ve been with Caterpillar for almost 19 years, my first answer is always the people. It is all because of the relationships and people at this company.