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Young Voices, Native Americans
in Engineering
By Barbara Sorensen
 In
the corporate world, young Native American engineers are taking
control of their destinies
and redefining leadership in terms of their own cultural identities.
Brooke Lutz, an Odawa Indian from Michigan, works as a process engineer
for Haworth, Inc. Hoping to encourage other Native Americans to
work confi-dently in the business world, she published a booklet,
“Survival Skills for New Engineers.”
Barbara Sorensen: Where did you grow up
and who were your influences?
Brooke Lutz: I grew up in Muskegon, Michigan of Odawa descent on
my mother's side. My mother and grand-mother were very strong female
influences. My grandmother taught me about giving and the importance
of giv-ing within a community. I learned that if someone was in
need, you must help them with food or clothes, or support. You make
sure that the people around you are taken care of. I think that
is an indigenous influence that we all have to succeed and we all
have to get where we're going together. I grew up poor so those
lessons are still there, they still apply.
Did you have cultural support in the Muskegon area?
No, there wasn't a lot of cultural support. Some women taught me
how to dance and gave me some directions on how to make dancing
regalia in Wood-land style. I enjoy dancing and the sense of pride
that it gives my family and community. In 1995 the United States
federal government recognized my tribe. Since that time, the Little
River Ottawa have done a lot of work to provide cultural programs
and support.
What was college like for you?
To begin with my mother always challenged us to be leaders and that
includ-ed going to college. My sister and I were the first generation
in our family to go. I wasn't intimidated by the idea of college
because I took summer classes at nearby colleges that prepared me
for the environment. Once I got to the University of Michigan in
Ann Arbor, I joined the American Indian Science and Engineering
Society (AISES). I also had two g reat mentors who were both mathematicians.
Dr. Tom Storer, Navajo, was the first Native tenured professor at
the university. Dr. Bob Megginson, Lakota/ Sequoyah, gave me a job
in the math lab and became my adviser. He gave me the opportunity
to teach young people for two weeks during summers at Turtle Mountain
Reservation in North Dakota. Dr. Tom gave me good advice. He taught
me not to be one-dimensional and to respect the struggles Elders
have undergone.
So mentors are important for Native college
students?
Yes, I would encourage everyone to be a mentor to a young person.
You never know what impression you're making on a young person's
life. I think people underestimate what their time can do and the
difference they can make in someone's life.
What was it like as a Native person to
transition from the college life to a corporate world?
I began work as an engineer for Haworth, Inc. in Holland, Michigan.
It was a huge change from college life. In college there's no transition
class that prepares you for the work world. For one thing, I was
used to having a lot of Native American friends on campus. Suddenly
there were none and it was hard to build a brand new group of friends.
The work environment wasn't structured either in terms of how I
could get ahead. The rules were all changed. It took me five years
to develop as a professional.
What are some tips that you can give to young people just starting
out?
I think having a good relationship with your boss is very important.
Look for a good leader, one who people can trust, who can communicate
well and will stick to their word.
Did your booklet, "Survival Skills
for Young Engineers" develop out of these observations that
you made during those five years?
I saw that there was a need for transition skills and tips. It was
also my way of giving back to my Native community. I didn't want
to come off as an authority. The things I wrote about are all my
own personal experiences and observations. I haven't really done
any aggressive marketing of the booklet except to the American Indian
Science and Engineering Society. I presented it to a workshop at
the AISES National Conference in Portland, Oregon in November 2000.
Do you ever feel like work is taking up most
parts of your life? How do you avoid having that happen?
My work is only one component of my life. It is hard for people
in the business world to redevelop other parts of their life—friends
and family. But I always tell people not to forget their culture
and their community. I personally don't feel fulfilled or complete
without all the other components of my life. I run and ski, bike
and roller-blade. I enjoy being outside a lot.
How do you see Indian leadership developing
in this country?
I envision a continued sense of community and leadership within
companies, government and universities. I see Indian people advancing
in technology and being represented in every aspect of society.
As Native people, I see us bringing our culture into business and
not being driven solely by money.
Are there areas where Indian leadership
can be further developed?
I'd like to see Native people take the lead in issues that have
to do with preserving the environment. Is there sometimes a negative
connotation that goes along with the idea of technology? Yes, but
technology is neither good nor bad. The challenge is learning how
to use it for the good of the environment and our people. We need
to learn how to balance this. We cannot afford to ignore technology.
Technology is not appropriate for all people, but we have the opportunities
to make changes in policies that effect our people.
Do you see young people as being less socially
active then other generations?
Young people are no different than any other group in our society.
We seem too busy and don't spend enough time giving back to our
communities. I struggled with this after graduating from college.
It took a couple of years before I became involved in projects that
would help other people, but many of my Native friends have dedicated
their careers to helping others. I have friends who are doctors,
lawyers and professors who are all very conscious of giving back
to their communities.
What would you tell a young engineering
student who is also interested in business?
Engineering is really applied science combined with business. Figure
out where you can overlap your knowledge of technology with business.
Find an organization that will provide you with a challenge and
an interesting career. In my job, I'm what they call "cross-functional."
I'm responsible for the supply chain process and figuring out ways
to get the product to the customer. I do hands-on process design
and capacity analysis. I also buy equipment. Every day I do something
different. But the most important thing you can do as a student
is to stay in school and graduate. Education will open doors for
you.
