Role models are powerful. As a young girl, one of my favorite television programs was "I Dream of Jeannie," a 1960s television show about a male astronaut who had a beautiful but impetuous female genie. I didn't want to be the genie; I wanted to be the astronaut and fly to the moon. But I had never seen a near-sighted African-American female astronaut. My dream was seemingly cut short before it even began. I eventually did make my way to NASA, and now I'm passionate about providing role models for girls in STEM. Women in STEM Fifty-seven years after real-life "Hidden Figures" Katherine Goble, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan helped pave the way for the United States to land safely on the moon, NASA announced the appointment of Holly Ridings as its first female flight director. Given the importance of this accomplishment for women in STEM, why did it take nearly six decades for a woman to make this achievement? As the former NASA Chief Information Officer, a mathematician and woman, I am passionate about doing everything that I can to help improve the representation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The measures organizations like NASA have taken to close the gaps are necessary but insufficient if we as individuals do not do our part. First, we must examine our individual biases as barriers to gender inclusion. Next, regardless of our gender, we must serve as role models for girls and young women to encourage them to pursue STEM. Finally, we need to care and to understand that our society has a challenge to overcome and that we can contribute to the solution. STEM and Gender Bias Sydni was a young girl I was tutoring in 8th grade algebra. She was a good student who loved math and understood the course content well. However, when it came to assignments and tests, she lacked confidence. I worked closely with her, and over time, her confidence increased. Eventually she told me that her teacher had noticed that she was improving but had discouraged her from studying mathematics in college, telling her instead that she needed to study something like English. Sadly, she took his advice: Sydni did not pursue mathematics.  A recent study by Wang and Degol showed that the proportion of female STEM employees is much lower than the proportion of women scoring very high on the standardized tests used to source talented STEM professionals. Why would the teacher discourage Sydni if not for some unconscious bias that dictated that only boys study STEM? We must all, especially teachers, examine these biases that affect our interactions to ensure that we are encouraging, not discouraging, young girls, and not adversely affecting the STEM pipeline. Representation Matters In January 2018, Airbnb hired Kenneth Chenault as its first African-American board member. At that time, they also pledged to hire a woman as the next addition to its all-male board of directors. They lived up to that promise. In August of the same year, Ann Mather became their first female board member. Many successful female executives aspire for board memberships, but we see too few examples of those who have made that achievement. The actions of board chairmen like Airbnb's CEO Brian Chesky made a difference by providing this opportunity to Mather, making clear that representation matters. Diversity and inclusion provide societal benefits that should matter to us all. Corporations like Northrop Grumman, with programs like their Inclusive Leadership Conference, see the benefit of a commitment to diversity and inclusion. However, creating a leadership culture that executes upon this commitment is critical. Leaders in power need to see and believe that gender diversity makes a difference.  Jocelyn Bell Burnell was recently awarded a $3 million Special Breakthrough Prize for her work on discovering pulsars. She was overlooked for the Nobel Prize in 1974 even though her male counterparts were honored for the work she had done. Now, Bell Burnell is taking individual initiative and donating her money to help underrepresented groups enter the field of physics. Individual Efforts Make the Difference We can make a difference. Starting with continuous self-reflection on our own biases, we can be role models or give visibility to role models to provide encouragement for those young girls who wish to pursue careers in STEM. These steps require passion and commitment to overcome barriers. Robert F. Kennedy once said that not many of us "â€¦ will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events." Perhaps the gender gap seems daunting, but if we take these small steps, we can have an impact for women in STEM. 

Making a Difference for Girls

A new generation of young scientists is bringing fresh perspectives to work. Generation Z, the kids who were born after millennials, is starting to graduate college and launch their careers. It's about time to extend a warm welcome to Gen Z in the workplace.    Who Is Gen Z?    According to Pew Research, this generation includes people who were born after 1996, which means the oldest Gen Zers are turning 22 this year, while most are still in their teens or younger. They've never known a world without the internet. Growing up with mobile connectivity and social media means that this generation can share their ideas anywhere, anytime. Many young scientists are making new discoveries before they've even completed their formal education.    Background    Gen Z grew up in a post-9/11 world. Their behavioral traits are shaped by the technology that surrounds them, as well as the difficult issues that occurred during their formative years, such as terrorism, school shootings and the Great Recession. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), these dark events have inspired Gen Z to change the world.    Common Values and Attributes    Although they are just starting to enter adulthood, early research shows that American Gen Zers are pragmatic, money-conscious, entrepreneurial, global, connected and independent.     According to LinkedIn, Generation Z likes to work independently and has mobile connectivity in their bloodstreams. They have excellent online research skills and use several different sources to get their information. They take internet multitasking to a whole new level, using five screens on average. These traits provide an excellent foundation for science.    They're young and eager to change the world, but they are also practical about the work it takes to make a change.    "Ever since I was a kid (and I think I still am a kid), I have been enthralled by everything space," says Mark Fisher, a chemist at Northrop Grumman. Fisher graduated from Purdue University in 2018. He started at Northrop Grumman as an intern and was hired as an employee the summer after he finished college.    Fisher adds, "I find no greater challenge and accomplishment than the pursuit and discovery of the unknown, which is what science is all about. I want to be somewhere where I can be a part of mankind's effort to unravel the mysteries of our universe."    3 Awesome Young Scientists    This generation is already making a difference in science, even though most of them are still teenagers. Technology is part of their everyday lives, and they're not just using it to chat with their friends. They use platforms to connect with people around the world and educate them about science.    Amber Yang, Age 19    Researcher Amber Yang developed a program that can predict the future position of space junk with 98 percent accuracy — which is far more accurate than the statistical models developed by NASA, according to Forbes. She created an artificial neural network that can "recognize patterns in how space junk moves and changes orbit." A practical and entrepreneurial Gen-Zer, she's commercializing her research with her startup, Seer, while she also attends Stanford University.    Genesis Butler, Age 12    Twelve-year-old Genesis Butler is an animal rights activist. She speaks on platforms such as TedX about animal rights and how our eating habits affect the environment. She told Newsweek, "When you eat animal products, you're contributing to the suffering of animals and to the problems surrounding animal agriculture and climate change."    Peyton Robertson, Age 17    Inventor Peyton Robertson created a sandbag to combat seawater flooding and a bike with retractable training wheels. He has patented five inventions, published a paper in the "Journal of Tropical Diseases" and founded a non-profit for STEM education, according to Forbes.    Gen Z in the Workplace    The next generation of young scientists is already inventing new devices, solving real-world problems, and educating the public about science.    These are just a few examples of today's brilliant young scientists, and they're just getting started. Fisher explains, "I find that each person I talk to has a unique insight derived from their own experiences that we all can learn from if we keep an open mind. I think that there are a whole lot of brilliant young minds out there that will do incredible things for the world."    

Gen Z Brings a New Generation of Young Scientists to Work

The impact of technology continues to be felt in our everyday lives, but nowhere is more evident than in our choice in where to live. These days, if you have tech skills, you can work anywhere you want — including from home. That's good news for people living outside city centers, especially considering that, according to FiveThirtyEight, some of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. are actually more suburban than urban.   According to another FiveThirtyEight article, "The suburbanization of America marches on. Population growth in big cities slowed for the fifth-straight year in 2016, according to new census data, while population growth accelerated in the more sprawling counties that surround them."   Why are people drawn to the more suburban areas of the country? According to Bloomberg, "Whereas before it was blue collar jobs leaving older, high cost metros, now it will be mid-level managers, back office and other cognitive work where physical proximity to other people is less important."   The Importance of STEM   If the U.S. continues to buck the global urbanization trend, the impact of technology will likely be a factor. Technologies such as network security, software/web development and cloud integration — to name a few — are changing the landscape of rural and suburban areas across the country. All are prompting new jobs and a focus on education, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. This goes hand in hand with FiveThirtyEight's report that "growth in ... educated rural areas is accelerating and is at its highest rate in eight years."   To keep up with the demand for educated workers, STEM after-school programs are gaining popularity in schools, according to Level Up Village. According to U.S. News & World Report, such programs increase students' interest in the STEM fields.   New Technologies   It shouldn't be surprising that newer technologies are also migrating to more rural areas and low-density suburbs. These locations offer lower property costs than cities, according to The Atlantic's CityLab, and are attractive to young workers who want to start families in affordable areas.   Northrop Grumman opened an IT facility in Canonsburg, PA — a suburb of Pittsburgh — in 2000. The site offers software as a service delivery and hosted 24/7/365 support accessible via a virtual private network. For instance, OpenTrac Enterprise is a web-based enterprise resource planning system designed for the manufacturing industry. Business owners can use it to supply and purchase their material.    OpenTrac Enterprise is an advanced tracking solution for precise and rapid inventory administration. The web-based manufacturing and warehousing system tracks the life cycle of inventory and scales from a single warehouse to multiple locations. Using such technologies, OpenTrac users manage intra-company inventories, as well as inter-company, remote 3rd party and customer inventories, from anywhere.   Suburbs Versus Cities   As Stony Brook University finance professor Noah Smith argued in a Bloomberg piece, an area like Redwood City, California, may look like a suburb, but its population density rivals that of an urban area. As he notes, "Today's fast-growing suburb is tomorrow's urban area. In other words, the great urban revival might not be ending, it might just be relocating."

