Founder Katie Zimmerman shares career insights with Women in Tech forum

 

Katie’s presentation included the lessons she learned from starting a business.

 

On Tuesday, APTech founder and Executive Vice President, Katie Zimmerman, P.E., was the featured speaker at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Research Park Women in Tech Forum. An Illinois alumna, Katie is also a past recipient of the school’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award.

With a career that spans over 40 years in the transportation engineering industry, Katie spent an hour sharing lessons learned with the next generation of women in tech. During her talk, Katie wove together words of wisdom applicable to women in all STEM fields, examples of lessons learned through experience, and several humorous anecdotes. Through these reflections, she shared five takeaways that have guided her through her personal and professional life:

  • Surround yourself with people who share your vision and values.

  • Manage for the long term.

  • Do what you say you’ll do.

  • Consider the corporate perspective.

  • Create your own balance.

The Champaign-Urbana Women in Tech Forum is a networking event held several times throughout the year in the University of Illinois Research Park, where accomplished women like Katie discuss their specialized areas of expertise and share life and professional experiences. She now joins the ranks of other past Women in Tech presenters, including noted STEM executives, researchers, and professors.

As APTech celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, Katie is preparing to wrap up a career in the transportation industry spanning over four decades. She is looking forward to spending time traveling and visiting friends she has met along the way in her distinguished career.

CulturejessicaResearch Park, presentation, speaking, networking, women in STEM