Q&A with Alyssa Sheehan, Director of Aerospace at Georgia Center of Innovation
Alyssa Sheehan, Director of Aerospace at Georgia Center of Innovation
You have worked at the Georgia Center of Innovation since 2016 and, in 2022, were promoted to director of aerospace. Tell us more about the organization and the work that you do.
The Center of Innovation is a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development that offers a broad spectrum of services and programs to businesses of all sizes and types. It is a unique element of Georgia's economic development strategy. The center is comprised of six industry-specific centers of excellence, including the Aerospace Center, which specializes in this particular vertical. My work is with Georgia’s aerospace industry, which heavily overlaps with manufacturing. Aerospace is one of the state's largest exports and the second-largest employer category. My work entails covering a broad spectrum of topics ranging from commercial passenger flights, government and defense research work, and day-to-day operations for manufacturers that are suppliers and integrators, as well as prime manufacturing companies, such as Lockheed Martin, that have operations in Georgia.
As of 2021, the number of aerospace engineers in the United States is estimated to be around 147,000. Of those, only 13.4% are female, according to “Women in Aviation: A Workforce Report.” As a woman in leadership in this industry, talk about the gender disparity and what can be done to inspire and support women in STEM fields.
As a woman in leadership in this industry, talking about gender disparity and what can be done to inspire and support women in STEM fields is definitely a passion area of mine. I've grown up in this industry, and that's been one of the things that I am still working on and hoping to see more change. As a woman in aerospace and manufacturing, I still am often the only female in the room when I'm meeting with companies. There is still a discrepancy in the lack of diversity, whether gender, race or ethnicity. Companies are losing out on creative problem-solving opportunities for sharing different backgrounds and perspectives.
Alyssa Sheehan and COI Executive Director David Nuckolls on a tour at Atlanta-based Hermeus in partnership with Next Generation Manufacturing.
There are two approaches to tackle this issue that I like to think about. The short-term approach: what can be done now in the day-to-day and the long-term approach: pathways we can create to open up more opportunities for women and minorities in STEM education.
In the short term, we can do a couple of things. We often do a good job pointing out the problems but don't share more personal issues. In the leadership circles of my peers and other women, we regularly share stories of encounters and experiences that left us uncomfortable. These are often hard to share, but they're the things that change people's behavior. A recent example that came out of good intentions was on a manufacturing organized trip with colleagues — I was the only woman. To thank us, they gave us each a book as a gift. Everyone was given the same history book, but I, the only woman, was given a cookbook. I don’t even do the cooking in my house; my husband does! That one really hit home. It really highlighted a lot of gender stereotypes and immediately isolated me from the group. So, that’s a perfect example of a moment to make people aware of things they are doing that are not helpful. To truly affect change, we must be open and honest with what that looks like.
Outside of your work at the Center of Innovation, you serve on various boards that support innovation careers and speak at conferences. You are passionate about this industry! Tell us more about why this is important to you.
I feel like it’s one of the ways that I drive a lot of value and purpose. Economic development, to me, is about supporting local communities. Coming from that, it means more than just 9-5; it means being active and involved. Being engaged in this work is crucial for me to continue practicing what I preach. I also think when you take off the work hat, you get more honest feedback and insight into what actually happens on the ground. Pursuing these actions outside of work has not only allowed me to benefit from them personally but has also enabled me to develop richer connections beyond those required by my job.
How has working with Violet PR helped highlight the work of the Georgia Center of Innovation?
Violet PR has been instrumental in helping the Georgia Center of Innovation gain increased visibility and recognition for its work in various industries. One notable area where Violet PR has been really good is picking up on and highlighting the passion areas unique to each director at the Center of Innovation. For me, that's been talking about the role of women in STEM careers. It’s the personalized approach that stands out for me.
It’s clear you’re very busy with your work and service, but what do you do in your downtime? What’s your perfect weekend look like?
A good weekend is when I get to put on safety equipment and operate some heavy machinery! I really love remodeling and building. My husband and I do a lot of home remodeling — we call ourselves “long flippers.” We enjoy living in properties while we are fixing them up. It takes us longer to do them, but it’s slow and steady. I've learned a lot of skills from working in the manufacturing industry and have seen a lot of jobs that I find super interesting. It has inspired me to try new things. One example is I took up welding as a hobby, and I've started building furniture. I’ve made side tables, bed frames and chairs. My next project is working on outdoor metal chairs for the summer!
Georgia Department of Economic Development
BUILDING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ECOSYSTEM