The Impact of Technology: How It's Changing Rural and Suburban America

A great motivator to creating a startup is the aspiration of achieving a "hockey stick" revenue curve. At the outset, a small scrappy team with a grand idea faces tough times — revenue is zero, and good will investment (both financial and human capital) is fuel. With hard work and some luck, the company escapes that period into one of gradual growth and then abruptly into very rapid growth — the "handle" of the hockey stick. If the company is to continue existing as a stand-alone entity, they have to get good at growth and good at delivering ever-larger volumes of products or services to consumers. That often means focusing less on innovation and more on efficiency. The recipe — invent something, get good at doing it profitably and repeat — is not so simple. Most large companies got that way because the economies of scale for production mandated an ever-bigger workforce and infrastructure. At some point, companies stop paying a third party to take care of legal matters and set up an in-house legal department. Likewise with establishing a dedicated marketing organization. Perhaps they build a production line and invest in specialized capital equipment. Eventually, they figure out how to be efficient, and in the process develop mass and momentum. One might think that having all these assets at their disposal would encourage employees at large companies to feel empowered and go innovate with them. After all, if you can repeat that startup process without those hard times (where a small team has to do everything themselves), wouldn't things move faster? Wouldn't it be possible to constantly make small bets, try new things and create new growth? If you happen to work at a large company, you might be laughing at this point. More often than not, when a large company finds success at doing something, the dynamic radically shifts and the mantra becomes "protect the core at all costs." Worse, when a company suddenly wins some new business, a new cycle of efficiency building occurs, and those assets become further specialized at doing what it takes to maintain momentum. Employees are incentivized by how well they enable the core, rather than challenge it — and in the short term this makes sense. There's money to be made, and there's a clear path to do it. Surely at some future point the company will invest in long-range planning, but that's for the next C-suite to handle. And then the digital camera was invented. The story of Kodak is one that no one wants to repeat, but it keeps happening (at an accelerating pace) and has earned a name now firmly embedded in our culture — disruption. No executive wants to be the one who just watches as their once-mighty business comes crashing down because a startup takes advantage of some new technology. So for at least the last 10 years, many large companies have created innovation organizations, and they range from completely ineffective to business model—changing. One common denominator of innovation organizations is that they infuse new ways of working into an established culture. Large companies such as Adobe, LinkedIn, MasterCard, Coca-Cola, MetLife, GE, IBM, Cisco, Tyco and Northrop Grumman have established internal employee incubator programs. These programs allow employees to explore new business models, customer solutions and, fundamentally, a new way of working. In the process of standing up a new business, participants are able to experiment with and learn about new ways to manage risk insulated from the core, but with all the amenities of an enterprise. With a 2015 survey by Accenture indicating that only 15% of millennials would prefer to work at a large corporation, programs like these address business growth and development, as well as recruitment and retention. There's some evidence that startup behaviors are providing real results and affecting the way large businesses operate — for instance, the recent success of the DARPA R3D2 project, which was executed and launched in just 20 months by a company that typically works on much longer timescales. The small, agile, Northrop Grumman—led team made use of streamlined procedures and even utilized an internal maker space to expedite integration efforts. The threat of disruption isn't slowing; as such, businesses can no longer afford to simply operate as normal. The barriers to bringing new ideas to market continue to fall, and many large companies are taking notice and putting real efforts into augmenting their scale and reputation with the agility of startups. Start up your own career by checking out the latest opportunities at northropgrumman.com/careers.

Large Companies Acting like Startups: Agility and the Capacity to Scale

Clearing houses as part of a U.S. military-led campaign to rout al-Qaeda, two servicemen were met with machine gun fire the moment they walked into a dimly lit house in the Iraqi city of Fallujah. One of those men was Matthew Palacios, a staff sergeant and combat engineer in the Second Marine Division. The Army infantryman in front of Palacios was shot and fell to the ground, wounded. Then a grenade rolled between Palacios' legs. Now an employee of Northrop Grumman, this military veteran looks beyond his own career-shaping experiences. Ever cognizant of the meaning of Memorial Day, he remembers those who died while serving in the hopes that he can honor the sacrifices of these fallen heroes. Heroism in Battle Palacios confesses to just barely doing enough to get by in high school. All he wanted to do was be a Marine, a dream that began after reading military histories and watching war movies when he was younger. Palacios had never played competitive sports while growing up in Lorraine, Ohio, a blue-collar steel town outside of Cleveland. But in that cramped house in Fallujah, with no time to think, he grabbed the grenade, ran a few steps and threw it into another room -- much like a shortstop throws to first base, he recalled. The grenade exploded at a distance, sparing his life and those of the service members alongside him. For this act of bravery, Palacios received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. "I was so close to dying," he said of his daily routines in Iraq. "Almost being blown up in an ambush IED attack or being shot at and hearing the whizzing of the bullets and seeing the concrete snap off a wall near you or hitting the tree above you — there were so many situations." A Life After War After two deployments during the Iraq War, Palacios left the Marine Corps with two medals and a newfound sense of confidence as a military veteran, which helped him to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering — something he would have never dreamed of in high school. He eventually earned that bachelor's degree in 2014. Palacios joined Northrop Grumman in 2017 where he is a structural engineer, performing structural analysis on spaceflight hardware. "It's exciting to work on these projects...things to go into space," he said. But he couldn't imagine having the job without first serving in the military. "I gained the confidence I needed. I realized I can actually do it," Palacios said. "I don't feel like I got smarter in the Marine Corps, but it gave me the confidence and discipline to make a plan on a particular goal and follow through." The Importance of Memorial Day A day after that battle in Fallujah, his best friend in the Marines was killed in action. Palacios will always remember returning to the U.S. to recuperate from his injuries and attend his fallen friend's funeral. After meeting "his family and newborn son who will never know who he is," the meaning of Memorial Day, and the selfless sacrifice of our military veterans, will never be far from Matthew Palacios' mind.

A Military Veteran Who Followed His Dream to Northrop Grumman

Diversity and inclusion often arise as critical elements in education and the workplace. These people-centric concepts carry benefits beyond the human element alone — studies have shown that allowing a more diverse range of input fosters creative problem solving and leads to better outcomes. Garnering a diverse range of perspectives and backgrounds leads to richer discussions and ultimately fosters innovation, laying the foundation for higher profitability. Defining Diversity and Inclusion Diversity involves engaging a range of types of people. Members of a diverse group may vary in their race, gender, ethnicity, culture, disability, religion, age and sexual orientation. It can also include diversity of thought, bringing together people with unique areas of expertise. For example, if NASA needs a new spacecraft, they wouldn't only speak with the manufacturer. They would also include diverse experts on astrophysics, rocket science, engineering and other fields. Furthermore, simply having a diverse group of people is only the beginning. The biggest benefits arise when people from diverse backgrounds are not only present but also treated equitably and heard as an equal voice. When thinking about diversity and inclusion, it's helpful to understand how systems were designed with the priorities of dominant groups in mind. Thinking critically about the origins of systems — such as educational systems or a business organization — can help reveal areas for improvement. 3 Benefits of Diversity Many of the benefits of diversity are difficult to measure concretely. Doing the right thing, creating an equitable environment and enjoying deeper connections are all worthwhile reasons to embrace diversity and inclusion. But for the sake of argument, we will look at three of the most measurable results of diversity: innovation, performance and profitability. 1. Innovation When you need to solve a problem, the benefits of diversity become clear. For example, in a global crisis such as a pandemic or a natural disaster, international collaboration is crucial. On a smaller scale, if a company aims to invent or discover a new technology, it stands to reason that they wouldn't want a homogeneous group of experts but rather a dynamic group that fosters creativity. Hearing different perspectives — even if they conflict with our ideas — helps ignite new ideas. Researchers from Stanford University proved this point and highlighted what is lost when systems don't truly include diverse perspectives in an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). They analyzed data from Ph.D. dissertations in the United States and found that "demographically underrepresented students innovate at higher rates than majority students, but their novel contributions are discounted and less likely to earn them academic positions." Katherine W. Phillips, an ethics expert from Columbia Business School, described in Scientific American how a social experiment showed racially diverse groups were better able to solve a murder mystery than homogenous groups. The benefits aren't only because people with different backgrounds bring unique perspectives that can lead to solving the problem (or, in this case, figuring out the mystery). The exercise of being around different people helps everyone challenge their viewpoints, in turn leading to more creative solutions. "Being with similar others leads us to think we all hold the same information and share the same perspective," she wrote. "This perspective, which stopped the all-white groups from effectively processing the information, is what hinders creativity and innovation." 2. Performance It can be difficult to measure performance, so a team of researchers used a performance metric that is common in academia: citations. In academic publications, the number of times that a research paper is cited by other researchers can be an indicator of the paper's success. In a forthcoming Columbia Law Review study (currently available at an open-access online repository of pre-prints called SSRN), researchers analyzed 13,000 articles published in various law reviews over 60 years and found that "law reviews that adopt diversity policies see the median citations to their volumes increase by roughly 23 percent in the five years after adoption." In other words, more diversity correlates with better performance. The researchers conclude, "If diverse groups of student editors perform better than non-diverse groups, it lends credibility to the idea that diverse student bodies, diverse faculties, diverse teams of attorneys, and diverse teams of employees generally would all perform better." 3. Profitability Diversity and inclusion promote innovation and better performance — in other words, they're good for a company's bottom line. Harvard Business Review describes research on the venture capital industry that found that diversity "significantly improves" financial measures such as profitable investments and overall fund returns. A comprehensive report from global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company finds that not only is there a solid business case for diversity and inclusion, but diverse executive teams are associated with better financial performance over time. According to their analysis, the most diverse companies are more likely to outperform their peers on profitability. For example, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than companies with the least diversity. A Worthy Challenge Addressing gaps in diversity and inclusion can be a long path, but it is a worthwhile effort. Learning to navigate conflict and discomfort when people from different backgrounds come together represents a long-term investment. Studies — as well as real experiences — prove again and again the value of taking steps to promote diversity and inclusion in education and at work. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery in science, technology and engineering.

