Intel is working to create a more responsible, inclusive, and sustainable world. Through our unified “One Intel” ESG framework, RISE, we’re increasing the representation of women and underrepresented minorities in leadership and technical positions at Intel, advancing accessibility, and embedding inclusive leadership practices in our culture and across our business. Read on to learn about how these talented Intel employees are making a difference and what advice they want to pass on to the next generation.
Cheryl Stadlman (Foundry Construction Enterprise, Arizona, USA)
What do you do in your job at Intel?
I am the technical advisor and chief of staff for Foundry Construction Enterprise. I serve as a sounding board to the vice president of our organization on Intel construction projects, providing technical and strategic input on a variety of topics to help our organization and people operate more effectively. In Foundry Construction Enterprise, we care about our people and their well-being, and part of my job is to ensure our employees and staff have what they need to do their jobs.
What is the most unique, fun or interesting thing about your job?
Along with our vice president, I have the single broadest view of Intel’s entire global construction portfolio. We are the second largest owner construction organization (capex based) in the world. To see every aspect of a portfolio like that is amazing! I am connected to each project enough to understand scope, budget, schedule, resource and headcount needs, and training requirements. I also have a front row seat with our key suppliers, understanding how they support our business. I joke that I have my hands in every project cookie jar, but I make no cookies.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
There are two things I look back on with pride in my career. I was a seed engineer for Intel’s P1268 process technology, and I owned the concept development, design, construction, startup and transfer of a specialty water treatment process that was critical to the lithography process for the technology. I truly grew up as an engineer during that project. Additionally, I am very proud of the organization we have built in Foundry Construction Enterprise. I started when the group was just a month old. After five years we have grown into an amazing organization that is spearheading Intel’s IDM 2.0 growth worldwide.
Rene Johnson (Global Sourcing for Equipment and Materials, Tokyo, Japan)
What do you do in your job at Intel?
I am an industrial engineer in the Substrate Business Group. I work with suppliers who provide Intel with products called substrates, which are needed for connecting chips to circuit boards. I calculate how much these substrate products our suppliers can produce. I also communicate internally if our supplier factories can be changed to be able to produce newer substrate product types. This helps our internal teams plan and understand how we can support Intel’s supply chain needs with current supplier factories, as well as determine what is necessary for future technology planning.
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?
An Intel recruiting team inspired me. I didn’t take formal engineering courses, so being an engineer was not on my radar. In my final year of grad school, Intel came to campus to present about process engineering opportunities at the Oregon fab and welcomed anyone from doctorate programs in the physical sciences. I attended out of curiosity, and I am so glad I did. Besides the chance to be in a research-like job in a large-scale facility with the result being a tangible, cutting-edge product, the overall job description of working with your hands and collaborating with others to solve problems that no one has solved before, was exciting. I thought, “Wow, I want to do that!”
Is there a female role model who has inspired you? What did you learn from her?
There are many women at Intel that have and continue to inspire me: The Black Network of Executive Women (BNEW), women from my Technology Development days, in supply chain and in Japan! However, one of my top role models is my grandmother. She immigrated to the U.S. with her husband and five children, ensured all her children got an education, worked as a pediatric registered nurse and even after retirement still went to the local community college to keep leaning about subjects that interested her. She celebrated academic achievements, encouraged all of us to continue our education, did what she could to ease the cost burden of education and made sure to give back to those needing help with education in her home country. What I learned from her is to take on challenges, celebrate all wins, never stop learning and pay it forward in whatever way I can.
Ashley Walsh (Global Supply Chain Operations, Oregon, USA)
I’m a business risk manager and program manager in Supply Chain Responsibility. My role is unique in that I split my time between two groups. The first is on the Enabling Team as a business risk manager where I support Assembly Test suppliers in understanding and completing deliverables related to regulatory compliance, as well as Intel’s RISE goals. The second is as a program manager on the Responsible Chemicals team where I focus primarily on U.S. regulations like the Toxic Substances Control Act. Prior to this, I was an environmental engineer supporting Oregon’s Ronler and Aloha sites, specializing in wastewater and hazardous waste compliance.
What is your superpower and how has it helped you in your role as an engineer?
As cliche as it is, communication skills are my superpower. School focused primarily on building engineering skills, but I find in my day-to-day life that the biggest problems to solve are interpersonal. Persuasion is a big part in getting ideas heard and implemented.
What is the best career advice you’ve received, and what advice would you give to young women who are considering a career in engineering?
Find your allies. As an Aries, as much as I want to bulldoze through to a solution, creating change requires collaboration and it’s impossible without finding others that will support you and who you can support in return.
Jessica Suazo (Assembly Test Manufacturing, Costa Rica)
I am a module application engineer in Test Engineering at Costa Rica Assembly Test. I am responsible for programs and a team of technicians who detect marginalities in products.
