NGCP Champions Board members are selected to give the NGCP a balance of desirable expertise and regional representation. We highlight Champions Board members to inspire and inform

your work to engage girls in STEM. This month we feature one of our newest Champions Board

Jennifer McNelly

members Jennifer McNelly.   

What excites you most about your work?  

The most exciting thing about my career is the passion I have for helping kids think about learning in a different way and inspiring our young generations to move forward with their creative interests. Cultivating and educating a future of leaders all plays into what I love about my job. It's exciting to motivate kids to explore these new opportunities for their futures. As president of the Institute, I feel and hope that I am making a real difference with these initiatives. In addition, nothing gives me more passion than seeing a young student build and launch their first rocket, or meeting an adult who is pursuing an industry-recognized credential to return to work. At the end of the day, my passion is deeply rooted in impacting the lives of individuals.  

Most importantly, what excites me is working with young girls to break the manufacturing stereotypes and pursue STEM-related careers. The reality is young girls are becoming more and more interested in manufacturing careers. The excitement of this progression is why I strive to make a difference.

What do you most appreciate in a collaborator?
In a collaborator, I think the two most valuable and vital qualities are honesty and follow-through.

Who are your role models? My mom is one of my biggest role models. I give credit to her for who I am today.  But, switching this question around a little bit, in my career I have had experiences with bad managers. From these experiences, I learned about the manager that I didn't want to be. As I grew to learn the type of leader I didn't want to be, I recognized my responsibility to grow and develop my staff members and to help them figure out their paths in life. I learned to pay it forward every day and help my team excel at their passions.

What advice would you give to the NGCP community? Lead your future - destiny is something you set for yourself. It is essential to never give up, and work hard for what you want out of life. Do not be afraid to take chances and lead with passion. And most importantly, hold yourself accountable for tomorrow.  

If you want to make a difference in the world, then you must take action and take responsibility for that difference. There is a need for women in STEM-related careers as there is a huge deficit in the skills gap. Women positively impact the manufacturing industry and are essential to what our economy needs.