Diversity and Inclusion Create Better Outcomes: A Look at the Science

While women make up 46 percent of the overall workforce, women in STEM make up only 14 percent of American engineers. This statistic is up from 5.8 percent in the early 1980s, but it's still surprisingly low compared to other industries, according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.       However, a few innovative companies and organizations are making a conscientious effort to stand out from the crowd and promote STEM careers among women:       1. Northrop Grumman Partners With the Society of Women Engineers       In 2017, Northrop Grumman announced iReturn, a 12-week returnship program that helps prepare people who might have taken a career break for a full-time career in one of Northrop Grumman's many fields. This program was launched in partnership with the Society of Women Engineers and iRelaunch.       "'We understand the value that individuals with all types of experience bring to our company,'" said Sandra Evers-Manly, vice president of global corporate responsibility at Northrop Grumman.       iReturn is only one of the many projects launched by the SWE with Northrop Grumman. The two organizations often co-sponsor events for female engineers, run competitions for high school students interested in STEM, and more.       2. Recognition for Top Female Leaders in Technology       The Women Tech Council is a national organization that celebrates the contributions of women in technology. In 2017, they presented the Women Tech Awards to seven innovative women. "Since launching the award program 10 years ago, WTC has recognized more than 190 women including 26 university students through the Women Tech Awards," according to Cision's PR Newswire. The organization has also implemented STEM education programs in elementary schools to increase awareness of STEM careers at an early age, as well as a host of other technology-related programs for women, according to WTC.        Enable targeting cookies to view this content.       3. Google Joins the National Girls Collaborative Project       Google has partnered with the National Girls Collaborative Project, an organization that brings computer science programming to children all over the U.S., especially young girls. The NGCP has branches in almost every major U.S. city, aimed at fostering the next generation of female leaders.       4. Johnson & Johnson and Cisco Support Million Women Mentors       By 2020, Million Women Mentors hopes to pair 1 million people who work in engineering and science with girls and women who are interested in STEM careers — whether they are in high school or college or are starting their careers. Both Johnson & Johnson and Cisco donate money, time and volunteers to this effort annually — and this time and money has seemed to trickle down into workforces that subsequently prioritize more diversity than their peers.       Cisco has stated, "We have committed to the US2020 pledge — that 20 percent of our workforce will mentor students in STEM annually by 2020." Johnson & Johnson has made a similar commitment: they aim to foster mentoring initiatives to increase and retain the amount of young women in the nursing workforce by 2020.       Empowering Women in STEM       Things are improving for women in STEM, albeit slowly. According to Business Insider, "18% of software engineering jobs in the U.S. went to women in 2016, versus 16% in 2008."       A 2016 LinkedIn report found that while some U.S. industries are making strides in hiring women, others are regressing or haven't changed at all. In addition, when women do get hired, they often face behaviors or barriers that may push them out the door later on, according to CNN Tech.       Changing these statistics requires more than just hiring women; it also involves empowering a younger generation of women to get excited about pursuing engineering careers and making workplace environments welcoming to women.    

Women in STEM: Innovative Companies are Pushing for More Female Engineers

August 26 marked Women's Equality Day, which commemorates both the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting women the right to vote and the nationwide demonstration for women's rights in 1970, according to the National Women's History Project. While women represent nearly half of the workforce, they hold only 24 percent of STEM jobs, as reported by the US Economics & Statistics Administration. However, women in STEM fields are gaining momentum. Meet Kerry Nguyen, Chemist Kerry Nguyen, a chemist at Northrop Grumman, hopes to see more women in STEM fields in the future. When Nguyen was in the sixth grade, her mother was diagnosed with cancer, so she decided to study science to better understand how cancer was diagnosed, prevented and treated. "My parents kept the news from me initially because they believed I was too young to understand the issue at the time, and they were correct," Nguyen said. She had only taken basic environmental science classes in school, but she took her curiosity about her mom's cancer diagnosis into her own hands. Her interest in science grew from there. "I wanted to learn as much as I could possibly understand about my mom's situation so I was better able to help her when needed," Nguyen added. As a first-generation American, Nguyen said her parents are her biggest inspiration. They came to the United States from Vietnam with minimal resources to start, but they always made sure she and her sisters had everything they needed to thrive. Nguyen's biggest mentor is another woman in STEM — her oldest sister, the first member of her family to attend college and a chemist who is pursuing her Ph.D. in organic chemistry. "Mary is the oldest, which meant that she made mistakes that I learned from. I continue to look up to my sister for guidance for many things, including chemistry," she said. Turning Curiosity Into a Career When it came time for college, Nguyen was already familiar with the STEM programs offered at California State University, Long Beach, near her hometown. As a student, she applied to an internship at Northrop Grumman after hearing about the position through an email from her school's career center. She was familiar with the company but had no idea that they had a chemistry lab. She was offered a position and started in the summer of 2015. "I applied to my internship position to freshen up my resume and with the mindset that I have nothing to lose but time, and I do not regret my decision one bit. I love the work I do and the support I provide for NG," said Nguyen. Nguyen graduated in May 2017 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, and she continues to work in Northrop Grumman's lab, now as a full-time chemist. As a technical scientist, her job varies daily, and she spends most of her time analyzing chemical samples for all programs across the company. She explained: "Chemists are like the CSI of aerospace. We can determine what a material is made of or how much of a certain component is in a given material. We can test many different chemical properties using analytical and instrumental techniques." Nguyen plans to continue her work at Northrop Grumman and will earn either a master's degree in a STEM field or an MBA sometime in the future, building her technical, leadership and management skills to eventually pursue a management position. Advice to Women in STEM Fields Nguyen suggested that young people focus on networking and meeting new people to expand their opportunities. Most importantly, she urges other women who are interested in STEM to seize any opportunities without hesitation. "Do not undermine what you are capable of doing for yourself, and do not make yourself worth less than what you really are," Nguyen said. In the spirit of Women's Equality Day, she added: "Be proud to be a young woman in the STEM fields because it is rare, but we need to make it a norm. If you are curious, put your foot in the door and test out the water. You will never know unless you try, and it is never too late to be curious."

