The document discusses how board memberships can propel one's career. It profiles the journeys of three women - Semahat Demir, Siddika Demir, and Florence Hudson - who served on various boards including the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The document advises attending leadership roles in nonprofit organizations to gain board experience and networking to find new opportunities. It emphasizes how smaller board roles can leverage into larger positions and increase confidence to advance one's career.

1. Board Memberships Can Propel Your Career
WE14 – Management and Strategy Track
Semahat Demir, President, İstanbul Kültür Üniversity - Former SWE Board of Directors
Siddika Demir, Executive, Genentech - Former SWE President, Board of Directors
Florence Hudson, Executive, IBM - Former SWE Board of Directors, Board of Trustees
October 2014

2. 2
Agenda
 Our Journeys including Education, Work and Board experience
– Semahat Demir
– Siddika Demir
– Florence Hudson
 Attaining Board Positions
 Leveraging Board Positions for More Lucrative Board Positions
 Leveraging Board Positions to Increase Confidence & Career Success
 Discussion / Questions & Answers

3. 3
 Education
– İstanbul Technical University, BS, Electronics Eng.
– Bosphorous University, MS, Biomedical Eng
– Rice University, MS and PhD, Electrical and Computer Eng.
– Johns Hopkins Univ, Postdoc, Biomedical Eng
 Work
– Siemens Turkey and Germany (intern) & Siemens Germany (medical engineer)
– MBB and Rodenstock (medical laser engineer)
– Professor of biomedical engineering (University of Memphıs and TN)
– Program Director (USA National Science Foundation)
– Science Diplomat (USA State Department)
– Visiting Professor (6 universities in Turkey)
– President (Rector) Istanbul Kultur University (2012-)
 Society of Women Engineers
– Collegiate: SWE Vice President at Rice University
– National Committees (Awards Coordinator, Women in Academia Chair)
– Board of Directors, Director of External Affairs and Goverment Relations (2007-2009)
– Board of Directors, Director of Emerging Opportunities (2010-2012)
– Counselor (University of Memphis and Koc University)
 Other Boards
– IEEE EMBS, ASEE BED, TASSA, ATC DC
– Atılım University Board of Trustees (2010-2012)
Semahat Demir– The Journey

4. 4
 Education
– University of Houston, BS, Civil Eng.
– Purdue University, MS, Civil Eng.
– Smith College, Executive Education, Directing Innovation
 Work
– Tenneco Gas (intern)
– Bechtel Corp (civil engineering, procurement, contract management, Six Sigma program, project
controls, estimating)
– Genentech (operational excellence in Corporate Engineering, business process excellence in External
Contract Management Org., portfolio, project and process excellence in Global Pharma Procurement)
 Society of Women Engineers
– Collegiate: Many roles, e.g. President to Outreach Chair at University of Houston
– Professional: Many roles, e.g. President -Houston Area Section, Section Rep -Golden Gate Section,
1998 Houston Convention Publicity Co-chair, Counselor –SFSU Collegiate Section
– Regional: Many roles, e.g. Region A Governor
– National Committees: Awards Committee, Women in Academia, Corporate Partnership Council
– Board of Directors: FY09-10 Director of Education, FY11 President
 Other Boards
– ASCE (VP 1992) , Purdue Graduate Student Association (President, 1995-1996)
– Houston Engineers Week (Board member, 1998-2000)
– Diversity Advisory Council (Bechtel, 1998-2000), American Turkish Assoc. – Houston (BOD, 1998-99)
Siddika Demir – The Journey

5. 5
Florence DiStefano Hudson – The Journey
 Education
– Princeton University, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
– Columbia University, Graduate School of Business, Executive Education in Finance & Accounting
– Harvard Business School, Executive Education, IBM Strategic Leadership Forum
 Work
– Summer internships at Grumman Aerospace and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
– Hewlett Packard
– IBM - Sales, marketing, development, channels, strategy, travel to 20 countries, Executive since 1999
 Society of Women Engineers
– Collegiate: SWE President at Princeton University, Local SWE Scholarship awarded as HS Senior
– National Archives Committee 2002-2007
– Corporate Partnership Council Co-Chair 2004-2006
– Board of Directors, First Special Director on the SWE BOD - 2005-2006
– Board of Trustees - 2010-2013
 Other Boards
– Juvenile Law Education Project – Past President of the Board, Sustaining Board Member since 1990
– SHORE - Sheltering the Homeless is Our Responsibility – Board Member, Vice President 2008-2011
– Princeton University Technology Advisory Council - 2009 to present
– Princeton University Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Council - 2012 to present
– IEC Electronics Corporation, Board of Directors, Compensation Committee - 2012 to present
– Connected World – M2M / Internet of Things Security Advisory Board – 2014 to present

6. 6
Attaining Board Positions
 Strive for leadership and Board roles in the not-for-profits you serve – e.g. SWE
 Find new Board or leadership opportunities
– United Way or similar not-for-profit hub in your regional area might have lists of
Boards seeking new Board members
– Contact organizations you are interested in serving
 Network
– Contact leaders or organizations in your local area / region / city
– Contact friends from College and let them know your BOD interest
– Make your friends and colleagues from work aware that you are interested in serving
on a Board
 Nominate and advocate for each other for other boards

7. 7
Leveraging Board Positions for More Lucrative Board Positions
 Join a small not-for-profit Board, leverage that to gain a bigger Board position
– Semahat
• Technical Boards: IEEE EMBS, ASEE BED, TASSA (elected)
• ‘Other Board’: American Turkish Association of Washington DC Board (elected)
• SWE career => SWE Board of Directors (elected)
• University Board: Atılım University Board of Trustees (appointed)
• President (Rector) İstanbul Kültür Üniversity => Board of Trustees (appointed)
– Siddika
• Collegiate association boards (elected)
• Work advisory councils to cultural boards (appointed & elected) =>Diversity Council,
Houston E-Week, American Turkish Association
• Elected to SWE Board of Directors => Elected President of SWE
– Florence
• Appointed to SWE Board of Directors => Elected to SWE Board of Trustees
• Joined Juvenile Law Education Project => Elected President of the Board
• Joined SHORE Board => Elected Vice President of the Board
• Experience on Not for profit Boards => Joined IEC Corporate Board
• Joined IEC Corporate Board => Appointed to Compensation Committee
 Board of Directors experience teaches you Board culture and process
 Be confident – leverage what you know, be bold, even as a new Board member

8. 8
Leverage Board Positions to Increase Confidence & Career Success
 Work with the President/Chairman and senior executives of the Board
– You are one of the leaders now
– They elected or appointed you because they want your opinion and expertise
– Find your voice
– Increase your confidence
– Increase the confidence others have in you
 Leverage this confidence in your job and career

9. 9
Discussion
Questions & Answers

10. 10
Thank You
semahat.demir@iku.edu.tr
demir.siddika@gene.com
florence.hudson@us.ibm.com