Women In Engineering: Ellen Wright
This profile series features members from around the world at all stages in their careers. Here we speak with Ellen Wright, senior staff consultant at Engineering Systems Inc., Kansas City.
What does your typical workday look like?
No two days are the same! I get to wear many hats in my job and work in many different environments, Wright including in laboratories, on-site where incidents/accidents occur, in manufacturing and storage facilities, in a variety of offices, and when requested, as an expert witness in
the court of law. The dynamic nature of my job is exciting and I am continuously learning.
What part of your job do you like most?
My favorite part of my job is working with my colleagues. Growing up, I preferred individual over group assignments, but I have found exactly the opposite to be true in my career at ESi. I love working on multidisciplinary teams and learning technical, professional, and business skills by interacting with and purposefully observing others.
What is your engineering background?
I hold a B.S. in metallurgical and materials engineering with a minor in biotechnical engineering and life sciences and a Ph.D. in metallurgical and materials engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. I am a licensed professional engineer in metallurgical and materials engineering. At ESi, I specialize in failure analysis and prevention, fractography, and characterization of materials. It is rewarding to apply engineering fundamentals to investigate and prevent industrially relevant problems.
What attracted you to engineering?
I enjoy the hands-on nature of engineering and working in a field that requires me to bring my brain to work. I am fortunate that my career constantly challenges me both technically and interpersonally.
Best career advice, given or received:
Take time for yourself to know exactly who you are and who you want to become. Then be honest and deliberate in your actions. Build your team, embrace the things that make you feel like the best version of yourself, and pursue challenges and opportunities that best utilize and grow your individual strengths.
Hobbies?
Skiing, hiking, reading, and cooking.
Last book read?
“A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles.
Favorite motto:
Forewarned is forearmed.
Tell us about your involvement with ASM International, why are you a member?
I became part of the ASM community by attending conferences and chapter meetings and presenting my graduate research as a student. After graduate school, I served on the Emerging Professionals Committee (EPC), and in 2019, I had the honor of being on the Nominating Committee. Currently, I am a member of the Failure Analysis Society (FAS) and serve on the FAS Programming Committee. I am a member of ASM for a variety of reasons, including the opportunities ASM provides for professional development. I believe in the power of networking through ASM; many of my most important professional relationships and friendships were formed through ASM involvement.
Do you know someone who should be featured in an upcoming Face of Materials Engineering profile? Contact Vicki Burt at [email protected].