Women in STEM Fields: Advice From the Lab

Women in aerospace have been making important strides in the field ever since June 16, 1963, when Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova blasted into the blue beyond to become the first woman to travel in space. As the rocked launched, BBC notes that the 26-year-old shouted, "Hey, sky, take off your hat, I'm on my way!" Over three days, she completed 48 orbits of Earth aboard the Vostok 6, literally blazing a trail for female astronauts who followed. In the half century since, 58 other women in aerospace have demonstrated what Linda Cureton, the first African-American CIO of NASA, calls "leadership courage," the kind that helps someone overcome the fear embedded in being the first to do something remarkable: "The fear looks like voices in your head. It looks like the people saying you can't do it. It looks like a mountain too high to climb," said Cureton, who retired from NASA in 2013 and is now the founder and CEO of Muse Technologies. But it's also the fear that motivates, she said. "Courage takes that fear and turns it into preparations for success." In honor of International Women's Day, here are three courageous women who left indelible impressions on history — not just for women, but for everyone. First U.S. Woman in Space "'The moment of the launch, when the engines actually ignited and the solid rockets lit, everyone on the crew was, for a few seconds, overcome with what was about to happen to us,'" Sally Ride said in an interview for PBS. She was talking about the seconds before blasting into the cosmos aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. But another thing was happening on that 18th day of June 1983. Ride was making history as the first U.S. woman to travel into space. As a mission specialist for STS-7, NASA's seventh shuttle trip, Ride operated the shuttle's robotic arm to deploy and retrieve communication satellites. A little more than a year later, on Oct. 5, 1984, Ride went into space for a second mission, STS-41-G. Again, she used the spacecraft's robotic arm, this time to remove ice from the shuttle's exterior and to readjust a radar antenna. Though she had an advanced degree in astrophysics and was a trained astronaut, talking with the press proved to be a difficult challenge for Ride. Journalists asked Ride questions that focused more on her gender and less on her skills. "'Everybody wanted to know what kind of makeup I was taking up,'" Ride said in an interview for PBS. Years later, for a segment on NOVA, Ride said she felt that the extra attention she received made her all the more determined to do things right. Sadly, Sally Ride passed away at age 61 on July 23, 2012, from pancreatic cancer. When her obituary was published, stating that Ride was survived by Tam O'Shaughnessy, her "partner of 27 years," the world realized that Ride had achieved another first: the first gay woman in space. First African-American Woman in Space "'I was a young girl who used to stare up at the stars. I imagined myself going there,'" said Mae Carol Jemison in an interview for NOVA. On Sept. 12, 1992, Jemison fulfilled her wish. She flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, mission STS-47, and in doing so became the first African-American woman in space. Her journey to space took an unconventional route. In 1981, Jemison obtained her M.D. degree from Cornell Medical College and began working as a general practitioner. Her passion for healthcare took her to many different countries, including Cuba, Kenya, Cambodia and Thailand, where she provided care to people without access to basic medical services. Jemison joined the Peace Corps, and from 1983 to 1985 she worked as a Peace Corps Medical Officer in Liberia and Sierra Leone. But she always had her eyes on the stars. After seeing Sally Ride go into space, Jemison said she felt that NASA had become open to accepting women into the space program. "'I picked up the phone. I called down to Johnson Space Center. I said, 'I would like an application to be an astronaut.' They didn't laugh,'" she said in the NOVA interview. On June 4, 1987, Jemison became the first African-American woman to be admitted into the NASA astronaut training program, earning the title of mission specialist. Onboard, she conducted scientific experiments related to bone cell research, weightlessness, fertility, motion sickness and others. "'Once I got into space, I was feeling very comfortable in the universe. I felt like I had a right to be anywhere in this universe, that I belonged here as much as any speck of stardust, any comet, any planet,'" said Jemison. Among many of her accomplishments, Jemison has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the National Medical Association Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the National Organization for Women's Intrepid Award. Today, she leads 100 Year Starship, a global nonprofit initiative to ensure that humans have the capacity to travel beyond our solar system within the next 100 years. "I did always want to be an astronaut just like her," Cureton says of Jemison. But when Cureton was a young girl, she didn't see any astronauts that looked like her. While at NASA, Cureton participated in many STEM events designed to encourage girls to pursue careers in science and technology. "I wanted the young girls to see somebody like them in places that they dreamed to go," she said. First Woman Space Shuttle Commander "'When I was very young and first started reading about astronauts, there were no women astronauts,'" Eileen Collins said in a NASA press statement. Collins helped change that, and, in the course of her career as an astronaut, she accomplished two aerospace firsts: She became the first female space shuttle pilot and the first female shuttle commander. From the time Collins was a little girl, she wanted to be a pilot. She said she was inspired by astronauts, including John Glenn and Alan Shepherd, who flew in Project Mercury — the U.S.'s first human spaceflight program, running from 1958 through 1963. Even though she had no female astronauts for role models, Collins followed her dream. After earning a bachelor's degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1978, Collins enrolled in a pilot training course at Oklahoma's Vance Air Force Base. It was one of the first classes at the base to include women. She eventually became a test pilot and in 1990 was selected as a NASA astronaut, said Biography.com. As commander of STS-93, which launched on July 23, 1999, Collins led a four-day mission to deploy the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, an instrument designed to detect X-ray emission from hot regions of the universe. In 2005, Collins served as commander for a second shuttle mission, STS-114. Throughout her career, Collins received many awards, including an Air Force Commendation Medal and a NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal. Collins was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and retired on May 1, 2006. Do these women inspire you to follow a career in aerospace? Check out our Careers Page to see how you can become the next trailblazer. 

Celebrating Women in Aerospace

It may seem like the gender gap is closing, but at least in STEM fields, there is still a long way to go. Non-male scientists all around the world deal with this gap, whether you're talking about American women or Indian women. A study published in the journal Science demonstrates that this isn't due to men being better or having higher achievements in math or science. In fact, the study showed that women actually have higher achievement in math and science than men. The issue was that only the highest-achieving women pursued STEM fields, whereas men with poorer grades and test scores didn't let these lower marks dissuade them from pursuing a technical career. The issue, according to an NYU study, is confidence. "Our results suggest that boosting STEM confidence and earlier career aspirations might raise the numbers of high-achieving women in [physics, engineering, and the computer sciences], but the same kinds of interventions are less likely to work for average and lower-achieving girls, and that something beyond all these student factors is drawing low-achieving men to these fields," said lead researcher Joseph R. Cimpian in a release. This problem is persistent everywhere. India is a country well-known for excellence in STEM fields, but those areas are dominated by men. According to The Hindu, Dr. Namrata Gupta has pointed out that India's patrilineal society has discouraged women from working; it's only recently that Indian women working has been embraced and encouraged. Just 10 to 15% of people in STEM research fields in India are women. However, this doesn't mean there aren't Indian women doing incredible work. There are Indian women scientists, engineers and people working in technology who are making impressive strides and putting India on the global map. We'll introduce you to just a few of them here. Muthayya Vanitha: India's Rocket Woman India has a thriving space program called the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). In 2019, the ISRO sent an uncrewed mission to the moon called Chandrayaan-2 (which, according to Vox is Sanskrit for "moon craft") that consisted of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. While the lander and rover malfunctioned and crash-landed on the moon, the orbiter is still sending back data and even found water molecules on the lunar surface. Muthayya Vanitha, the project director for Chandrayaan-2, is considered one of India's "rocket women" due to her work on the mission. According to the India Times, this was the first time that an Indian woman was put in charge of a big-budget ISRO mission, though they have previously led smaller-profile operations. An electronic systems engineer, Muthayya Vanitha graduated from the College of Engineering in Guindy, Chennai, and according to Forbes India, she's been with the ISRO for 33 years. Her background is in satellite communications and digital signal processing. Vanitha was persuaded to take on the role of project director (a promotion from her previous associate director role) by M Annadurai, a famous aerospace engineer known as the "Moon Man of India." In 2019, Vanitha was named a "Person to Watch" by the journal Nature. Gagandeep Kang: A Leader Searching for a Rotavirus Vaccine Dr. Gagandeep Kang is one of the most prominent Indian scientists thanks to her work on intestinal diseases in children. She currently serves as a professor of microbiology in the Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences at India's Christian Medical College. She's the first Indian woman scientist to be invited to join The Royal Society in London. Kang trained at Christian Medical College but decided to go into public health and research rather than practice medicine. "I enjoyed the idea of public health and working with community rather than working with a single patient," she said in an interview with The Print. "So I decided to try it out, and I ended up in gastrointestinal research." She worked in the UK and the United States before returning to India to focus on Indian children. Indian children experience more rotavirus infections (which affect the intestines, causing diarrhea and vomiting) at younger ages than children in other countries and before their immune systems are fully developed. Kang's work as an Indian scientist has been crucial in the hunt for a new rotavirus vaccine. Kang has also been one of the Indian scientists on the forefront of COVID-19 policy, and according to The Lancet, her future goals lie in closing gaps of inequality within India's health care system. Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan: NASA Scientist and Silicon Valley Pioneer From Mumbai to Pluto to Silicon Valley, Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan makes waves everywhere she goes as an Indian woman and scientist. She was born and raised in the vibrant and bustling city of Mumbai, and according to a profile in Her Story, education was always important in her household. She got her undergraduate degree at Boston University and went on to pursue a doctorate at Stanford in information theory and algorithms. "As part of my Ph.D. program, I built a communication chip used on board the New Horizons spacecraft," Sivaramakrishnan told the San Francisco Business Times. New Horizons has since completed its mission to study Pluto and is currently in the Kuiper Belt, heading outside the solar system. Since her pivotal work on NASA's New Horizons mission, Sivaramakrishnan has pursued a different area of tech: advertising. She was the lead scientist for AdMob, which was purchased by Google in 2010. She founded the tech company DrawBridge in 2010, and it soon became the fastest-growing female-led company in the United States, according to Business Insider. It's clear that women around the world have a long way to go before achieving equality in STEM fields. But these inspiring, engaging, passionate Indian women are blazing a trail for younger women to follow in their footsteps, and they are changing the world as they do it. Are you interested in science and innovation? We are, too. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery.

These Trailblazing Indian Women Are Shaking Up Science and Technology

Anil Deane knew he had an affinity for numbers when, at an early age, he studied his older sister's math textbook instead his own, realizing it had more advanced math. Deane, a technical fellow at Northrop Grumman, reminisced about that watershed moment as he contemplated the significance of Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month. Years after reading his sister's math book, his love for numbers — and science — remains strong.    A Cause for Celebration Deane is one of countless mathematicians who have a reason to celebrate in April. Every year at this time, the U.S. celebrates an appreciation for numbers. It started as a week-long celebration in 1986 per a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan and extended to a month-long event in 1999, according to MathAware.org. Colleges, high schools, math clubs and other organizations use the month to host workshops, competitions, exhibits, festivals and more.  Stats Included What was originally called Mathematics Awareness Month is now Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month. The associations that put on the annual celebration believe statisticians deserve specific recognition because they contribute "so much to furthering discoveries, solving problems, and finding beauty in our world." The Math Behind Security Every day, Deane conducts research that supports company projects and consistently illustrates the importance of mathematics in science, technology and engineering. An expert in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and High Performance Computing (HPC), he develops models to verify or reject theories as he helps build systems and programs for Northrop Grumman clients. "Mathematics is an amazing tool," Deane said. "The understanding and the insight it provides in the modeling is the goal. I want not just to understand the research, but to also understand what is best for our customers and our corporation. That's what I get out of numerical models. They help me design systems better." For example, Deane and his Northrop Grumman colleagues created a cybersecurity model that allows a government customer to identify and stop cybercriminals who could steal valuable information. Most of Deane's projects revolve around data analytics and its grounding in mathematics and statistics. World-Class Innovation In a nutshell, Deane's job calls for him to "deal with these algorithmic parts but also understand how it maps onto real computing hardware and graphical processing units," he said. "It's how you have the math but also the algorithms and how it all meshes to computing hardware and then the data center." Many companies base some or a large part of their operations around AI-type programs, but that doesn't mean human minds aren't needed in this new frontier, according to Deane. "The computer is doing the heavy lifting," Deane said. "But you have to set it up initially â€¦ You 'train' a certain type of data and let the machine go, and it will find anomalous data." A Northrop Grumman employee for more than ten years, Deane previously worked for NASA, where he focused on large-scale parallel computing. He also had a two-year stint at the Department of Energy, where, as a program manager for applied mathematics, he contributed to a math program that "was responsible for many of the scientific and engineering advances that are used in this country and in the world," he said. "I'm very proud of that program. It is really world-class." Go in for the Love  For more than 20 years, Deane has also served as a research professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. What advice does Deane give students who want to follow his career path, or at least one that demonstrates the importance of mathematics? "Go in for the love of it. Our higher brains are built for complex thinking, and there is deep satisfaction in following this." he said. Of course, Deane recognizes that not everyone is mathematically inclined, but that shouldn't dissuade them, he said. He believes educators need to do a better job of presenting math in friendly terms. "Nobody should be afraid of it," Deane said. "It's fair enough to say they don't like it, but they shouldn't be afraid."

