ME Shaping the World Speaker Series


Our goal is to provide additional opportunities for our students to learn more about career opportunities, non-traditional pathways, entrepreneurship, etc. We are excited for our ME alumni, some of whom were recognized as Forbes 30 Under 30 and Georgia Tech’s 40 Under 40, to connect, share their academic and professional journey since graduating from Georgia Tech with our students. Speakers will be scheduled from January through April. 

The first 25 people to register and attend in-person for each talk will have the chance to win free Woodruff School swag during the Networking Social immediately following the events. 

All events are free and open to campus and the Atlanta community.

Upcoming Speakers


Mihir Pathak, B.S. ME 2008, M.S. ME 2010, Ph.D. ME 2013

Date: Thursday, January 25, 2024
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Title: Entrepreneur Your Own Career Journey!
Location: Virtual and livestreamed in MRDC 4211

Social Hour: MRDC Fourth Floor Atrium following the event

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Caitlin Leksana, B.S. ME 2016, M.S. ME 2017

Date: Thursday, February 1, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Title: How to Start a Company: Lessons Learned from a Mechanical Engineer Turned Startup Founder Who Raised Over $1M in Venture Capital Funding.
Location: MRDC 4211 and Virtual
Graduate Student, Staff, and Faculty Social Hour Location: Love Atrium following the event

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Myela Paige, M.S. ME 2018, Ph.D. ME 2021

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2024
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Title: From ME to Industry: Leveraging Your Transferable Skills
Location: MRDC 4211 and Virtual
 

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David Brown, B.S. ME 2012, Ph.D. ME 2019

Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Title: “A Moment of Clarity: Pivoting from Industry to Academia”
Location: Virtual and livestreamed in MRDC 4211
 

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Women's History Month Panel (In collaboration with Women of Woodruff)

Date: Thursday, March 7, 2024
Moderator: 
Tracy Hawkins West, ME 1990
Speakers: Caitlin Leksana, Maegan Tucker, Malavika Bagepalli, Kelly Kloster Hon, Shay Natarajan
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Title: "Pushing Boundaries in the ME World."
Location: MRDC 4211 and 
Virtual 
Graduate Student, Staff, and Faculty Social Hour Location: Love Atrium following the event

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David Montes de Oca Zapiain, B.S. ME 2014, M.S. ME 2015, Ph.D. ME 2018

Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Title: “Materials Innovation: Making the Future Possible”
Location: Love 210 and Virtual  
Graduate Student, Staff, and Faculty Social Hour Location: MRDC 4211 following the event

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Maegan Tucker, ME 2017

Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Title: “Lessons I learned while getting my Ph.D.” 
Location: MRDC 4211 and Virtual
Graduate Student, Staff, and Faculty Social Hour Location: CNES

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Discovering ME Panel

Date: Friday, April 5, 2024
Speakers: Malavika Bagepalli, 
Matt DeIulio, Haley Hilborn, Tom Mulcahey, Ana Schauer, Talia Thomas, David Montes de Oca Zapiain
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Title: “Alumni and Graduate Student Panel Discussion”
Location: Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI), Callaway Manufacturing Research Center Building Auditorium and Virtual

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Aaron Shaw, B.S. ME 2010, M.S. ME 2012

Date: Thursday, April 11, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Title: "Owning Your Career Journey: Making Your Role in the Decarbonization Effort"
Location: Love 210 and Virtual

Graduate Student, Staff, and Faculty Social Hour Location: Love Third Floor Atrium following the event

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Questions and event contact: Courtney Sykes

MRDC 4211 is located on level four of the Manufacturing Related Disciplines Complex I
801 Ferst Drive
Atlanta, GA
30332