Maddie Likins-White Of Community College of Denver On How We Can Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics
An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
Less fear-mongering towards engineering. It can be difficult, but anyone can be an engineer with the right mindset and hard work.
Despite the growing importance of engineering and robotics in shaping our future, women remain significantly underrepresented in these fields. This series aims to explore and address the barriers that discourage girls from pursuing careers in engineering and robotics.
We are talking to educators, industry leaders, pioneering women engineers, and robotics experts who have made significant contributions to their fields, to discuss the strategies they believe can inspire and increase the participation of young girls in engineering and robotics.
As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Maddie Likins-White, P.E..
Maddie began her engineering journey at Oklahoma State University where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Directly after graduating, she continued her education at Texas A&M University where she graduated with her Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and researched on building energy and simulation. Maddie then moved to Austin, Texas where she began her job as an Engineering Associate at a Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing design firm. During this time, sshe worked on the HVAC design of schools, historic museums, and other commercial buildings. She also performed energy simulations used in the LEED Certification process for high rise buildings throughout Austin.
After three years, Maddie received her Professional Engineering License in Mechanical Engineering and decided to shift gears to focus on her ultimate goal of becoming a professor. She now attends the University of Colorado Boulder pursuing her PhD in Architectural Engineering while working as an Assistant Professor of Engineering at the Community College of Denver (CCD). Maddie has found a place within the City Hawk family and hopes to continue expanding the engineering program at CCD.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I chose engineering because my dad was an engineer, and I loved math. I stuck with it and went into HVAC design after reading an article on the new cooling system being designed for the Sistine Chapel. I love when science and art can be merged.
What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering or robotics, and how can we replicate that inspiration for young girls?
My parents inspired me by constantly encouraging me in math and sciences. Their words made me confident in my abilities and served as a self-fulfilling prophecy. I saw a job I wanted so I did it. I think we need to tell young girls that they are capable of entering the field with or without inspiration. If they want to do it too, then they can!
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?
I am grateful to my mom and dad for always encouraging me. Additionally, one of my professors, Dr. Brown, saw my potential and consistently supported me.
Can you share a story of a challenge you faced as a woman in engineering or robotics and how you overcame it?
The biggest challenge for me was having no one in class or at my job look like me. It was a lot of men who often looked down on me but I really enjoy proving people wrong. I used that to drive me to work hard and unravel the expectations my peers had of me.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
I don’t have a favorite life lesson quote per se, but the Dunning-Kruger Effect really stuck with me. It’s a curve that basically says the more you learn, the less you know or the less you feel like you understand something. It kept me grounded in a field with a lot of ego.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
I have used my success to make the world a better place, by becoming an educator. We are not meant to do things completely on our own, so I hope I can help students achieve their goals in the same way I had professors help me.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this report, only about 16% of engineering positions in the US are held by women. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from Engineering and Robotics?
The idea that it’s a “man’s job” and women aren’t being encouraged to do it. You also don’t see a lot of women in engineering or in school (I had 3 female professors across 8 years of school) so I think young girls need to SEE professors and engineers who look like them and be encouraged that they can do it.
This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should enter the Engineering and Robotics fields?
Studies show that across the board, diversity leads to more success for businesses. Simply put, women are going to add a different perspective and round out a cohort that benefits everyone involved.
Can you please share “5 Things We Need To Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics?”
1 . Encouragement/words of affirmation starting at a young age
2 . Less gendering at a young age (even with toys and subjects, etc)
3 . SEEING women engineers and professors both in real life and in the media
4 . Clubs or activities that combine engineering with other interests (like the tie between art and engineering!)
5 . Less fear-mongering towards engineering. It can be difficult, but anyone can be an engineer with the right mindset and hard work.
In your opinion, what are the most effective ways to introduce girls to engineering and robotics at an early age?
Introducing girls to problem-solving early on, along with fostering a love for reading, are excellent methods for sparking interest in engineering. Problem-solving skills are fundamental across all engineering disciplines and can be nurtured through interactive toys, educational games, and hands-on activities.
How do you think the portrayal of women in STEM fields by media and educational materials impacts girls’ interest in engineering and robotics?
The portrayal of women in STEM fields by media and educational materials plays a significant role in shaping girls’ interest in engineering and robotics. When girls rarely see women represented in these fields, it reinforces the stereotype that STEM is primarily for men. This lack of representation can lead to feelings of exclusion and discouragement among girls who may otherwise be interested in pursuing careers in engineering and robotics. It’s essential to showcase diverse role models and highlight the achievements of women in STEM to challenge these stereotypes and inspire girls to pursue their interests in these fields.
What advice would you give to girls who are interested in engineering and robotics but are hesitant to take the first step?
For girls interested in engineering and robotics but hesitant to take the first step, my advice would be to seek out a mentor who shares their passion. Finding a mentor, regardless of age, who is already pursuing a career in engineering can provide valuable guidance, support, and encouragement. Mentors can offer insights into the field, share their experiences, and provide advice on navigating challenges.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
If I could inspire a movement, it would be one that brings women and girls together to support and empower each other in STEM fields. This movement would focus on fostering a sense of community and collaboration among women and girls, rather than perpetuating a competitive mindset. By creating spaces for mentorship, networking, and skill-sharing, this movement would help women and girls overcome barriers, build confidence, and succeed in STEM careers.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can connect with me on LinkedIn.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
