Dream Big, Encourage Countless Points of View and Never Stop Learning

This week, we celebrated National Engineers Week; a week where we recognized the tremendous accomplishments of engineers around the world and encouraged future engineers to dream big and join the future of innovation. To me, this is more than a weeklong event, it’s a year-round commitment to making a difference.

As an undergraduate in engineering, I was never motivated by the pursuit of a singular solution that focused on finding the “right” numbers to the “right” equation; I was driven by the potential to create real-world impact across multiple dimensions.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with technologists and scientists in academia and industry and there is something to be learned from every experience.  

1. We achieve the best and most impactful outcomes when we embrace a diversity of viewpoints and collaborate across disciplines.
2. It’s critical to not only understand the fundamentals but also how they connect to the bigger picture or solution.
3. Having the right talent is a must, an empowered team of experts will catalyze technical elegance.

Now, as part of the engineering community at United Technologies, I watch innovation unfold every day – at scale. UTC was founded by some of history’s most pioneering minds in engineering. Powered by the perspectives of 30,000 engineers worldwide, our current portfolio continues to invent the technologies that define modern life.

At Carrier and Otis, we’re driving industry-firsts in modern climate control and personal transportation. Our strides in aerospace are also nothing short of groundbreaking. At Pratt & Whitney, our Geared Turbofan engine and F100 engines are transforming commercial and military aviation. Meanwhile at Collins Aerospace, the breadth of our products and services are redefining what it means to travel the skies and space.

Even as the challenges we face become more complex with the convergence of digital and traditional techniques, we push our industries to the next frontier because we can draw from our countless points of view.  

As I write this, I’m sure an engineering student somewhere is plugging away at a problem set, frustrated as I once was that the “right” answer doesn’t seem like the “best” answer.” My advice is simply this: dream big and use every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow – you’ll be amazed by what you are capable of. You should take pride in being an engineer and your ability to make a real impact - not just during this weeklong event but every day.