Today we’d like to introduce you to Judith Rowe.
Hi Judith, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
That’s a big ask – to tell my story briefly!
I’m the middle child of four, with two older sisters and a younger brother. We were a military family: My dad was in the Air Force, while my mom managed the home, including three of us kids in diapers at the same time!
Life as a military family meant having to pack up and move to a new place every few years. It was challenging sometimes — I went to eight different schools before I got to high school — but we learned how to handle big life changes and how to love and support each other. I also loved the variety. Our parents exposed us to whatever our new home had to offer: Amazing nature in California and Washington state, great museums in Washington, D.C., and ancient ruins in Athens, Greece. I got to see the wider world when I was very young.
A mentor at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, my alma mater, suggested I try engineering, which would combine my love of science and design (it was the late 1970s, way before STEM was a thing!). My degree in mechanical and industrial engineering has taken me far: I’ve been to Singapore, France, China, and Germany, to name a few places. I’ve worked for a variety of organizations and Fortune 500 companies, including Mobil Oil Corp. (before their merger with Exxon) and Corning Inc.
My husband Joe is a senior administrator at Cornell University; he’s my best friend, biggest supporter, and partner, and we’re always learning from each other and our children. Together, we raised our sons, who are now fantastic young adults: Joe, who lives in Maryland, and Jon, who lives in Cincinnati. We are incredibly blessed and very proud of them both!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a Black woman in engineering has been a challenge, to say the least! When I started out in the early 1980s, there weren’t a lot of people in the field who looked like me. I recently came across an old photo of one of my engineering training classes at Mobil. Of the six of us in the class, I was the only woman, the only married person, and the only person of color! I have had to navigate many challenges in my career, but I consider them learning experiences. Things have changed somewhat for women and people of color in STEM, but there is still a long way to go.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Midway through my engineering career at Corning Inc. I had an opportunity to become a supervisory instructor, and at the end of that assignment, a mentor paved the way for Corning to sponsor me for a master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. After graduation, I took a position in Corning’s human resources department. It was a good fit at the time: Throughout my life, I always found myself doing things to help elevate people and encourage them to be their best. After more than 20 years as an engineer, transferring to HR helped me find my true calling. I’m happiest when I’m coaching and guiding people toward their full potential. It’s my superpower!
After retiring early from Corning, I leaned into my own consulting practice, which was established 5 years earlier. With my family’s support, I launched Judith A. Rowe Consulting, LLC, providing coaching, facilitation, and training for individuals, teams, and organizations. It is wonderful to help others realize their strengths, identify areas of improvement, and create long-term strategies for their success. I’m passionate about making a difference in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. I am in the final stages of completing certification as a life/career coach.
My engineering experience (and raising two boys with Joe in small-town New York), provided some unique experiences that directly positioned me to run my own company. That includes planning, communication, problem-solving, creativity, and helping people see the big picture.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
An ancient philosopher once said, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” I think that’s true: I’ve worked hard and tried to make smart choices when opportunities came my way. I’m thankful for a wonderful family, terrific friends, excellent mentors, and others who looked out for me and recognized my potential. I also have strong faith, which enables me to see everything — successes, challenges, even not-so-great outcomes — as a blessing. I always try to learn and grow from every experience and share what I know to help others.
Contact Info:
- Website: juditharowe.com
- Facebook: Judith A. Rowe Consulting
Image Credits
Image #1 – Chrissa King-O’Brien image #2 – Christa Clarke (Speakhaus.com)
