Wanda Gass
Dallas, TX, US
Field of Work
Electrical Engineering
Company
Texas Instruments; High-Tech High Heels
Job Title or "Student"
Electrical Engineer at TI; Executive Director of High-Tech High Heels
Education
Rice University, Bachelors; Duke Universtiy
Degree
BS EE / MS Biomedical Engineering
Education Level
Masters
Profile Biography
Wanda Gass chose her major in college because of her father and the desire to help other people. Solving complex problems by learning new things was important to her throughout her education in middle school and high school. Based on her father’s experience as an engineer and the various career options it provided him, she decided engineering was the right college major for her. Motivated to make an impact in the world, she pursued a degree in Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering.
After Wanda finished school, she joined Texas Instruments where she worked for 31 years. Although she found very few women in a high-tech company, she followed 4 tips she learned from others that led to a very successful career. 1) Bloom where you are planted: no matter what assignment you get, do an outstanding job and doors will open for you to take the next step. 2) Cultivate advocates: develop relationships with people in the organization that will vouch for your outstanding work and your ability to take on the next assignment or promotion. 3) Know how to promote your accomplishments: often we wait for others to be our spokes person, but we need to know how to give a concise explanation of our own personal contributions. 4) Don’t be discouraged by setbacks: persevere even when things don’t seem to be working out and use the lessons learned to try again.
Wanda is a co-developer of one of the first digital signal processors, which provided the technology that enabled the digital revolution that we live in today. Just imagine what was life like before we had digital version of television, pictures, music, video and books! Digital signal processors have changed the way we live, work and play. Because of her ground-break work in the field, Wanda was promoted to Texas Instrument Fellow and elevated to IEEE Fellow.
Wanda is married to Richard, an investment manager, whom she met in college. She's been married for over 30 years and has 2 daughters. She enjoys running, yoga, volunteering in the community, reading and traveling.
After Wanda finished school, she joined Texas Instruments where she worked for 31 years. Although she found very few women in a high-tech company, she followed 4 tips she learned from others that led to a very successful career. 1) Bloom where you are planted: no matter what assignment you get, do an outstanding job and doors will open for you to take the next step. 2) Cultivate advocates: develop relationships with people in the organization that will vouch for your outstanding work and your ability to take on the next assignment or promotion. 3) Know how to promote your accomplishments: often we wait for others to be our spokes person, but we need to know how to give a concise explanation of our own personal contributions. 4) Don’t be discouraged by setbacks: persevere even when things don’t seem to be working out and use the lessons learned to try again.
Wanda is a co-developer of one of the first digital signal processors, which provided the technology that enabled the digital revolution that we live in today. Just imagine what was life like before we had digital version of television, pictures, music, video and books! Digital signal processors have changed the way we live, work and play. Because of her ground-break work in the field, Wanda was promoted to Texas Instrument Fellow and elevated to IEEE Fellow.
Wanda is married to Richard, an investment manager, whom she met in college. She's been married for over 30 years and has 2 daughters. She enjoys running, yoga, volunteering in the community, reading and traveling.
Interests
Pets, Reading, Travel, Sports, Other
Race & Ethnicity
White
Level of Participation
Field trip participation, In-school visit, Online role model, Summer camp visit
My Experience
I have been a Role Model many times.
Availability
No Preference
Resources
Career exploration activities, Fun demonstrations or materials, Hands-on activities for students, Identifying other role models
Program Affiliation
IEEE, NGCP Collaborative FabFem, Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Other
