Kerry Pianoforte, Editor03.09.20
To celebrate International Women's Day Coatings World interviewed Courtney Balliet, PPG manager, strategy, science and technology (S&T).
CW: When did you become interested in science and technology?
Balliet: During my childhood, I assumed I would become a teacher since my mother was a teacher, and I enjoyed the aspect of teaching others the things I already understood. It wasn’t until high school that I shifted my sights to a possible career in medicine. During undergrad, I was originally working towards earning a degree in chemistry in preparation for medical school. As I reached upper-level courses and began participating in hands-on, engaging research, I quickly noticed that I might prefer a career in chemistry, and I pivoted my trajectory to pursue a Ph.D. There’s an undeniable elegance to the way chemistry helps to explain and confirm aspects of our world. Being the first person to discover or craft a new technology has proven to be a rewarding experience and it leaves me with a sense that I am contributing to improving the lives of others.
CW: What is your educational background?
Balliet: In 2007, I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2012, I earned my Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). During my undergrad and while in graduate school, I worked as a research assistant, gaining hands-on lab experience and solidifying my affinity for science.
CW: Do you see more women studying and entering the STEM fields?
Balliet: According to an October 2017 article, published by the United States Census Bureau, although women make up nearly half of the working population (47.5 percent), they remain underrepresented in the manufacturing industry. Authors of the article found that women’s share of employment in the manufacturing industry has remained relatively constant, peaking at 33.2 percent in 1990 before declining to 29.0 percent in 2016. While we have made strides to diversify the manufacturing workforce, women remain an untapped source of talent, innovation and perspective for manufacturers across the United States.
It is my belief, as well as PPG’s, that bringing together diverse cultures, languages, religions, ethnicities, lifestyles and professional and educational backgrounds creates a more effective workforce.
When manufacturers make a concerted effort to recruit, retain and promote women, their unique perspectives can address challenges quickly in today’s global economy. The jobs involved in the manufacturing industry greatly differ, and such diverse operations require people of all talent levels and backgrounds. Manufacturing is a growing sector that will continue to provide attractive, skilled opportunities for all employees -- especially for women.
In 2019, approximately 30 percent of PPG’s professional hires were women – a seven percent increase since 2014. We have also successfully increased the representation of female employees across all management levels, including our most senior management positions.
CW: What are some of the challenges of being a woman in a field often dominated by men?
Balliet: According to a recent February 2020 research report from Catalyst, women can face a variety of hurdles in male-dominated fields, including antiquated expectations about female leadership abilities, higher stress levels than women in other fields, and possibly lack of mentorship and career development opportunities. With these potential challenges in mind, it is imperative that we continue to encourage women to pursue careers in manufacturing in order to foster a more diverse workforce.
The Manufacturing Institute, the education and workforce partner of NAM, created the STEP Ahead Awards to recognize the accomplishments of female leadership in manufacturing and to share the stories of women throughout the industry, like my own. During my time at PPG, I have conducted industrial coatings research at PPG’s Global Coatings Innovation Center, developing a variety of technologies including coil, display and conductive coatings. In addition, I assisted in the creation of PPG’s patent-pending anti-fingerprint (AFP) coating, a cutting-edge technology that significantly reduces the appearance of fingerprints on electronic displays and other touch screens for consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It has been rewarding to help lead research and product development in the growing field of AFP coatings.
To view the full list of 2020 STEP Ahead honorees and read their unique backgrounds in a male-dominated industry, click here.
CW: What advice can you offer young women interested in a career in science and technology?
Balliet: The advice I would offer to young women who are interested in a career in science and technology would be to follow your natural curiosity and continue asking questions. Are you curious about how scientists make planes more energy-efficient? What will make self-driving vehicles more visible on the road? Let your questions serve as your North Star, as those organic questions can help you determine the best career path.
My second piece of advice would be to connect with those working in STEM fields. Do your research and ask a friend, family member, professor or employee at a company you admire if you can shadow them or someone they know. While job shadowing, remain engaged, raise questions and absorb what that specific individuals are doing during an average workday. It is my personal belief that it is never too early to begin vetting valuable career options, exploring where your interests lie and building a network.
One of the best ways to increase the number of women in manufacturing is to develop interest early. To encourage young girls and women to pursue a career in manufacturing, I have remained an active volunteer for the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair for many years, helping budding scientists and researchers in grades 6-12 maintain and strengthen their interest in STEM fields. As a chemistry category judge at the fair, I have used my industry knowledge and have shared my career path with countless students, providing feedback on experiments and offering support through one-on-one coaching.
At PPG, it is a personal goal of mine to connect and engage with the next generation of female scientists, engineers and researchers, providing Ph.D. scientists and undergraduate interns at PPG’s Global Coatings Innovation Center one-on-one mentoring, supporting them as they transition from the academic world to the workforce. Additionally, I actively participate in campus recruiting efforts at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), my graduate school alma mater, to help demonstrate and showcase PPG’s commitment to diversity and the research and the opportunities available in manufacturing and STEM careers.
