Every year Society of Women Engineers (SWE) recognizes women in STEM fields across the industry. This year, SWE recognized Caterpillar and Solar Turbines for their professional accomplishments and contributions to the advancement of women in the field through outreach and mentoring. This included Solar Turbines’ Director of Global Supply Chain, Leslie Oliver. She was the recipient of the SWE Spark Award, which honors an individual who has contributed to the advancement of women by mentoring those around them.
When asked how mentoring benefits women in STEM, Leslie says, “I try to be a mirror, so that the mentee has a view of themselves, as seen by others, and the organization. This is important to learn early in one’s career. I want them to understand the personal brand they portray so they learn to see themselves through the eyes of the many and not just themselves. Often the discussions I have with mentees are around unwritten rules and expectations and what it ‘really’ takes to advance.”
