Her Story
About Katie
Katie K. F. Glass, Ph.D., is a Principal Scientist and engineering professional at Procter & Gamble, where she applies her expertise in product design, process development, manufacturing scale-up, modeling, and engineering innovation within the consumer goods manufacturing industry. Over more than 18 years with Procter & Gamble, she has progressed through increasingly senior technical roles, including Scientist, Senior Scientist, Group Scientist, and Principal Scientist. Her work encompasses product design, process development, manufacturing support, technical standards, and the application of first-principles and empirical modeling to solve complex technical problems.
Dr. Glass holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Youngstown State University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and with Honors. Her doctoral research focused on numerical modeling of diffusion-based extraction in microfluidic systems, with applications to cell suspension and stem-cell-related research. Her academic career included serving as a 3M Fellow, conducting research in biomechanics and biothermodynamics, and receiving multiple student poster awards. She has also gained broad hands-on engineering experience through earlier roles involving equipment design, computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, CAD, automated machinery, welding, and electrical work.
Throughout her career, Dr. Glass has combined technical expertise with mentoring, coaching, cross-functional leadership, and a strong commitment to organizational development. She has contributed to patented Charmin Smooth Tear product innovation and continues to focus on balancing consumer delight, technical performance, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. She credits her family, strong work ethic, education, and supportive relationships for her success and emphasizes integrity, authenticity, and genuine care for colleagues. She is also involved with professional organizations including ASME, SWE, the Association for Women in Science, Tau Beta Pi, and the Order of the Engineer, while maintaining a longstanding commitment to supporting children and STEM-related causes.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Katie
01What do you attribute your success to?
My family and upbringing. I watched my mother pursue her bachelor's degree while working as a nurse and raising us, which showed me the importance of education and work ethic. My father was a contractor known for getting things done. My husband's support has also been crucial, allowing me to travel and try different things in my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To get ahead you always have to do more than others, and never ask somebody to do something you're not willing to do yourself. This came from my grandmother who started working after having five kids.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Learn how to be authentic in your communication and stand up for yourself. We stand on the shoulders of women who came before us who faced greater challenges, so find your own authentic way to advocate for yourself through trial, error, confidence, success and failure.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Balancing innovation with profitability in industrial technical work, finding and retaining talent, developing the next generation, maintaining work-life balance, and continuing to innovate in mature product areas like toilet paper.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Personal integrity and authenticity. I want colleagues to see that I have been authentic, honest, and done my best, and that I genuinely care about them as human beings, not just as cogs in the wheel.
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