CW: When did you become interested in science and technology?
Balliet: During my childhood, I assumed I would become a teacher since my mother was a teacher, and I enjoyed the aspect of teaching others the things I already understood. It wasn’t until high school that I shifted my sights to a possible career in medicine. During undergrad, I was originally working towards earning a degree in chemistry in preparation for medical school. As I reached upper-level courses and began participating in hands-on, engaging research, I quickly noticed that I might prefer a career in chemistry, and I pivoted my trajectory to pursue a Ph.D. There’s an undeniable elegance to the way chemistry helps to explain and confirm aspects of our world. Being the first person to discover or craft a new technology has proven to be a rewarding experience and it leaves me with a sense that I am contributing to improving the lives of others.
CW: What is your educational background?
Balliet: In 2007, I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2012, I earned my Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). During my undergrad and while in graduate school, I worked as a research assistant, gaining hands-on lab experience and solidifying my affinity for science.
CW: Do you see more women studying and entering the STEM fields?
Balliet: According to an October 2017 article, published by the United States Census Bureau, although women make up nearly half of the working population (47.5 percent), they remain underrepresented in the manufacturing industry. Authors of the article found that women’s share of employment in the manufacturing industry has remained relatively constant, peaking at 33.2 percent in 1990 before declining to 29.0 percent in 2016. While we have made strides to diversify the manufacturing workforce, women remain an untapped source of talent, innovation and perspective for manufacturers across the United States.
It is my belief, as well as PPG’s, that bringing together diverse cultures, languages, religions, ethnicities, lifestyles and professional and educational backgrounds creates a more effective workforce.
When manufacturers make a concerted effort to recruit, retain and promote women, their unique perspectives can address challenges quickly in today’s global economy. The jobs involved in the manufacturing industry greatly differ, and such diverse operations require people of all talent levels and backgrounds. Manufacturing is a growing sector that will continue to provide attractive, skilled opportunities for all employees -- especially for women.
In 2019, approximately 30 percent of PPG’s professional hires were women – a seven percent increase since 2014. We have also successfully increased the representation of female employees across all management levels, including our most senior management positions.
CW: What are some of the challenges of being a woman in a field often dominated by men?
Balliet: According to a recent February 2020 research report from Catalyst, women can face a variety of hurdles in male-dominated fields, including antiquated expectations about female leadership abilities, higher stress levels than women in other fields, and possibly lack of mentorship and career development opportunities. With these potential challenges in mind, it is imperative that we continue to encourage women to pursue careers in manufacturing in order to foster a more diverse workforce.
The Manufacturing Institute, the education and workforce partner of NAM, created the STEP Ahead Awards to recognize the accomplishments of female leadership in manufacturing and to share the stories of women throughout the industry, like my own. During my time at PPG, I have conducted industrial coatings research at PPG’s Global Coatings Innovation Center, developing a variety of technologies including coil, display and conductive coatings. In addition, I assisted in the creation of PPG’s patent-pending anti-fingerprint (AFP) coating, a cutting-edge technology that significantly reduces the appearance of fingerprints on electronic displays and other touch screens for consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It has been rewarding to help lead research and product development in the growing field of AFP coatings.
To view the full list of 2020 STEP Ahead honorees and read their unique backgrounds in a male-dominated industry, click here.
CW: What advice can you offer young women interested in a career in science and technology?
Balliet: The advice I would offer to young women who are interested in a career in science and technology would be to follow your natural curiosity and continue asking questions. Are you curious about how scientists make planes more energy-efficient? What will make self-driving vehicles more visible on the road? Let your questions serve as your North Star, as those organic questions can help you determine the best career path.
My second piece of advice would be to connect with those working in STEM fields. Do your research and ask a friend, family member, professor or employee at a company you admire if you can shadow them or someone they know. While job shadowing, remain engaged, raise questions and absorb what that specific individuals are doing during an average workday. It is my personal belief that it is never too early to begin vetting valuable career options, exploring where your interests lie and building a network.
One of the best ways to increase the number of women in manufacturing is to develop interest early. To encourage young girls and women to pursue a career in manufacturing, I have remained an active volunteer for the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair for many years, helping budding scientists and researchers in grades 6-12 maintain and strengthen their interest in STEM fields. As a chemistry category judge at the fair, I have used my industry knowledge and have shared my career path with countless students, providing feedback on experiments and offering support through one-on-one coaching.
At PPG, it is a personal goal of mine to connect and engage with the next generation of female scientists, engineers and researchers, providing Ph.D. scientists and undergraduate interns at PPG’s Global Coatings Innovation Center one-on-one mentoring, supporting them as they transition from the academic world to the workforce. Additionally, I actively participate in campus recruiting efforts at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), my graduate school alma mater, to help demonstrate and showcase PPG’s commitment to diversity and the research and the opportunities available in manufacturing and STEM careers.