Mathematics and Statistics Shape the Work of Northrop Grumman's Anil Deane

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed Nov. 15 as National Philanthropy Day to "reinvigorate the American spirit of neighbor helping neighbor." Around that same time, "corporate social responsibility" became a catch-phrase and goodwill began to seep into business plans. Today, thousands of companies from startups to multi-billion dollar firms consider themselves philanthropic companies and invest in social and environmental causes that are frequently aligned with company goals. Here are five well-known tech companies and how they're positively impacting the world. Autodesk In 1982, the same year that Time magazine called personal computers "Machines of the Year," computer programmer John Walker invented AutoCAD, a computer-aided design software. The program revolutionized design by giving architects and engineers the ability to draft and model buildings on a computer. Today, the Autodesk Foundation leverages the company's expertise to fund design efforts aimed at addressing environmental, social, health and education challenges. Through grants, donations and partnerships, Autodesk helps nonprofit organizations, social and environmental entrepreneurs, early-stage ventures and more affect change. The company also encourages their employees to provide services pro bono and to volunteer for special events. Cisco Systems As a global leader in information technology and networking, Cisco Systems uses hardware and software to connect people, societies and the planet — their philanthropic priorities. As a result, their charitable ventures extend far and wide. When it comes to people, Cisco allows their employees to take five days of paid time off to volunteer, said Fortune. When it comes to society, the company's charitable extension, the Cisco Foundation, teams up with other nonprofits as well as non-governmental organizations to develop technology-based solutions that address education, economic and social disparities. When it comes to the planet, the company works to minimize waste and greenhouse gas emissions and also funds welfare groups that advocate for domestic and wild animals. Google In 2005, Google — now held by the firm Alphabet — founded Google.org, the charitable arm of the search engine giant. The nonprofit harnesses Google's vast, expert knowledge of technology and data to, among other things, support racial justice, improve educational opportunities for underserved communities, assist job seekers and improve employment opportunities and offer crisis response after health epidemics and natural disasters. In 2017, Google's CEO Sundar Pichai announced the Grow with Google initiative meant to offer American workers and veterans free skills training and tools to fortify their career plans or business. The company also earmarked $1 billion in Google.org grants over five years for global nonprofits, and offered 1 million volunteer hours from Google employees. Northrop Grumman This global aerospace and defense technology company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, has deep, historical roots in scientific research and technology. The firm was formed in 1994 after Northrop Aircraft, founded in 1939, bought Grumman Aerospace, the company that built the Apollo Lunar Module, which put humans on the moon. With a past so immersed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), Northrop Grumman has made it a priority to invest in STEM education as a way to inspire future scientists, engineers and technicians.  The company's Aid to Higher Education, for instance, offers grants that support scholarships, student organizations and STEM projects that advance research and technology at college and universities. Because Northrop Grumman works closely with the military, it actively recruits veterans and wounded warriors and contributes to veteran service organizations like the USO, Operation Gratitude, Armed Services YMCA and more. The company's charitable organization, the Northrop Grumman Foundation, also supports national-level STEM programming, including for grades K-12. Nvidia The interactive graphics of video games require complex computer chips that process millions of calculations per second. Back in 1993, Nvidia, based in Santa Clara, invented such a computer chip and brought the future of gaming into the present. As part of their charitable work, Nvidia Foundation has committed to tackling what is arguably one of the world's most complex problems: cancer. Through their Compute the Cure initiative, the company donates to cancer researchers who use innovative computing techniques to research, diagnose and treat the disease, as well as to nonprofit groups that focus on cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and end-of-life care. Nvidia also encourages its employees to participate in walks, runs, and fundraising events to fight cancer. To date, the company has invested $4.5 million toward a cure. On National Philanthropy Day, individuals, communities and philanthropic companies are recognized for trying to make the world a better place. Businesses that donate money, resources and employee time help strengthen bonds, not only between their coworkers, but between the organization and the community at large.

Five Tech Companies Giving Back to the Community

A successful career rarely follows a straight path. It usually takes a winding road, with plenty of learning curves, ups and downs. One of the best things an employee can do to stay on course is to find a mentor. At Northrop Grumman, mentorships are encouraged through several programs and are seen as valuable interactions that help people broaden their experience, expose them to different career possibilities and point them to educational opportunities. Although it's smart to find a mentor in any industry, it can be particularly helpful to have one in a STEM career. In honor of National Mentoring Month, Laura Scott, a quality program manager at Northrop Grumman, explained why she thinks it's important to find a mentor. Making Connections Scott began her career at Northrop Grumman in November 2009, freshly graduated from Villanova University with a degree in mechanical engineering. She came in as part of the quality engineering group, specifically in process control and testing material properties. In the early days, Scott sought out advice informally from Northrop Grumman employees she admired. But after a couple of years, Scott felt as though she had learned as much as she could on her own and wanted to gain a deeper knowledge of the company from others. She knew it was time to find a mentor. Through a Northrop Grumman program called Women In Leadership, Scott connected with Art Lofton, who was vice president of Global Mission Excellence for the company's Aerospace Systems sector at the time. Lofton, who had started with the company in 1990 and is now retired, had held several positions over his tenure, including deputy program manager of Long Range Strikes for Integrated Systems. That gave him a good perspective on what it took to excel at the company. About once a month, Scott and Lofton would meet to talk about her career goals and get his insight. In one case, Scott was contemplating a move from her job as a Material Review Board quality engineer to Sector Material Review Board chair. Although it was a lateral move, the chairperson role had a much higher level of responsibility. Scott would need to maintain quality processes and interact with customers to ensure consistency across all programs in the sector. She went to Lofton as a sounding board. They discussed the pros and cons of the move, whether it was a good fit for her current skills and development and what would it look like as part of her career path, she said. "A mentor can motivate you to go out there and take some risks," said Scott. Ultimately, she decided to make the move, and she's glad she did. The Bigger Picture After Lofton retired, Scott was paired with Chris Hernandez, vice president of engineering for Aerospace Systems, through the company's VP mentoring program. Because Hernandez worked outside the quality and mission excellence function, he was able to connect Scott with senior people she hadn't met before, in particular women engineers in leadership roles. Scott said she appreciated the opportunity to network with women who were already forging a path in a male-dominated industry.  Enable targeting cookies to view this content.   Hernandez also offered advice that helped Scott think more strategically about her role at Northrop Grumman. In previous positions, for instance, Scott would be tasked with finding solutions to individual problems. But as she progressed through the ranks from contributor to manager, she had to consider an entire sector. Hernandez encouraged her to tweak otherwise single-problem solutions in a way that would make them apply across the board. He challenged her to think not just about putting out a single fire, but about how a solution could work universally, for the whole sector. With Hernandez's help, Scott's perspective began to shift from one of meeting day-to-day goals to one of considering long-term strategic outcomes. Those outcomes generally revolved around technical issues. But as Scott took on more responsibility, she found herself encountering managerial challenges, too. Addressing those issues wasn't something she learned as part of her STEM education; she was trained as an engineer and, like many engineers, tended to focus on the technical. "That can absorb you completely," Scott said. Those who do not look up from their work often may not get out of their niche, she said. They may not know anyone outside their group and or understand how to deal effectively with interpersonal situations when they arise. Hernandez helped introduce Scott to people outside her domain and gave her valuable advice for dealing with a variety of people. "If you want to develop in a career or go into management, mentoring really helps with those interpersonal managerial issues that aren't taught much in STEM fields," says Scott. Two-Way Street For Scott, mentoring always went both ways. As she reflected on her experience during National Mentoring Month, she said she never saw herself as merely the recipient of advice but as an active participant in a mutually respectful relationship. Because she was of a different generation than her mentors, Scott often shared the perspective of her peers with them. She briefed her mentors on the latest technology she and her friends used, for instance, or shared their philosophical perspective. That kind of information can be valuable to those in leadership roles, who are typically managing hundreds, even thousands, of people of different ages and backgrounds. Ten years into her career at Northrop Grumman, Scott is now giving back by mentoring junior-level employees. She says she's impressed with how honest recent college graduates are and how much they know about technology coming into the job. She hopes to pass on what she's gleaned from the formal and informal mentorships she formed over the last decade. And although she's on the other side of the conversation — giving advice, rather than accepting it — she continues to learn. "Even if you don't have a lot work experience, those life experiences can be just as helpful at providing a different point of view to problems," Scott said. Are you looking for a company where you can grow and find your mentor? Visit Northrop Grumman's career page for opportunities.

