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JULY 2026 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 17 Dr. Jennie S. Hwang, an inter- national businesswoman, speaker, and business and technology advisor, is a pioneer and long- standing leader in SMT manufacturing since its inception, and in developing and implementing lead-free electronics technology and manufacturing. She has served as chair of Artificial Intelligence- Justified Confidence for DoD Command and Control study, chair of AI Committee of the National Acad- emies, and Review Panels of NSF National AI Insti- tutes and Committee of Strategic Thinking for Engi- neering Research. An International Hall of Famer (Women in Technology), she has been inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, named an R&D-Stars-to-Watch, and received the YWCA Achievement Award. She has held senior executive positions with Lockheed Martin Corp., and was CEO of International Electronic Materials Corp. She is currently CEO of H-Technologies Group, providing business, technology, and manufacturing solutions. She has served as chair of the Laboratory Assessment Board, the DoD Army Research Labo- ratory Assessment Board, and the Assessment Board of Army Engineering Centers. She is on the board of Fortune-500 NYSE companies and civic and university boards, Commerce Department's Export Council, National Materials and Manufac- turing Board, NIST Assessment Board, various national panels/committees, and international lead- ership positions. She is the author of 10 books (four as co-author) and 750+ technical/editorial publications. She is a speaker and author on trade, business, and educa- tion issues. Her formal education includes four academic degrees (Ph.D., M.S., M.A., B.S.), as well as Harvard Business School Executive Program and Columbia University Corporate Governance Program. To read previous columns, click here. toward short-term metrics, rapid responses, and continuous adjustment. Churchill's example reminds us that perspective is a competitive advantage. It allows leaders to prioritize effectively, resist distrac- tions, and align actions with long-term objectives. Resilience Churchill demonstrated that resilience is built through consistent habits, decision-making, and communication, and through the capacity to recover quickly from setbacks. It's adaptive endurance, and for him, it was sustained. His resilience required emotional stamina, intellectual rigor, and an ability to persist under relentless pressure. Courage Beyond Optimism In contemporary leadership, there is often pressure to appear positive at all costs. Yet forced optimism can erode credibility. Churchill's approach reminds us that courage is about acknowledging difficulty while committing fully to the path forward. Churchill embodied communication, clarity, courage, resilience, perspective, partnership, and humanity. He put them into operation when failure was not an option. In reflecting on his legacy, today's leaders should not ask whether they will face comparable crises, but whether they are cultivating the qualities required to lead when it matters most. Churchill didn't try to be perfect. He sought moral clarity, infectious courage, and the power of the word. He is my strategic compass and intellectual anchor. I am moved by his words, "It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary." Contexts and tools change. Challenges evolve. But the foundational principles of greatness endure. Winston Churchill is not a historical figure, but a blueprint for resilience and true leadership. SMT007 Upcoming Appearances Dr. Jennie Hwang will present a lecture on "Artificial Intelligence and AI-powered Future Manufacturing," Oct. 26, at SMTAI, in Chicago. She will also present two virtual lectures on "Reliability of Electronics: Tin Whisker," Aug. 18 and 20, for the Global Electronics Association. S M T P E RS P ECT I V ES & P RO S P ECTS