TIMEISHA HOLLAND

My parents. I watched my parents get up every day to make sure we were okay even when we were homeless after a house fire. They sacrificed everything, sleeping on floors, relying on their village, just to get me to college and see me succeed as the first in my family to graduate. My mom cried saying 'you did it' and they had so much pride because they knew I would be okay.

Trust my instinct and follow my heart. My mentor told me that when I was thinking about bridging back into the field.

Believe that you belong in every room you worked hard to enter. Engineering and technology can still be male-dominated, so there may be times when you are the only woman—or the only person who looks like you—in the room. Don’t allow that to make you shrink yourself. Ask questions, find mentors, continue learning, and never be afraid to use your voice. You do not have to know everything to be capable. Give yourself permission to grow, make mistakes, change direction, and still pursue big goals. Most importantly, remember that your presence can open the door for another young woman behind you.

One of the biggest challenges in engineering and STEM is making sure students, especially young women and students from underrepresented communities, can actually see themselves in these careers. At the same time, I believe that is one of our greatest opportunities. Technology is changing rapidly, and we need diverse perspectives at the table to solve real-world problems. As both an engineer and an educator, I have the opportunity to bridge that gap by exposing students to engineering early, giving them hands-on experiences, and helping them understand that these careers are attainable. For me, success is not only about what I accomplish—it is also about who I help realize what is possible for them.

My faith keeps me grounded and reminds me that there is a purpose behind every season of my life. Family, especially being a mother, is at the center of why I work so hard and continue pushing toward bigger goals. Professionally, I value integrity and believe in doing things the right way, even when no one is watching. I also value perseverance because my journey has taught me that success is rarely a straight path. Above all, I want my work to have purpose. Whether I am working in engineering, educating students, or pursuing new opportunities, I want what I do to create an impact and leave something meaningful behind.