Why It's Important to Find a Mentor for Your Career

Have you been considering a new career? Perhaps a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)? The new year is a perfect time to make intentional changes in your life, especially pertaining to your job. However, exploring a new career path can be overwhelming at times. To get started, try these job search tips:1. Make a List of Your Current StrengthsWhat skills do you already have that would translate to a career in STEM? For example, if you feel confident in your communication skills, perhaps you might look for a job in science policy. Jodi Glickman suggests some job search tips in the Harvard Business Review (HBR), the most key of which is to think of your strengths in terms of what people ask you for help with the most.2. Research Career OptionsDo some research about what qualifications will be required if you want to get a STEM job but are not yet working in the field. Consider what potential certifications you might need to complete. Check websites of professional organizations in your desired field to get a sense for how to prepare for a job. Writer Kenda Whitmire recently switched from a career in the humanities to a career as a nutritionist, and she reminds career changers that many STEM jobs will require that you take classes or acquire a new degree. Keep in mind that if you do need to acquire a new degree, you may have already fulfilled some prerequisites.3. Find Companies Whose Aspirations Match Your OwnRebecca Knight writes in HBR that it's worthwhile to look for companies and careers whose mission, values or aspirations align with your own. For example, some STEM careers will allow you to help people directly — like nursing or nutrition — while others might involve more independent work, perhaps in a laboratory or factory setting. If you need to tangibly see the impact of your work, you might choose the former over the latter. At Northrop Grumman, employees agree to take quality and leadership seriously. If these factors matter to you, a career at Northrop Grumman might be a good fit.4. Vet Specific RolesTake a look at specific STEM jobs and ask yourself these key questions: How much do you need to make per year to achieve your financial goals? How well does the specific job fit in with your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes? What else are you offered as part of the job? Research has shown that a job's "extras" — like benefits, commute time and managerial structures — can make a big difference in job satisfaction levels.5. Polish Your ResumeMake sure that your resume reflects your transferable skills and new certifications; that way, you can show how you might be qualified for a new job in the STEM sector even if it's not obvious at a first glance. "Maybe it's not just, I'm great with numbers, it's I'm great with details. And so I could take this financial analysis position that I've been doing for years and years and actually go do something very different as long as it is also detail oriented ... it's the skill behind the skill," says Jodi Glickman, founder of the communication training company Great on the Job.6. NetworkJob boards are usually for research; networking is often the real key to getting a new position in a STEM field. This is why informational interviews are important. You can also network by joining common interest groups for the industry you're interested in, attending hackathons or reaching out to people in your local community who've also switched to STEM careers in mid-life.7. Stay PersistentIt can be tough to get a new job, especially in STEM, and especially if you're making a career change later in life. For this reason, Glickman recommends setting a reasonable time frame for your job hunt. For example, if after three months your dream job isn't panning out, agree that you'll spend 50 percent of your time continuing to work toward that dream job and 50 percent of your time working toward a fallback option that gets you halfway there.

7 Job Search Tips for STEM Positions

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for programmers are forecast to grow "much faster than average" over the next 10 years — which makes sense. As digital transformation becomes a top priority across industries — in many cases, to meet growing consumer demand driven by the ubiquity and ease of mobile-first experiences — there's a commensurate need for skilled coders capable of translating market strategy into usable software. But where are these application experts and software savants most in-demand? Where are they pushing the boundaries of digital delivery, and what's on the horizon for creative computation? A Brief History of Binary Building Computers and humans process information differently. Where our biology includes multiple sensory organs that help us function in the physical world, computers rely on binary — "on" or "off" states represented by ones and zeros — to navigate digital directives. Programming languages were created to bridge the gap; these frameworks translate human-created commands into something computers can understand and implement. One of the first languages created was Fortran, developed by John W. Backus in 1957. Fortran made it possible to connect computer output with simple input, in turn bypassing the need for more complicated and laborious programming processes, as IBM notes. As a result, it became the first widely adopted language, and it still sees use today. More familiar frameworks quickly followed — C made its appearance in 1972, Python in 1991, Ruby and Java in 1995, and C# in 2000, according to ComputerScience.org. While coding newcomers such as Go and R have also made significant inroads, C, Python and Java remain the top three languages in 2021, per InfoWorld. Although each approach differs in syntax, they share the substantive purpose of translating human input into digital output. The Kids Are Alright As technology has become a ubiquitous part of daily life, much has been made of the need to teach children coding techniques to prepare them for future success. Increasingly, schools are offering STEM-based in-school or after-school programs. This push toward programming posits a world where kids who don't learn to code will be left behind as they enter evolving job markets. However, recent pushback suggests that this focus on digital literacy may not be as beneficial as first believed — and it may in fact be doing more harm than good. The bigger problem here? Binary thinking. When it comes to learning code, it isn't an either/or operation. Instead, it's about teaching kids to problem solve in both physical and digital worlds. In practice, this means a healthy balance between on-screen interactions — whether this takes the form of educational gaming or more in-depth coding courses — and hands-on challenges that see kids thinking outside the box. Put simply? While coding classwork helps to better prepare kids for the realities of a digital-first future, this isn't an all-or-nothing scenario. Children with only a passing interest in programming will gain basic benefits, while those with a natural affinity will seek out more specialized software development jobs and opportunities. Programmable Potential So, what's out there for those with a programming predilection? Mobile application development remains a reliable source of software development jobs. Companies across all industries and markets are looking to create cross-platform, user-friendly apps capable of both providing on-demand access to key services and collecting relevant data. But there are also new paths emerging that offer new opportunities for programming experts. Industry Wired offers some examples, including how expanding use of coding in agriculture underpins the development of "farming as a service." A combination of tools and technologies could make it possible for farmers to leverage historical and real-time data combined with autonomous processes to improve crop yields and limit overall risk. There's also expanding opportunity for coding in military applications, such as the development of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms capable of creating unexpected and "unfair" strategies in military simulations to help develop more responsive defense tactics. "One of the significant challenges in the aerospace and defense industry is the integration of advanced capabilities into modern weapon systems to address emergent and future cyber threats," said Dr. Francis Afinidad, an NG Fellow in cybersecurity at Northrop Grumman. "There is an immediate need for software engineers able to develop solutions driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced machine learning (ML) to intelligently protect against active threats in a cyber-contested environment." Other areas on the forefront of coding include expanding markets, such as e-sports. This increasingly popular (and lucrative) pastime requires software-driven virtual reality and augmented reality platforms to help bring more players and fans into the game. An unexpected opportunity comes in the form of kitchen appliance coding. With smart fridges that include cameras and code to identify current foodstuffs and suggest potential recipes, or intelligent stovetops capable of achieving exact temperature settings or instantly cooling to prevent potential burns, there's no shortage of programmable potential for interested parties. Quantifiable Impact Beyond current market initiatives, there's also opportunity for cutting-edge coding in quantum computing applications. While recent advancements in quantum computing have produced reliable and repeatable results that underpin new computing frameworks, a recent IEEE Spectrum article notes that "quantum computing arguably isn't quite full-fledged computing till there's quantum software as well as hardware." New languages in development — such as Jaqal — look to make the best use of quantum qubit potential, but as the quantum market expands, there's a host of opportunity for programmers to develop their own super positional software solutions. Bottom line? Jobs for programmers are expanding beyond traditional software and mobile application development into areas such as agriculture, AI and even kitchen appliance coding. And there's more where that came from — the advent of true quantum computers showcases the need for an entirely new class of languages capable of harnessing qubit computing power at scale. Are you interested in all things related to technology? We are, too. Check out Northrop Grumman career opportunities to see how you can participate in this fascinating time of discovery.

