Women in robotics at Boston Dynamics give career advice at MassRobotics event

WALTHAM, Mass. — Women may be underrepresented in robotics, but there are opportunities for those who can collaborate, learn, and mentor, said speakers at a Women in Robotics event held by MassRobotics this week.

Only 19% of robotics engineers are female in 2024, according to CareerExplorer. That is lower than the 35% of U.S. tech employees who are female, as reported by The World Bank.

MassRobotics, which promotes the robotics ecosystem in Massachusetts and beyond, is among the organizations working to improve this representation and to help industry develop and tap a wider pool of talent.

Boston Dynamics employees share their experiences

Boston Dynamics Inc. hosted nearly 200 attendees at its headquarters. The following panelists from the company discussed their careers:

• Radhika Agrawal, software engineer working with the Spot quadruped platform
• Crystal Beckvold, senior supervisor for the Atlas humanoid technician team
• Erica Liu, senior director, supply chain and procurement
• Christine White, head of partner and customer success marketing
• Denise Wong, senior technical lead and program manager for the Stretch truck-unloading robot
• Connie Zhang, staff software engineer

The speakers shared a wide range of personal experiences and workforce challenges but found that they had similar advice.

“You may be told you can be anything you want, but you have to ask for opportunities and find flexibility,” said White. “I also wanted to take time to have a family, which is a choice men don’t typically have to make. The path is winding, and make it your own. Be open to learning.”

“In my case, supply chain is always in motion,” Liu noted. “We have to make strategic decisions about off-the-shelf versus custom technology.”

Advocate for oneself, say speakers

When asked about what qualities she brought to her role, Agrawal replied: “I’ve observed the dynamics of people. Our empathy can be both draining and an asset.”

“I’ve worked in mining, which is male-dominated, and I found that being a woman actually lowered the barriers for adoption,” Wong recalled. “My job was to get them to use robots, and they said, ‘If she can use this robot, so can I.'”

The speakers also observed that women in technology shouldn’t be afraid to be as bold as their male counterparts in our society.

“You should apply for roles you’re interested in, even if you’re not sure you’re fully qualified,” said Zhang. “Just do it.”

“Keeping your head down and doing a good job doesn’t equal recognition,” White said. “You need to show your value and advocate for yourself.”

Agrawal added: “Surround yourself with smart people, and try to be the best. Don’t be intimidated. I was told to ‘grow a thick skin,’ but that was an opportunity to go back and educate people.”

“When I was at Black & Decker, I asked why I wasn’t recognized as a key contributor,” said Liu. “That’s another lesson — seek common ground, and align your long-term goals.”

Be a constant learner, say women in robotics

The panelists agreed that curiosity and a willingness to pivot helped them in their careers.

“I worked in a machine shop doing quality control, and then Google bought the company,” said Beckvold. “Everyone was supportive, and I took over projects, from welding to running hydraulics, R&D, and electrical. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s fun to invent as you go, bringing things to life.”

“I worked at Google X and worked toward a Ph.D., then switched,” Zhang said. “It’s OK to opt out and switch to something you’re passionate about. Take the time to figure it out.”

“I stumbled into other groups,” said White. “Good managers will see the need; they don’t always know how teams will come together. Be bold about expressing your interests.”

Find a ‘personal board of directors’

It’s a good idea to have both formal and informal networks of mentors and mentees, said the Boston Dynamics staffers.

“I have a personal board of directors and now mentor two people,” said Agrawal. 

“Some of my mentors were managers, others were co-workers,” Beckvold noted. “I’ve given lunchtime talks, and as a manager have helped techs learn mechanical assembly, testing, and software to take the burden of engineers.”

“It has been a pleasure to see mentees grow in responsibility as I have,” said Liu. “It helps to talk through and listen to problems, and mentoring is also a learning experience for ourselves.”

Overcome uncertainty, say women in robotics

When asked about advice for women just starting their careers in robotics, Wong replied, “Don’t be paralyzed by uncertainty. You can always ask for help.”

“I’ve ping-ponged around in my career,” said White. “Stay open, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”

Beckvold added, “There’s no bad thing to learn how to do. I’ve been a coder, a body mechanic, and a welder, and they all complement one another. Learn everything you can.”

A recent graduate asked the panel how to find her long-term goals after spending years studying robotics.

“Do stuff that gives you satisfaction,” said White. “Of course, you want to support yourself financially, but it’s not about working; it’s about gaining experience.”

“I was very goal-oriented,” Wong said. “If you want to work in robotics, you may have short-term goals, but after being at a company for six and a half years, I had to ask, ‘Am I still learning? Do I enjoy the day-to-day work?’ We have job mobility, and the lack of diversity in this industry means we can bring new perspectives.”

“Give yourself time to figure out and learn from mistakes,” reiterated Liu. “Build self-accountability.”

Another attendee asked whether it is better to specialize or generalize.

“There are different types of people — the ladder climber, the explorer, and the deep diver,” replied White. “Follow your personality, your gut.”

“You can also be more than one,” advised Wong.

See MassRobotics at RoboBusiness

MassRobotics is also participating in RoboBusiness 2024, which will be on Oct. 16 and 17 in Santa Clara, Calif. Joyce Sidopoulos, co-founder and chief of operations at MassRobotics, will share best practices in Part 1 of the Robotics Startup Bootcamp.

Sidopoulos will also host the Women in Robotics Luncheon on Day 2 of the event. Marita McGinn, director of the MassRobotics Accelerator, will discuss growth and scaling with founders in Part 2 of the Robotics Startup Bootcamp.

MassRobotics is a strategic partner of WTWH Media, which produces The Robot Report, RoboBusiness, Automated Warehouse, and the Robotics Summit & Expo.

Register now.

MassRobotics continues support for women in robotics

MassRobotics’ Jumpstart Fellowship Program trains high school girls in the technical skills needed for robotics and technology internships in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and partner companies. The organization also works with the Women in Robotics Boston Chapter and a Monthly Girls Lunch with its resident startups.

In addition, nominations are open until Dec. 20, 2024, for the 2025 Robotics Medals, which MassRobotics awards along with a $50,000 prize to “a female researcher for substantial achievements and contributions in the field of robotics.”

The Rising Star award comes with a $5,000 prize for “an early-career professional woman making strides in research that will lead to significant impact in the field of robotics.” The 2024 Robotics Medal Winner will be announced later this month, followed by a gala in Boston on Oct. 26.