Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1511625
84 PCB007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2023 I'll name a few things. One, they're always moving fast, and that's good for our world. We need fast solutions. is new generation is more committed to work-life balance than any prior genera- tion, so companies need to figure out how to accommodate that. at's a good thing. As we know, this generation is more prone to anxi- ety as well, so we need to think about how to address that. We can't just deny it. ey're also more equipped to use social media and tech in unique ways. Higher education and compa- nies need to support the newer generation and their needs. An example is remote work; providing more people with flexibility in where they work, if it can be done that way. Another example is hav- ing a more inclusive workplace, where peo- ple can feel good about being their true selves, contributing to the mission of the organization and communicating that to their employees. at's a little different from prior generations. e more we do that, the more it will benefit everybody, help push products forward. By embracing some of those characteristics and ensuring we're taking that human-centered approach, we can arrive at a quicker or better solution than we otherwise would have. Once a student graduates, what advice would you give them to pursue a career within their chosen field? Do something that makes you excited, that gets you out of bed every day. If you've studied engineering and you love engineering, make sure your job aligns with that passion. Some- times students take the highest salary and then leave quickly because they're not aligned with their passion. e most fulfilling thing I see is when somebody graduates with an engineer- ing degree, gets a good salary, and works for a nonprofit using those technical skills to ben- efit society. I always am so thrilled when I see our students following those passions to the benefit of society. at's the strongest piece of advice that I would give. Next, look at the culture of the organiza- tion. As you change jobs ask, "Am I a good fit? Does this company align with my values or not?" Hopefully, you'll come out the other end being a contributor to something you really believe in. PCB007 The full podcast interview with Dr. Alexis Abramson is available here. Mike Konrad is founder and CEO of Aqueous Technologies, and vice president of communi- cations for SMTA. To read past columns, click here.