What is your superpower and how has it helped you in your role as an engineer?
My superpower is my problem-solving ability. This helps me to analyze different scenarios and possibilities for any situation. Every engineer loves problems. It is our job to find efficient solutions. I have learned how to think outside the box while maintaining a methodology and documentation. This ability helps me think of innovative solutions to fix problems.
What advice would you give to young women who are considering a career in engineering?
It's okay to feel scared or overwhelmed sometimes. Being strong doesn't mean you can't be sensitive and caring. You don't have to prove anything to anyone but yourself.
Roseanna Lawandi (Fab Sort Manufacturing, Ohio, USA)
I am a module engineer and am responsible for the health and productivity of multiple dry etch tools. In the fabrication process of Intel products, multiple layers with complex designs are involved to make functional devices. Since we work with layers at a very microscopic level (nanometers in size), there are multiple steps required to deposit materials and remove unwanted materials—a process called etching. I am responsible for the removal of unwanted material for critical precision, troubleshooting the mechanical and process-related issues.
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?
From a young age, I've always been fascinated by how electronic devices work, the mechanism of things and what they are made of. Driven by a passion to understand and create, I would eagerly take apart old electronics and make a mess along the way, attempting to fix broken toys. This curiosity has only grown with time, fueling my desire to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies and innovations.
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your engineering career?
Receiving a Ph.D. degree in electro-optics and photonics engineering tops my achievements. Pursuing a Ph.D. is not a trivial task but working on optics and photonics projects is distinctly challenging as they are the newest research being explored. I am proud to be a credible source in the field and to serve many people in my department with my knowledge.
Robertha Howell (Fab Sort Manufacturing, Arizona, USA)
I am a process engineer and I work on improving how Intel makes wafers, making the process more efficient and robust and solving challenging problems as they arise.
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?
My love for mathematics and science fueled by a desire to understand how “everything” worked was a huge driver for being an engineer. My mother would inspire me further by getting me books of mathematical puzzles and encouraging me to experiment with science.
What is your superpower and how has it helped you in your role as an engineer?
My superpower is persistence. I have learned that a “failure” does not mean that I have failed and that often the route to success is to learn from that failure to plan the next steps. This gives me the drive to keep at it until the task is completed.
Catherine Grace Alba (Corporate Services, Vietnam)
In my role as the Global Environmental Health and Safety manager for Assembly Test Manufacturing at Intel, I ensure that our operations not only meet but also exceed regulatory compliance and set industry benchmarks for health and safety. My team conducts work environment monitoring, anticipates and proactively identifies risks, analyzes trends, and seamlessly integrates EHS standards into our daily operations. We actively engage with regulatory bodies to influence new regulations. My role extends beyond compliance; it involves cultivating a culture of safety and environmental stewardship. By upholding these values, we protect our employees and the environment, reinforcing Intel's commitment to responsible manufacturing and enhancing our business' sustainability and success.
What would you tell girls in school today about a career in STEM that may inspire them to also pursue a career in STEM?
To all the girls with a spark of curiosity and a passion for learning, STEM is a field of endless possibilities. It is not just a path to a career; it is a field where curiosity leads to constant discovery, drives innovation and fosters positive change. Your unique ideas could lead to the next great breakthrough and help shape the future.
Is there a female role model who has inspired you?
At the Global Advancement of Women Conference, a cross-industry event sponsored by Intel among others, I met many inspiring female leaders who made an impression on me. They collectively imparted wisdom on the importance of building my own brand, discussed personal, cultural and structural challenges women face, emphasized the balance between work and personal life, and highlighted the power of self-awareness. Knowing my strengths and weaknesses has helped me make better career choices, adjust my approach when necessary, and turn biases into advantages. Their insights have been invaluable in guiding my career.
Wahida Zulkipli (Penang Disaggregation Manufacturing Operation, Penang, Malaysia)
I am a Penang Disaggregation Manufacturing area coordinator. My role is to ensure the successful implementation of tool installations for the Planar module. As a member of the pioneering team, I contribute to leading the implementation of cutting-edge technologies for Intel’s latest advanced packaging technologies, guiding them from initial process set-up to high-volume manufacturing.
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?
No one person inspired me to become and engineer. For me, it was trying it, liking it and then realizing I had a talent for it. I found it to be something I was naturally good at. Ultimately, it was a combination of my natural curiosity, supportive mentors and family and admiration for engineering pioneers that led me down this path.
What would you tell girls in school today about engineering that may inspire them to become the next generation of female engineers?
Knowing your worth and what you can accomplish is a huge motivator to enter engineering. So many girls think engineering is too hard or they are not smart enough. As women, we often can be our own worst enemies and feel under-confident, especially in the workplace. My advice to young women aspiring to work in the engineering field is to always put yourself forward for chances and have confidence in yourself.