2 Wings of Opportunity: A Boeing Veteran’s Path to Success

– Introduction –

Michelle Carey is an experienced employee of Boeing, having spent more than 20 years navigating the career path within the organization. Carey is delighted to share the lessons she has learned from her personal journey with us. Carey is currently employed with Boeing as an executive leader on campus at the University of Washington Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma.  Carey underlined the importance of building a solid professional network and maintaining these connections over time. We’ll delve into Carey’s journey to success and the strategies she’s used to progress within Boeing. You’ll discover the value of constant follow-up and communication, the advantages of having several mentors, and effective communication, and lastly, Boeing’s noteworthy investment in employee training.

– Networking and Relationship Building –

The secret to Michelle Carey’s professional success has been developing a solid, diverse professional network. As Carey stressed and research has shown, people with networks that bridge “structural holes” and give them access to special knowledge and opportunities, typically enjoy greater career advantages like quicker promotions and higher pay (Ibarra, 1993). The advantages of social capital are evident: improved visibility and legitimacy in one’s field, as well as quicker and easier access to important resources (Seibert et al., 2001). Carey also emphasized the importance of chemistry and fit between mentor and mentee, indicating that successful career outcomes depend on the quality of the mentorship relationship. In keeping with research that shows regular mentor meetings are ideal for sustaining the relationship, research advises meeting with mentors for an hour at least once a month to sustain these significant connections over time (Ragins et al., 2000; “Professional Mentoring,” 2023). Rather than depending on a small number of close relationships, Carey has built a broad network of diverse contacts, which has allowed her to use social capital to further her career at Boeing.

– Follow-up and Relationship Maintenance –

Carey emphasized the importance of following up and constantly communicating to establish and preserve solid professional relationships. As she pointed out, “Follow-ups are also very crucial. Even that 30-minute informational meeting will be wasted if one does not maintain contact.” This is consistent with studies demonstrating that “maintaining contact” is among the most crucial networking behaviors for success in the workplace, especially for women, who benefited more from active follow-up than men (Forret & Dougherty, 2004). Carey continues with the idea of proactive strategy for growing one’s network through introductions. This emphasizes the significance of establishing long-term relationships in addition to initial contacts. Networking is a continuous process rather than a one-time occurrence, as the research continues to indicate(Forret & Dougherty, 2004; Wanberg et al., 2000). Carey’s career advancement at Boeing has been assisted by her ability to build a strong network through consistent follow-up and relationship maintenance.

– Mentorship and Developmental Networks – 

Carey stressed the value of developing a “developmental network” of several mentors and sponsors in addition to expanding one’s professional network. This is because having multiple mentors to connect with is far more beneficial. Paraphrasing from a scholarly article on mentoring at work, it can be constructive for one’s career development to have access to a variety of support and guidance. (Higgins & Kram, 2001). To further push this point, During our interview with Carey, she stated “Ask people to open up their network for you, but also have a clarity of like, why are you here?” when advising being proactive in reaching out to connect with potential mentors and grow your network. This is consistent with the suggestion that people actively participate in expanding their network of mentors (Higgins & Kram, 2001).

– Technical Expertise and Communication Skills – 

Having worked on increasingly complex aspects of airplane engineering over her career, Michelle Carey has firsthand knowledge of the value of excellent technical skills and effective communication abilities for career advancement as an engineer at Boeing. She underlined that in most cases, a candidate must be a “strong engineer” to be considered for management roles within the organization. This is consistent with studies demonstrating that entering managerial positions in engineering domains frequently requires a high level of technical proficiency (Barton & Bunderson, 2014). Carey emphasized the importance of communication skills in addition to technical proficiency, as they are necessary not only for employment but also for advancement in a company such as Boeing. Technical professionals, including engineers, have been found to need effective communication skills to progress in their careers (Darling & Dannels, 2003). As a structural engineer working on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an engineering manager, and now the executive site director for Boeing at the University of Washington, Carey has been able to set herself apart and assume progressively more responsibility and leadership roles at Boeing by developing both her technical proficiency and her capacity for clear communication of complex concepts.

– Employer-Sponsored Education – 

The significant investment that Boeing makes in its employees’ ongoing education is one of the main benefits of working inside this company. Carey mentioned that Boeing invests “millions of dollars” a year in employee training. This is in line with research showing companies that offer significant educational benefits—like paying for college—have an easier time attracting and retaining top talent (Benson et al., 2004; Cappelli, 2004). In fact, a worker’s decision to commit to long-term employment with a company may be significantly influenced by the availability of these educational resources (Benson et al., 2004). Carey discusses how Boeing’s commitment to supporting staff development through continuing education demonstrates the company’s confidence in the potential return on that investment. Workers are aware that they will have the chance to advance their technical knowledge and proficiency, which are frequent requirements for moving into management positions (Barton & Bunderson, 2014). Additionally, pursuing graduate degrees or specialized training can offer engineers a competitive advantage and increase their value as employees. Boeing understands the value of equipping its employees with strong communication skills in addition to technical expertise. As Carey pointed out, engineers need strong communication skills to land a job and grow within the organization (Darling & Dannels, 2003). Boeing is investing in well-rounded professionals who can successfully lead teams and encourage innovation by funding ongoing education.

– Conclusion –

We’ve learned a ton of insightful tips on navigating the path to career advancement from our enlightening chat with Michelle Carey. Carey’s personal experiences offer a road map for success within Boeing, addressing the value of establishing a broad professional network, upholding strong relationships, having several mentors, and acquiring in-demand technical and communication skills. Boeing’s significant investment in its employees’ continuing education is equally impressive, demonstrating the company’s dedication to developing a highly skilled and motivated workforce. Through the application of the tactics and tools Carey has utilized throughout her career, readers can imitate her trajectory of development and success inside a market-leading company. Her story is a testament to the power of hard work, strategic relationship-building, and a willingness to continuously learn and improve one’s craft.