Jobs for Programmers: Cracking the Career Code

 Factory work is being transformed as the manufacturing industry enters a new era of flexible and customized "smart" production. Once dominated by routine and repetition, the factory floor is becoming a more complex, fluid and interesting place. As a result of this transformation, skilled production work is becoming more central to the manufacturing process than at any time since the dawn of the industrial era. Moreover, this reskilling of the factory floor is multidimensional. It extends across a range of tasks and roles, from traditional skills such as machining to new tech-related skills such as working with computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technology, to a set of aptitudes and habits of mind that are hard to pigeonhole in traditional slots but are instantly recognizable on the shop floor. And with the new era of skilled production comes new challenges for firms in training their workforce to deploy new skills in a new environment.Not So Dead After All Even as much public discussion has focused on the woes of the manufacturing sector and of industrial workers, the reality of the manufacturing industry has been moving on. By 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing employment is seeing a resurgence, with demand focused on skilled workers. Many unskilled production jobs had vanished, replaced by machines — but "people need to maintain or fix the machines. So manufacturers need fewer workers, but the workers they do need require higher level skills." The first, negative stage of this process is largely completed — meaning that the manufacturing industry is now focused on the second stage of finding (or training) skilled workers to "fix the machines." The Agile Factory Floor This transformation is not happening in a vacuum, and to understand the new factory floor, you need to understand the new manufacturing. Kevin O'Marah at Industry Week characterizes this new manufacturing as shaped by consumerization and mass customization. In a nutshell, customers — both individual consumers and business customers — are more demanding, insisting on manufactured products that are made to order, not standardized items of mass production. And this demand is supported by technologies, such as software-controlled manufacturing, that can respond rapidly to individual requirements. Which means that "fixing the machines" is not simply repairing them if they break down, but reconfiguring them for a new production run or even to fabricate a single customized item.And the Agile Production Worker The new manufacturing continues to involve a great deal of "traditional" skilled work, so that machinists, for example, are much in demand. Alongside these skilled trades are a newer group, from working with CAM technology to maintaining robots. But alongside these skill sets, familiar or more recent, the agile factory floor requires workers who can quickly shift tasks as needs change, and who have a sense of the big picture, so that they not only know what they are doing but why they are doing it. This is the skill that allows an experienced line worker, for example, to say that the setup for a new customized production job is wrong, and should be adjusted to avoid manufacturing errors. Skill and judgment of this type, in particular, cannot be taught in a school environment, or fully taught even in an apprenticeship. It must be learned through shop experience, on the factory floor. And for this reason it is the most challenging component of training for the new manufacturing industry. This training challenge has brought forth such efforts as the partnership of Northrop Grumman, California's Antelope Valley College and other public and private agencies. As CA FWD reports, these participants have come together to build a training program for skilled aircraft production workers. (Northrop Grumman gets first dibs on recruiting program graduates, but other aerospace firms have also shown interest.) Manufacturing is back, and innovative training programs are opening new paths to opportunities on the factory floor.

For the Manufacturing Industry, a Golden Age of Skilled Work

Marsha Lee Mikulen will never forget her career as a law enforcement specialist in the U.S. Air Force. It broadened her perspective of the world and sharpened her critical thinking skills. She now makes the most of those skills as a project manager at Northrop Grumman. Although the Air Force veteran wishes she had a longer military career, Mikulen appreciates how Northrop Grumman provides opportunities for her to honor and help active military service members and veterans. "I feel fortunate to be a part of an organization that supports our warfighters — active, reserve, veterans, civilians —their families and their missions," she said. An Impressive Background Mikulen couldn't wait to join the Air Force after witnessing how it had defined her father, Lee Mikulen. "I felt driven to follow in his footsteps," she said. Although she didn't see combat, Mikulen's four-year stint in the Air Force introduced the Michigan native to an eye-opening side of human behavior. Mikulen worked in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations on several bases in the U.S., as well as Torrejé³n Air Base in Madrid, Spain. Her various roles included: desk sergeant; working inside a jail; handling customs on military aircraft returning from Europe; and going undercover on narcotics investigations. Thirty-two years later, she regrets not reenlisting and instead reentering civilian life in 1986. But she won't let the regret haunt her, mainly because she believes Northrop Grumman's mission and its commitment to the military allow her to keep serving her country. Military Service Shaped a Career A Northrop Grumman employee for 17 years now, Mikulen is a project manager in technical development at the company's Space Park facility in Redondo Beach, Calif. The Air Force strengthened Marsha's critical thinking and organizational skills, she said. "It taught me how to deal with people day-to-day â€¦ It was an opportunity to broaden my perspective on a lot of things and show me diversity of thought. I traveled to different countries and saw different cultures. The Air Force allowed me to do that." She coordinates and prepares technical skill programs for Northrop Grumman engineers. The certificate programs, which are aligned with several universities, help engineers have "the latest and greatest skills" in aerospace technology, she said. Air Force Veteran Supports Other Vets Veterans comprise 20 percent of Northrop Grumman's workforce, so it's no surprise that the company offers several programs that recognize not only the military service of employees but also of those in the community. For instance, the Navigator program pairs recently hired veterans with employees who are also veterans. The longstanding employees help the new hires transition from military life to the corporate world. "Think of this program as transferring to another station and having a sponsor to depend on to answer your questions," Mikulen said. Similarly, Operation IMPACT provides career transition support to military service members who have been severely injured. Mikulen serves as co-chair of Space Park's chapter of the VERITAS (Veterans, Employees, Reservists, Inspired to Act and Serve) employee resource group at Northrop Grumman. VERITAS holds clothing drives, organizes a charitable 5K run and performs other services for military families and veterans. "I would like to establish a culture where all vets know that they have comrades here to help support them," she said. She added: "I feel happy when I am able to help someone or to be a part of an event that has been successful. Although, I do have to say, I'm happy to be a part of those events that are not always what others might deem as successful. Often, the true success has to be measured by watching someone different in the organization get excited and step up to volunteer or to help lead an event or share a story. I feel having the opportunities to meet new people and learning and caring about what is important to them, whether I'm helping them or doing an event, is the success or reward." No One Is Forgotten on Veterans Day  During the week of Veterans Day, VERITAS will recognize those who have fallen with a wall of heroes commemoration and the distribution of holiday cards to Blue Star mothers. It will also hold a 22-pushup challenge over 22 days to recognize the efforts of 22Kill, an organization that raises awareness of veterans who commit suicide. Veterans Day is always a special time for Mikulen. The day reminds her of how ketchup packets were the most requested item from U.S. military members serving in the Vietnam War. "I remember as a child going to restaurants with my mom to ask for ketchup packets to send in care packages," she recalled. One time, they "hit the jackpot" at a restaurant and received a box of packets to donate. Years later, when Mikulen was in basic training for the Air Force, she realized the importance of care packages to their recipients. This Veterans Day, Mikulen will email fellow veterans, reminisce on days past and reflect on VERTIAS' work leading into the holiday, as she attempts to figure out how to help at least one more veteran in the future. "I love the military, and I love my vets," she said.

Air Force Veteran Recognizes Fellow Vets With Charitable Work

Engineers solve problems by creating new solutions or improving current processes. While every engineer leans on the lessons of professionals past, individuals in this industry are known for thinking outside the box and developing innovative approaches that change the world for the better.
 
If you have an interest in engineering, however, the scope and scale of this career choice can be daunting. To help home in on your best fit, here’s a breakdown of the five types of engineering — civil, chemical, electrical, industrial and mechanical — along with their industry outlooks and potential position possibilities.
 
Building a Better Future: How to Get Started as an Engineer
 
If you’re considering a career in engineering, education comes first. Most entry-level engineering positions expect a bachelor’s degree, while more in-depth roles may require a master’s degree. Post-secondary engineering programs are typically four years long, but some schools offer condensed two-year programs. Once you’ve obtained an engineering degree, you may be required to apply for a professional license certification in your state before you can begin work as a professional engineer.
 
Equipped with the basics of education and licensing expectations, prospective problem-solvers should consider which type of engineering aligns with their preferences, passion and potential.
 
1. Civil Engineering
 
Civil engineers are responsible for designing, building and maintaining infrastructure projects. These may include transportation corridors, freeway interchanges, new neighborhood planning or efforts to repair and modernize existing infrastructure. Projects such as the Lincoln Tunnel, the Interstate Highway System and Boston’s “Big Dig” were made possible in part thanks to the efforts of civil engineers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job market for civil engineers is growing as fast as average (7%) and the median salary is $88,050 per year as of 2021. Subdisciplines within civil engineering include transportation, environmental and structural engineering.
 
Transportation
 
Transportation engineers are often found building or improving road, train, subway or waterway systems. From increasing the efficiency of current transport frameworks to building better and safer options, transportation engineers keep traffic moving.
 
Environmental
 
Environmental engineers look to reduce the impact of issues such as air and water pollution while finding ways for businesses to become more sustainable. This could look like developing new practices that adjust material compositions or changing current processes to help companies achieve environmental goals set out by internal policies or required by compliance legislation.
 
Structural
 
Structural engineers design and assess construction plans to ensure buildings, bridges and other pieces of infrastructure can stand the test of time. They can often be found overseeing construction sites to monitor progress or double-checking calculations to ensure end results align with initial designs.
 
2. Chemical Engineering
 
Chemical engineers use a combination of skills from the disciplines of chemistry, physics, mathematics and microbiology to help create and improve products. These products may include pharmaceuticals, foods, plastics and fuels.
As noted by the BLS, job opportunities for chemical engineers are growing much faster than average (14%), and the median salary is $105,550. Types of engineers under the chemical branch include biochemical, process safety and pharmaceutical engineering.
 
Biochemical
 
Biochemical engineers look for new and more efficient ways to convert chemical compounds into usable products. They also investigate methods to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact.
 
Process Safety
 
Process safety engineers are tasked with evaluating current chemical processes and determining where they can be improved. Common improvements include reduced risk to staff, reduced environmental impact or greater product yields.
 
Pharmaceutical
 
Pharmaceutical engineers focus on all aspects of the pharmaceutical process, from the safety of manufactured drugs to the labeling and bottling of these products for use.
 
