Chemours’ Minjin Kim Named Considered one of Engineered Techniques “20 to Watch: Girls in HVAC”
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2023 / Chemours proudly celebrates Minjin Kim, world leader in stationary air conditioning, heat pumps and chillers, as the winner of the 2023 Engineered Systems 20 to Watch: Women in HVAC competition. Now in its fifth year, the competition works to raise awareness and appreciation for women who are making a difference at different levels of the industry – from young professionals to engineering trainees to business owners and operators – by awarding extraordinary personalities with a passion for science and their careers. This year marks the second year in a row that a member of the Chemours team has won this award, with Stefanie Kopchick receiving the award in 2022.
Below are highlights, milestones and inspiration from Kim’s career, originally released by Engineered Systems as part of their annual celebration of this year’s 20 to Watch: Women in HVAC.
Minjin Kim
Title: World market leader in the segments of stationary air conditioning, heat pumps and chillers, the Chemours Co.
Age: 35
Educational Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University; MBA, NYU Stern School of Business
What does your daily work involve?
I work with our customers, mainly stationary original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and value chain partners, to develop new refrigerant solutions and establish new markets for our solutions. This work is part of our long-term business vision and marketing strategy for Chemours Thermal and Specialized Solutions. I also work closely with various functions including Research & Development, Technology, Business Development, Regulatory and Communications to implement our strategy of driving innovative solutions for the HVACR industry.
What got you started/when did you fall in love with engineering?
I grew up with engineers and scientists in my immediate and extended family. Of particular note is that my father worked as a civil engineer on urban planning and infrastructure projects. I remember on family vacations he would take detours just to see new bridges. My older brother spent 10 years in a lab studying biotechnology. He was the guy who built his own computers in high school. I grew up reading teenage science magazines and looking at blueprints of car engines and tunnels on my father’s desk. I loved science classes, especially chemistry and biology, and going to engineering school seemed like a natural choice.
The story goes on
What has been the most rewarding/proud aspect of your career as an engineer?
The most rewarding part of my job is when a new product comes out. Getting to this point, from initial research to market launch, requires an army of professionals from engineering to compliance, and my job is to understand the requirements for (and the interface between) everyone involved across the board way to summarize. So when a product that we’ve been developing for years can make a significant impact, like a low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant, to support the HVACR industry’s efforts towards sustainability, it’s extremely rewarding to see how the years of planning implemented.
What challenges do women face in this profession? Can you give a personal example? Why aren’t there more women in engineering? How can we increase the proportion of women in engineering?
I have a few poignant examples from my career that are emblematic of an industry where gender equality is at stake. In my first round of interviews after college, an interviewer told me he wasn’t interested in training female engineers because “they just quit when they get married.”
Another time on a factory visit (after I was hired) the location didn’t even have a powder room so they took me to a utility closet with a toilet surrounded by boxes and tools with a large window open to/from the surrounding cornfield. While I can look back on the toilet incident with a sense of humor, it is telling that the location didn’t even think it was possible for a woman to work there. I’m sure women who are inclined towards engineering or STEM have felt nudges from these experiences that may have discouraged them from going further in this field. Once the potential pool of female engineers is reduced, this can reinforce stereotypes and discourage young women due to a lack of representation and role models in the industry.
I think one way to get more women into engineering is to spread the word about the wide range of career opportunities for someone with an engineering degree. It’s not just test tubes and robots. It helps you develop strong and diverse skills such as analytical thinking, creative problem solving, systems optimization and more. With engineering experience, there are a variety of roles available to you when you decide on a career path. In my case I was able to shift my career in sales, marketing, business development and project management in the chemical industry. You can be valuable if you know how to tackle problems and provide technical solutions to any system that lacks efficiency. So I want to remind women and girls at school that studying engineering expands the possibilities and opportunities for their future in many ways. And it is fun.
How many years have you been working in mechanical engineering? What has changed the most during this time? What has changed the least?
I have been working in the chemical industry in various roles for almost 13 years and I am fortunate to work for a company where leaders and managers care deeply about inclusion and diversity in the workforce.
I see more women in engineering than I did when I started, but the most significant change is in leadership. When I look at leadership at my company, 50% of the leadership team is women, including our business president, and 75% of them are engineering or chemical majors. I recognize that the proportion of women in leadership positions is generally around 30%, but this is a significant change from where I started my career.
While I’m observing some positive improvements, I still see that industry-wide change will take time. For example, if I attend a trade show or conference in the HVACR industry, I estimate that less than 15% of the attendees are women. In my view, the HVACR industry is undergoing a major transformation in terms of technological advancement and impact on the future of our humanity. It’s one of the most exciting fields in the next 10-15 years and I want to encourage young female engineers to join the forces!
What drives/motivates you every day?
Pry! Curiosity has driven me for as long as I can remember. Familiarizing myself with new topics always motivates me at work and in my private life.
What remains on your engineering bucket list – what are you striving for that you haven’t achieved yet?
I want to keep working to solve problems and bring valuable solutions to the market. The climate crisis requires us to solve one of the world’s toughest problems and stop this planet from getting hotter, and one person or one company cannot solve it. I want to work with partners to develop holistic, sustainable solutions that benefit people, animals and the planet.
what nobody knows about you
Before the pandemic, I took dance classes, specifically Latin American dances – rumba, salsa, bachata and cha-cha. I danced in front of more than 300 people during our studio’s showcase in 2019.
List any mentors who have helped you succeed and describe in detail how they shaped your success.
I feel lucky to have some mentors and managers who helped me get here. I can’t name them all, but I would like to give a special mention to Stefanie Kopchick, who has been my manager for almost three years. In fact, she was voted one of the 20 to Watch winners in 2022, so you might have seen her in this room last year. Besides her brilliant mind, she is a great example of “treat people as you would like to be treated”. She was an excellent thinking partner for developing rough ideas into creative solutions. She was an inspiration to me because she never hesitates to speak up to provide the right voice in the room. She has given me mental and emotional support to keep my head clear in good times and bad. Also, the trust she has shown in me over time always keeps me through the toughest of times.
What advice do you have for aspiring female engineers who are considering a career?
Please do not be afraid to enter an engineering field. Studying engineering was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It will be challenging but rewarding. It will help you build analytical skills and creative problem-solving skills that will apply not only to your future career but also to the curveballs of life. Also, once you are able to complete such a rigorous curriculum and all the homework, you are prepared for anything.
The Chemours Company, Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Image for press release
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SOURCE: The Chemours company
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