Barbara Sorensen is senior editor for Winds of Change magazine.
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Survival
Skills for New Engineers or New Professionals
By Brooke Lutz
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I
was motivated to create a guide for people beginning their
professional careers. Specifically, I wanted to focus on the
lessons that I had learned the hard way over the first five
years of my career. In other words, “What I wish someone
would have told me five years ago, so I wouldn’t have
hit my head on some walls!” I respect the lessons learned
and relationships built because it is a sign of growth. Nothing
can replace experience and learning from your mistakes. Even
though some of these lessons were painful to learn, I can
now look back on them with a sense of accomplishment and even
some humor. So let’s embark and ask, “What are the
most important skills for new engineers?”
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Respect
Your Personal Experiences
• You are UNIQUE
• Know your strengths
• Share your experiences
• Experiences change over time
You may be new to the work force or a certain
position, but remember you are a unique individual with
strengths. It is important to spend some time learning
your strengths, so you will be able to articulate and
draw from them. Sharing your
personal experiences may help others connect with you.
I like to share things like where I went to college,
some of my hobbies and my work experiences. For example,
I am employed by the second largest furniture manufacturer
in the world and have led many supply chain projects.
Remember that you bring your personal experiences with
you to your first job. These experiences will grow and
change over time.
First
Job
• Know what you are looking for
• Be Prepared for interviews
• Choose the “Right Boss”
• Enthusiasm
• “Am I going to enjoy this job?”
• NEGOTIATE
Sometimes recent college
graduates interview for jobs without being able to articulate
what they are looking for or why they want the job.
Be able to clearly state what you are looking for and
give reasons. Enthusiasm is a powerful attribute that
anyone can use in an interview. Interviews are good
opportunities to assess how well you will fit in with
an organization. Identify who would be your future boss
and consider how well you think you would work with
this individual.These factors are important to con sider
in whether you will enjoy your new job. Lastly, don’t
forget to negotiate your salary and benefits package.
Respectfully ask for more. Ifnothing else, the perspective
company will decline increasing the offer and you will
have assurance that youhave the best compensation available
when accepting a job.
Create
an Action Plan
• Build relationships and network
• Find a project to gain some visibility
• Seek community involvement
• Mentor
So now that you have landed that first
job, create your own personal act on plan. It is important
to spend some time building relationships with both
managers and peers. Lunches and breaks are good opportunities
to network with co-workers. Peers and other co-workers
are potential mentors and may help you adjust to your
new responsibilities and contribute to your success
in the future. Perceptions play a more important role
in professional life than they did in school. Perceptions
can help you succeed or they may hinder your progress
in an organiza tion. New hires can gain visibility by
vol-unteering for projects. In addition to adjusting
to changes in your professional life, seek some balance
in your life outside work. By becominginvolved in your
community, you can give back and create positive relationships.
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Work
Place Conflict
• Avoid “Grey areas”
• Don’t take it personally, focus on the issues
• Support opinions with data
• Communicate issues with supervisor
Conflict in the workplace in inevitable.
The best way to prepare for it is to find effective
ways to deal with conflict. Most organizations have
policies against workplace harassment. However, you
may encounter “Grey areas” or offensive remarks
that make you feel uncomfortable. I strongly recommend
that you voice your discomfort immediately in the situation
and ask for people to change the subject. Usually your
co-workers willcomply with your request and the situation
will resolve quietly. At some point, you will disagree
with your co-worker concerning how to accomplish tasks.
You will have to make recommendations and defend your
positions. Use supporting data and facts to support
your ideas and try to avoid taking conflicts personally.
Good conflict resolution skills are learned through
experience and highly valued in most organizations.
Gender
Differences
• Approach to careers
• Salary differences
• Numbers in management
As a woman engineer, I have observed differences
between men and women in the workplace. In general,
women seem to take a more holistic approach than men
do. Women seem to strive for a healthy balance between
career and family, while men seem to view their careers
as their livelihood. These behaviors have both positive
and negative implications. Historically women have been
paid less than men and have played less of a role in
management. I recommend that everyone research salaries
including benefits to ensure that their overall compensation
is equitable and fair. Information regarding compensation
is available on the Internet.
Promotions
• Learn the rules for promotions
• Set goals
• Your supervisor will negotiate your raise
• Assess risk
The rules for advancement in the workplace are
different than the rules for getting good grades in
school. Salary ranges, job descriptions, co workers’
perceptions and politics are all factors in promotion.
Individuals are responsible for their own career development
and should set clear goals for their advancement. Your
supervisor will negotiate your raise, so make sure you
have a good relation ship. Your progress may hinge on
what your co-workers think of you. Whether you are perceived
as a good team player or not may influence your promotion.
Sometimes obtaining a promotion will require a change
in departments or company. You may have to assess the
risk of changing companies or staying without being
promoted.
Final
Advice
• Enjoy your first job experiences
• Change in attitude
• Set goals
• Community involvement
My final advice for new professionals is
to do more than just survive. The transition from college
to the work place can be confusing and frustrating at
times. It definitely takes a change in attitude to adjust,
but the transition gets better with time. By setting
goals in your career, you can navigate the challenges
in your first job. After college, my group of friends
dispersed all over the country. By getting involved
in local community groups, you can build new social
circles. And finally, enjoy the new challenges ahead!
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