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Women in Engineering Leadership

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| 16 time, even in an engineering role. You can still learn so much while you're away and utilize it when it's time to return. It's okay to step away, and it's okay to come back." Take Care of Your Mindset Jane Yun, principal system architect at TE Connectivity, believes that the first step in achieving work-life balance is truly reflecting on what you like to do. "The work we do should inspire us," says Yun. "Do you enjoy what you're doing? If not, you need to reflect and think about what you appreciate the most and what you want to do with your time. You can't achieve balance without clearly understanding what you like to do." "To find the right balance of work, you must have a balanced mindset," continues Yun. She suggests blocking time when you're done with a big project so you can reset before starting the next big project. And as a leader, she says, you should remind others to do the same. Leaders should also ensure their team knows how to balance their work. "Tell your team to take care of their mindset," says Yun. They need to look at their balance and figure out how they feel. Are they motivated or exhausted? Help your team members take a step back if they need to—to rest before the next big push of productivity. "Self-awareness is key in finding the right work-life balance." Rely on Strategic Planning Anisha Seli, director of design evaluation engineering at Analog Devices, juggles significant responsibilities at home and work. "Mastering the intricate dance between demanding professional roles and personal commitments, especially as a devoted mother of two boys, presents a significant challenge," Seli admits. "My family always takes precedence, yet my career holds significant importance in my life. It's my husband's unwavering support that truly empowers my professional endeavors, making his role in my success absolutely vital." Seli balances her work and life responsibilities by relying on strategic planning. "I align each day with my children's schedules, prioritizing family, health, and work, respectively," says Seli. "This careful planning, done every evening with my husband, helps me manage a busy schedule while safeguarding my professional and personal commitments." Seli finds joy in daily rituals with her family that help them connect. "Cooking for my family each day is a treasured and therapeutic routine that keeps me connected to what is most essential," says Seli. By being present wherever she is, Seli can give her full attention to whatever lies in front of her: "Living in the moment is a philosophy I embrace, allowing me to effectively segment and devote my full attention to family and work. I believe being present in every activity, which I believe is essential for success and fulfillment in all facets of life." As a leader, Seli advocates for work-life balance by encouraging flexible working hours, promoting the importance of personal time, and leading by example. "I champion the importance of clear boundaries between work and personal life, creating an environment where team members are actively encouraged to pursue personal interests and cherish family time. By fostering such a balanced culture, we empower our team to deliver their best work while achieving personal fulfillment," says Seli. Practice Self-Care Cindy Cui, director of software solutions at Keysight Technologies, knows that many women feel the pressure of perfection. "Sometimes, we expect to be Superwoman—the perfect wife, mom, and leader. However, the first step in finding work-life balance is realizing you cannot be perfect in every area of your life. It is okay to work with your life partner to share responsibilities." Cui suggests that to find the right balance, women must allow themselves to make mistakes. "It's okay to fail, and it's okay to keep trying," says Cui. She also learned to excel at prioritizing. "I try to help my team with this skill as well—prioritize your work so you can make better decisions and achieve more with your time," says Cui. "Otherwise, you may find yourself busy juggling 30 tasks simultaneously, leaving little time to analyze which ones yield the highest return on investment or are the most critical."

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