The Craig and Galen Brown Engineering Honors Program recently held its annual Fall Industry Night at Texas A&M University. Introducing current students to industry leaders, the event hosted keynote speaker Greg Hyslop, chief technology officer of The Boeing Company, and a panel of experts that gave real-world advice to the audience.
The panel kicked off the evening, giving students the opportunity to tap into the minds of industry experts and discover what qualities and skills would make them most marketable and successful after graduation.
From tricks of the trade to helpful hints about building resumes, the panel offered insight that could help students set expectations and prepare for their future careers.
“It gave me an idea of what the real world is like,” said Daaniya Syeda, a sophomore in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. “I thought I would be directly applying what I’ve learned, like math or biomedical concepts, but things like critical thinking and being able to work on a team are just as important.”
Following the panel, Hyslop took the stage to share his experience as both an educator and business leader.
Though his career has spanned a number of subjects, ranging from higher education to missile defense systems to aerospace technology, Hyslop learned some of the most valuable lessons from his family’s ranch. Seeing the importance of building relationships firsthand helped Hyslop always remember that strong networks and credibility are the foundation of teamwork, business and innovation.
“What I took away was that it’s not as simple as just getting your degree. You have to make connections and know people and learn the proper skills,” said Trevor Weidner, an engineering undergraduate student.
Before opening the floor to questions, Hyslop offered one last piece of advice to students: anticipate change. Innovations and breakthroughs in technology will transform business and the roles of future engineers. So hold every career palms up and never take it for granted.