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Engineering transforms curiosity into impact. At FIRST®, we see it every day. Hands-on STEM experiences help young people around the world discover who they are, what they can do, and their limitless potential. Early exposure to engineering doesn’t just open doors; it builds confidence, purpose, and pathways to meaningful futures. From scientific discovery and employee experience to MedTech breakthroughs and beyond, engineering skills prepare students for careers that shape how we live, move, heal, and connect. In celebration of Engineers Week and this year’s theme, Transform Your Future, meet employees from 3M, Dow, and Johnson & Johnson whose journeys began with curiosity and grew into careers powered by STEM.
Lisa Williams
Sr. Director, Operations Talent Strategy and Employee Experience at Dow 
From an early age, Lisa was drawn to how things work, always tinkering with machines and fueled by a family that encouraged her curiosity. That early spark led her through magnet programs, an engineering high school, and Prairie View A&M University, where she discovered that engineering was not just a degree but a way of thinking that would open doors far beyond the field itself. Today, she applies those same engineering principles—logical problem solving, risk management, and systems thinking—to lead the holistic talent strategy for M&E Operations at Dow, shaping how more than 20,000 employees grow, adapt, and thrive. Engineering transformed her life by giving her a mindset that empowers her to build resilient teams, navigate complexity, and create lasting impact.
Cassandra Beck
Director, Global Strategic Insights, Surgery, MedTech at Johnson & Johnson 
Introduced to engineering as a young girl by STEAM-educator parents, Cassandra grew up taking things apart, learning tools and design principles, and even helped launch a FIRST® Robotics Competition team at just six years old, eventually joining FIRST Robotics Competition Team 103 “Cybersonics.” That early immersion sparked a love for math, systems, and strategy that carried her through degrees in Decision Systems Sciences and Business Analytics. Now, she leads a team at Johnson & Johnson MedTech that transforms complex data into clear direction, blending analytics, technology, and clinical insight to guide product decisions and improve patient outcomes. Engineering shaped her life by teaching her how to ask the right questions, connect disparate signals, and turn complexity into solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.
Jayshree Seth
Corporate Scientist at 3M 
Jayshree was introduced to engineering at a young age, growing up on the campus of the engineering institution where her father taught. Surrounded by STEM professionals, she and her brother were encouraged to pursue the field and the opportunities it held. Early on, she didn’t see how engineering related to her goals, but now she is living it. Today, she brings that lifelong passion to her work at 3M, where she has contributed to innovations ranging from fasteners to keep diapers on wiggly babies to tapes for industrial strength bonds. She is currently focused on developing AI use cases in R&D, continuing to expand her STEM horizons while championing what she calls the “real STEM": Skills, Talent, Expertise, and Mindset!