50 Stories for 50 Years | Story #29: Karen Santos - Navigating Engineering with Compassion and Leadership

SHPE Out Loud: Leading Hispanics in STEM

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud! In our 29th episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, producer Alex Wait sits down with Karen Santos, a Cloud Platform Specialist at IBM and the current Board Secretary of SHPE. Born in Mexico and raised in San Diego, Karen’s journey from receiving her first Mac computer at age 10 to becoming an influential leader in STEM is nothing short of inspiring.

Karen shares how her parents equipped her with street smarts and business acumen, paving the way for her to pursue a career in engineering. After an intense college application process, Karen attended Ohio State University, where she majored in Industrial Systems Engineering with a minor in Humanities Engineering. It was at Ohio State that Karen discovered SHPE and began volunteering for various programs, including Noches de Ciencias. She eventually held multiple chapter positions, including Secretary and President, during the challenging times of the pandemic.

In this episode, Karen opens up about her personal struggles and professional triumphs, showcasing her infectious optimism and dynamic leadership. Her story is a testament to the symbiotic relationship SHPE fosters, where members give and receive support in equal measure.

Join us as we delve into Karen Santos' journey, her advice, and the impact she has made on the SHPE community.

Missed any episodes? Visit shpe.org/50-stories to catch up on all the inspiring narratives. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and our YouTube channel for weekly SHPE stories and select video interviews.

Save the date for our National Convention and 50th Anniversary Celebration in Anaheim, October 30th through November 3rd. Learn more at shpe.org/2024.

And remember, you belong here and at every level of the STEM industry. ¡Cuidate Familia!

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