Shaping the future together: insights from TIers about building an impactful career

Nearly every electronic device you depend on – from your thermostat and vehicle, to your phone and the satellites and data centers with which they communicate – is powered by chips. In order to make these essential chips, it takes a team of talented and diverse minds working together to push the boundaries of technology forward.

But these people aren’t only influencing the future of technology, they’re also shaping their personal and professional futures at TI. 

“There are opportunities to make an impact in any role at TI,” said Yesenia Moore, our company’s vice president of Talent Management. “Whether your experience is in engineering, manufacturing, marketing, communications, finance, sales or another area, this is a place where you can grow your skills, get exposure to things that interest you and own your development.”  

So, what does that look like at a global semiconductor company like TI? Hear from three employees as they share the inside story of their journey at our company.  

Embracing curiosity at every step

Mubina Toa has always been curious. It’s what led her to a career in engineering.

“My father grew up in a small village in Bangladesh where there was little room for growth,” she said. “But he was persistent. He got an education and became an electrical engineer.”

Mubina hesitated to follow her father’s path into engineering at first, but curiosity got the best of her after working on her first circuit during high school. “That’s when the puzzle pieces finally came together,” she said. “I was intrigued and decided to study electrical engineering at Texas A&M University.”

With more than seven years at our company – starting as a product marketing engineer out of college to now being responsible for the results of a team as a Current Sensing systems manager – Mubina has embraced curiosity to navigate each step of her career.

“You can come to TI and grow into almost anything you want to,” she said. “If you’re in a role you love, you can go deeper into that field and become a trusted technical expert – and even pursue Tech Ladder, which is a prestigious career path for technical leaders at our company. You may also want to move higher in the organization by leading a team like I have. Or, maybe you want to try something completely new and get exposure to other parts of the company. There are many opportunities to explore a path that fits your personal goals.”

Mubina’s journey is marked by experiences that continue to make an impact. During her first year at our company, for example, she helped design our products into customer solutions that continue to drive revenue and are still used in a wide range of applications, from vehicles to personal electronics. In her current role, she leads a team that is responsible for defining and innovating fast, reliable and safe current-sensing solutions that support everything from EV charging to solar energy. 

Mubina’s advice for those who are making the transition from college to career or who are thinking about taking the next step in an established career is to work hard and make your aspirations known.

“Most of my growth at TI has been a result of embracing curiosity, working hard and raising my hand to new opportunities,” she said. “When you combine all of this with the development opportunities TI offers – from technical training and development programs, to on-demand learning classes and career workshops hosted by our Employee Resource Groups – you tend to be more innovative, connected and open to new perspectives.

Mubina says her involvement in our New Employee Network (NEN) and Women’s Employee Network (WEN) was a great way to build a network and feel connected in her early years at our company. “Getting plugged in to WEN allowed me to meet women across the organization who inspired me, some of whom became mentors who have guided my career decisions,” she said. “I’ve also been able to bounce ideas off of other employees and build relationships with people who have very different roles and teams from me, which has broadened my perspective and contributed to my growth.”

From Marine to manufacturing technician

Gazing through a tiny window in the back of a 7-ton truck, Greg Reyes remembers seeing darkness as his Marine Corps battalion used the cover of night to go undetected in hostile territory. It was the first night of an overseas deployment.

“We couldn’t see anything because it was so dark, and I remember having this feeling of uncertainty stepping into the unknown,” said Greg, who is now a manufacturing equipment technician at our company. 

Today, Greg draws on his experience in the military with each new opportunity he approaches. “Coming to TI was an exciting chance to try something new,” he said. “It was a new industry for me with a lot of unknowns, but I have had a great support system of leaders and mentors who have helped me along the way.” 

For Greg, seeking constructive feedback from his leaders and asking questions have been instrumental in his growth.   

“I work alongside several great technicians who have been with the company for more than 20 years and who are eager to share their experience if you ask,” said Greg, adding that his work brings a sense of fulfillment.