3. Electrical Engineering
 
If a product or system contains electrical connections or electronic parts, electrical engineers were likely involved in its creation. These engineers have expertise in everything from IT components to communications systems and the underlying connections present in cars, airplanes and spacecraft.
BLS data indicates that current electrical engineering job growth is slightly slower than average (3%), and the average salary is $101,780 per year. Career paths within electrical engineering include computer, IT and controls engineering.
 
Computer
 
Computer engineers are often tasked with designing, testing and improving computer hardware. They may find roles as developers of new hardware for technology companies or as quality and efficiency testers within enterprise IT departments.
 
IT
 
These types of engineers focus on the software and systems side of technology to help companies improve the performance of their information technology systems. For example, they may be responsible for pinpointing and resolving system issues or developing new software to streamline business processes.
 
Controls
 
Controls engineers are responsible for the design, development and testing of control systems found in manufacturing plant systems, vehicles or communication solutions.
 
4. Industrial Engineering
 
Industrial engineers focus on improving the efficiency of complex environments, such as manufacturing or processing plants, by developing new processes and systems. For example, an industrial engineer might explore new ways to reduce waste on a manufacturing line without negatively impacting output performance.
According to the BLS, industrial engineering jobs are growing faster than average (10%), and the median salary is $95,300. Potential options for industrial engineers include manufacturing, supply chain and systems engineering.
 
Manufacturing
 
Manufacturing engineers may specialize in a variety of areas, including everything from the design and development of industrial robots to the creation of specialized machinery that improves process efficiency.
 
Supply Chain
 
Supply chain engineers are now in high demand owing to the significant supply chain challenges brought on by Covid-19. These engineers help create and implement supply chain strategies that reduce the risk of delays or unexpected complications.
 
Systems
 
Systems engineers focus on the implementation and assessment of systems within an organization. These systems may include software, hardware and machinery or a combination of all three. The goal of systems engineers is to ensure disparate components of business systems work in unison.
 
5. Mechanical Engineering
 
One of the broadest engineering disciplines, mechanical engineering includes the design, creation and testing of machinery, equipment and sensors that are used in everything from industrial processes to day-to-day applications.
Although the BLS reports that the mechanical engineering field is growing more slowly than average (2%), the median pay is $95,300 per year. Common mechanical engineering opportunities include acoustic, automotive and aerospace engineering.
 
Acoustic
 
Acoustic engineers focus on sound and its impact in the real world. For example, they might assess the vibration of bridges caused by car travel and the impact of those vibrations on the structural integrity of the surrounding infrastructure.
 
Automotive
 
Automotive engineers help design, develop and test new processes in vehicle manufacturing. These engineers may be responsible for creating new vehicle features, assessing current vehicle performance or evaluating existing safety protocols.
 
Aerospace
 
Aerospace engineers may design aircraft, spacecraft or satellites and their components, and are typically responsible for the testing of these designs to ensure they meet functional expectations and can perform under real-world conditions.
 
Engineering is a broad field with myriad career possibilities, but every type of engineering can make an impact on the way we live. It’s an exciting space — and one that’s perfect for someone looking to flex both their creative and technical skills.
 


Ready to explore the different types of engineering opportunities? Come build the future with Northrop Grumman. Discover our engineering jobs here.
 

The 5 Types of Engineering: Exploring Creative Career Opportunities

Key takeaways Virtual reality in education is changing the way students experience the classroom, especially in STEM fields. Virtual reality and learning can help improve student comprehension. VR is inspiring the next generation of STEM enthusiasts.When used in education, virtual reality (VR) allows students to gain many types of experiences they wouldn't normally have access to in their classrooms. VR allows students to take virtual field trips to places as unusual as the inside of a computer, a fusion reactor and even the moon or Mars.The type of immersive experiences that VR in education can provide to students, especially in STEM fields, is often more exciting and stimulating than what they'd have access to in a conventional learning environment. Another advantage of virtual reality and learning is that it can be effective with children of all ages. That's because VR provides students an opportunity to learn hands-on and may be attractive to students who might not otherwise be interested in STEM. Additionally, VR simulations broaden the assortment of real-world uses students can investigate.Technology to Promote Better Student ComprehensionVR science education can place students in situations that, in a standard classroom, might be difficult to visualize. For example, VR can give students the opportunity to get hands-on experience with especially large sets of data, which are common in STEM subjects such as astronomy, genetics and climate science. It also gives students a sense of already being in real-world work situations.For example, the Simmons School of Education and Human Development uses a chemistry mobile app to help students learn chemistry by allowing them to manipulate physical blocks to create elements. The virtual classroom looks similar to a video game, with student collaborators as the "players." Students learn about geometric shapes and about how angle, speed and gravity impact projectile motion. Similar technology from Google allows students to experience VR expeditions, such as landing on Mars or exploring the inside of a carbon capture lab.This type of technology also provides many learning benefits, such as increased focus, engagement and learner involvement. For example, VR science education makes exploring a coral reef, flying through the bloodstream to learn about cells or testing an engineering prototype easier for students to understand. Students can also experience simulations in fields such as natural history, computer programming, aeronautical engineering or astrophysics. By actually exploring these virtual science worlds, they can gain a greater retention of STEM fundamentals.Since virtual reality and learning use interactive features to help students connect with the curriculum, it has the potential to improve their learning experience and memory, according to research published in Frontiers in Psychology. This is because the immersive nature of the virtual reality experience increases both cognitive and behavioral engagement, so students are better able to understand and remember what they learned in greater depth, which is critical to positive learning outcomes. The type of interactive features that VR in the classroom provides can also increase the ability of students to grasp and retain STEM subjects, and this, in turn, can help build life skills that will prepare them for future professions in STEM.Next Generation STEMAs outlined by Accelerate Learning, another benefit of VR in the classroom is that it supports a wide range of learning styles and impairments with features such as text-to-speech and closed captioning, enabling more students to succeed.In addition to making STEM fun, virtual reality in education encourages analytical and critical thinking and can enhance students' problem-solving abilities. It can also foster more collaboration. With VR, students in different locations can work together on experiments, design solutions with one another or problem-solve as a team.But why isn't VR in all classrooms yet? Namely, costs. One major drawback of using VR in STEM classrooms is the upfront cost of headgear, software and content. STEM teachers also need to be trained on the best practices of how to incorporate VR and learning. There are currently several workshops, classes and events that supply educators with the technical knowledge and skills they need to utilize VR equipment and software in their classrooms. The investment in VR is a long-term commitment to STEM education.Since it's highly likely VR will continue to transform the way students interact with STEM subjects, it will be increasingly important for educators and educational policymakers to supply teachers with the support they need so all students can embrace the full potential of VR in education.Find out more about how engineers at Northrop Grumman are using virtual reality to help visualize what's possible.

Virtual Reality and Learning: How VR Is Changing STEM Education

 Today's technology companies offer many nontraditional incentives to attract, develop and retain the most talented employees. Flexible floor plans and fun company outings are becoming more common in the workplace, especially in startup environments. But large, well-established companies can offer a more dramatic job perk by providing opportunities for employees to work overseas.Why Employees Want to Work Overseas College students want to study abroad for many reasons: to see the world, experience a new culture, learn a new language and get a fresh start. Many adults have these same desires, but a foreign work assignment has the added benefits of a salary and invaluable professional development. When a local position feels too traditional but a job transfer seems too drastic, a rotational stay can be just right. By taking a foreign assignment, employees face exciting challenges that keep their jobs interesting and fulfilling. Or, to put it simply, they get paid to travel to exotic places. Living abroad can give employees a fresh perspective that is vital to personal growth and professional development. It is a chance to explore the world while learning new skills and gaining international business experience that will continue to be useful when they continue their careers upon returning to the United States. Northrop Grumman offers a two-year Global Engineer Rotation Program to select members of the aerospace division. One participant in this program, Kathryn Williams, says that working as the Australia aerospace program's technical lead for Aerospace Systems helped her think more broadly about both her personal life and her career. She is spending two years working with Australian government representatives toward a future acquisition of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial system. "As an engineer who mainly supported programs in the execution phase, working on a program that isn't yet on contract is a great growth experience," she says. "The whole perspective is different. Although the concept of promoting customer confidence through technical excellence — combined with strong relationship building — is the same."How Employers Benefit A change of scenery helps boost creativity and productivity, which helps individuals and organizations alike. Clearly, there are many reasons for employees to consider working overseas. Therefore, foreign exchange programs can help large technology companies recruit and retain top talent. Today's job seekers are looking for a dynamic workplace, and what could be more exciting than moving to a new country? The best employees can also be recruited by competitors or look for new opportunities if they don't feel challenged. An overseas assignment can help keep things interesting and avoid boredom. Tyler Tamashiro is a Northrop Grumman engineer working to expand the company's presence in Tokyo. The engineering rotation has given him the opportunity to be the primary technical contact to customers and industry partners in Japan. "As a conduit between Northrop Grumman and the customer, I work to gain a mutual understanding and resolution on a range of subjects," he explains. "Face-to-face interaction is particularly important in a country such as Japan, where there is a greater chance of details and subtleties being lost in translation." Overseas exchange programs like Northrop Grumman's engineering rotation can help a company expand in target markets and participate in a global economy. Sending employees to live abroad can help increase business opportunities overseas and unite global teams. While international business travel is good enough for many transactions, it doesn't allow company representatives to go deep enough to make big changes. By living abroad, employees can uncover a country's uniqueness and discover subtle cultural differences that could make or break a deal.

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