Meet Samantha Schmidt — Featured YP for April 2015

Where are you from?

Pittsburgh, PA

What company/institution do you work for?

Diageo

Where did you complete your chemical engineering education?

Lehigh University

How many years have you been a member of AIChE?

3

Describe a recent challenge you managed, notable achievement, or obstacle you overcame at your job or in your work as an AIChE member.

When I graduated, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. However, after a year and a half in a manufacturing plant, I realized I wanted something different from my career. I turned to colleagues from college, work, and AIChE for advice and support. I was able to use my connections to explore several career options, and find one that seemed to fit my aspirations. I took a leap of faith and jumped into a new career at a new company in a new city. I was able to find a position that is allowing me to further develop my strengths and do the type of work I truly enjoy.

 

What do you do to meet people in your field?

I primarily use AIChE to do this; it is the best networking tool. It allows me to find others who are passionate about the same things as me. Through AIChE, I can build my network within the CPG industry and industries outside of the one in which I work, enabling me to have a wide net of people I can utilize to collaborate, share best practices, or even meet up with when I travel.

There are two types of ChemEs… those who_______ and those who ________.

Those who challenge the status quo and those who settle for the way things are.

What’s the first thought you have when you wake up in the morning?

Coffee!

If your college had offered a class on real-life skills for the aspiring ChE, what would you want them to teach?

How to effectively lead a team.

If you weren’t a ChE, what would you most want to be?

Event planner or something that would allow me to travel a lot.

What don’t most people know about you?

I was the 1992 Health America baby. (There was a huge picture of my little chubby baby face on lots of billboards and magazine ads).

Do you have any advice for current or future young professionals reading ChEnected?

Once you leave school and start a job in the professional world, everyone around you will most likely be extremely smart and have a prestigious degree just like you. It is your "people skills" that will allow you to stand out, be successful, and really make an impact. Use your time in school or when you are new to an organization to refine your relationship building skills and really learn how to relate to, influence, and effectively utilize the skills of others. The ability to do this will be the difference between an average employee and a contributing, respected company or industry leader, so invest most heavily in developing this ability.

You can contact Samantha through her Linkedin profile.