“We’re working on cutting-edge manufacturing equipment that helps our company meet the growing demand for semiconductors. It’s very rewarding and exciting to see the potential for people like me who may not have a conventional engineering background, but bring a lot of transferable skills to the table as a veteran – like problem-solving, innovative thinking and perseverance.”  

In the near future, Greg aspires to complete his bachelor’s degree and lead a team as a shift supervisor. Drawing from his experiences in the military – including losing friends in combat – Greg wants to pass down what he has learned about leading, navigating challenges and problem-solving to help people who are just getting started in their careers. “In my happy world, I’ll retire at TI,” he said, adding that his manager has been a great support and advocate for his career goals, including finishing his college degree.   

Hiring and retaining talented technicians like Greg is instrumental to our company’s success as we continue to expand our internal manufacturing capacity, said Yesenia. “We have strong engagements with military institutions, community colleges and high schools to develop the next generation of semiconductor talent,” she said. “In order to build a future-ready workforce, we are enhancing the skills of our current employees, expanding our award-winning internship program and building programs that focus on strengthening technical skills.”  

The art of reinventing your career

How did an electrician who studied psychology in college become a sales leader at our company? For Matt Pickett, it was math.

“I was an electrician out of high school and had a knack for numbers,” Matt said. It was during his first semester of college studying psychology that he realized his experience and interests were better suited for engineering.

Matt went on to graduate from the University of Florida with an electrical engineering degree and kicked off his career at our company as a test engineer. “Initially, I was designing hardware and writing software to interface with multi-million-dollar equipment that tests all of the specifications within a data sheet,” Matt said, adding that his first role was heavy on the engineering side.

From there, he gained experience as a people manger leading a team of engineers for a period of time, before transitioning over to a systems engineering role to gain a better understanding of the business side of our company. “It was an exciting opportunity and my first customer-facing role,” Matt said. “I was traveling to customers to understand the market needs, gain knowledge of our competitors and ultimately develop a business case for new parts to drive revenue for our company.”

Matt enjoyed working directly with customers and continued to build his sales experience as a field application engineer (FAE) manager. It was in this role that Matt tapped into his competitive side, embracing his engineering experience and analytical mindset to help solves our customers’ greatest technical challenges. “As an FAE, you’re essentially a technical expert and trusted advisor to your customers,” Matt said, noting that his engineering background, leadership experience and interpersonal skills culminated in this stage of his career.

Today, Matt leads a team of field application engineers within our company’s Industrial Aerospace and Defense field team. He wants to see more engineers explore a sales career path just as he did. “I’m a little biased, but I think the FAE role is one the best engineering career paths you can take,” Matt said. “I think the biggest misconception about being an FAE is that it’s not as technical as other engineering roles. The reality is, you have to be extremely technical and personable, an expert on a broad set of parts and use innovative thinking to make the right recommendations for our customers.”

Walking through a store and seeing a product with our company’s components in it is one of the most gratifying parts of his role, Matt said. “It’s cool being able to point out a product and think, ‘I worked with a customer to secure that business for TI and know that it’s driving revenue for our company.”

Reflecting on his 17 years at our company, Matt says building a strong network is key to growing a successful career. “I’m a big believer in the power of your network,” he said. Having a solid understanding of what the different roles are and how they all work together to make our company successful can open doors and set you apart, he said. “It really helps you understand where your skillset needs to be refined so that you can be prepared to move into other roles that interest you.”

Shaping the future

Around the world, TIers are harnessing their experiences and skills to build impactful careers and drive innovation in everything from space exploration and vehicle electrification, to robotics, renewable energy, factory automation and more.

“It’s the unique backgrounds and perspectives of TIers that make our products more innovative and our company stronger,” said Yesenia. “I am inspired by the many ways our employees make an impact across every type of role and to see them flourish in their careers. Together, we are shaping the future of technology and enjoying the growth and lessons learned that come along the journey.”