Doris Wong first joined Texas Instruments as a methods and tooling engineer and later joined the Quality
organization, performing various tasks within the Quality
organization as a functional quality engineer in the Assembly and Board
shops, quality control supervisor, and hardware quality engineer on
various major defense programs.
Wong knew that software engineering would be
an excellent career path and moved into Software Quality Engineering where she spent a few years on several major
programs before becoming the Sensors and Electronics Segment (SES) Year
2000 Quality Lead in 1998. This position branched out to the 26
Raytheon domestic and internation sites in SES. In early 1999, Wong was selected
as the segment representative for the Raytheon Corporate Year 2000 Test
Assessment team. After completion of the Year 2000 Quality activities, she was
selected to be the TSAP Software Quality Engineering Lead.
Wong is also an active volunteer for the annual Texas Instruments
"Take Our Daughters to Work," chairperson for the Chinese Intiative
Organization, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville college recruiter,
co-chair for the Raytheon Asian Initiave Team, Collin County Boosting
Engineering & Technology & Science (BEST) volunteer, Leadership
Assessment & Mentoring Program (LAMP) chairperson, and Raytheon
representative for the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of
Commerce.
She is recognized as a professional engineer in the state of Texas and a member of the American Society of Quality Control, the Chinese Institute of Engineers
and WITI. Wong recently participated in the 2000 WITI Dallas
Conference in a panel discussion.
She is married and the mother of one daughter.
1. What was your first job in technology?
My first job in technology was at Texas Instruments as a methods and
tooling engineer on the Paveway II and III programs in Sherman, Texas.
2. Who has been your most significant mentor? Why?
I have had several mentors during my career but my most significant
mentors would have to be my SES Y2K manager and the former SES quality
vice president. Both women saw the potential that I had and gave me the
opportunity to use my technical creativity and people skills to manage
the Year 2000 Quality job. This job was extremely high level since it
affected the entire Raytheon company which employs over 100,000
employees. For that, I'm truly grateful to have had the opportunity.
3. What has been your greatest challenge and what strategies did you use to overcome obstacles?
I would have to say that working on the Year 2000 project was the
greatest challenge. I used to work on programs at one site and
interface with folks that were located within the local metroplex
in the Dallas area. The Year 2000 job required interfacing with Raytheon
personnel in the SES site which affected the 26 sites. When I picked up
the Raytheon Corporate Test Assessment position, this required interfacing
with the rest of Raytheon - over 100,000 employees. Communication,
training and teaming were the key strategies to making the Year 2000
program a success. On both the SES Y2K core team and the Raytheon
Corporate Test Assessment teams, the tasks were not done soley by one
person but by a team of talented and goal-oriented team members.
4. Who has been the most influential person in your life? Why?
I would have to say that person would have to be my daughter, Whitney.
She is the reason why I get up and go to work. Bringing a child into
the world is a tremendous responsibility and one that I do not regret.
Whenever she speaks, I listen to her. If you ever want to hear the
absolute truth, listen to a child and hear what they have to say. The
kids of today will run the world in generations to come.
5. What lessons have you learned that would be valuable to women beginning their careers in technology?
I would recommend that women starting their career perform self-evaluations such as the Myers Briggs Assessment to understand what their
interests are. Women should really evaluate what their career goals are
and consider getting a mentor that will guide them to reach their goals.
Each woman should pace their goals to what's comfortable for her.
Technology is extremely dynamic and also exciting!
6. What new technology do you believe will have the most positive impact on the world in the next 20 years? The most negative impact?
I see the Internet as the sole source for doing professional and
personal activities. We will be so dependent on doing online business.
There's no need to commute to the store, library, restaurant, bank, etc.
when you can just purchase products online, pay bills online, order food
online ... I might be exaggerating slightly but this may one day be a
reality.
On a negative note, I see the simple things in life disappearing, such as a
nice walk to the store to purchase a book, checking out the latest
restaurant in town, and the face to face communication with people at
the stores, libraries, bank, restaurant, etc.
On a lighter note:
1. If you could have dinner with any 2 people (living or not), who would they be?
I would like to have dinner with Alan Greenspan and Albert Einstein.
Alan has a powerful presence in the financial community and Albert was
the most brillant person.
2. What was the last book you read? What books do you love to recommend?
The last book I read was "Charles Schwab's Guide to Financial
Independence." Books that I do enjoy reading are those that have make
you feel good about yourself and can improve yourself both
professionally and personally.
3. If you couldn't do what you are doing now, what profession would you choose?
CEO of a company that I established. Of course, it's never too late to
change professions ...
4. What is your definition of success?
Being able to set realistic goals, both professionally and personally,
and achieving them. When friends, family members, and co-workers see me
as a good example for them, I feel that I'm successful.