Girlstart’s Women in STEM weekly series highlights various women who are making a difference in STEM. Be inspired as these incredible women describe how they became interested in their field, provide insight into a day in the life, and share learnings from their experiences.

Betty McDaniel

Senior Chip Designer @ AMD

Betty is an accomplished chip designer who is passionate about bringing more women into STEM fields. She has previously volunteered with Girlstart by teaching at various events, and we are thrilled that she is now sharing her words of wisdom with us today.

Can you first briefly describe your career?
I have been a chip designer in a variety of different types of microprocessors. First, I was a part of an awesome team that designed graphics chips, which are responsible for the visuals you see on your computer screens. Then I designed network processors with another team that enables so much information to be sent across the internet. Now I am designing chips at AMD that are the “brains” of the computer. It has been exciting to be a part of the digital revolution and to be able to contribute to cutting edge technology.

What are your favorite things about your career?
I am near the end of career now, and what I have most enjoyed is the constant newness – I am always learning something new, which keeps it interesting. Doing the same thing day after day, year after year, would be so dull. Instead, I get to do really big puzzles with open ended solutions that call for two of my favorite words: creativity and curiosity.

Second, I have enjoyed the trust and respect of my colleagues. Engineering truly is a professional job, even with just a 4-year degree like I have, so I am able to work independently despite being a part of a team, with each team member trusting each other to get their parts done well and on time. I have a lot of flexibility in how I do my work as a result, which I appreciate. You don’t get that kind of flexibility or respect in just any kind of career, and I don’t take it for granted.

Last, I enjoy the tangible rewards of being a chip designer. I know that I have been a part of bringing technology to where it is today. Can you imagine what it would be like to meet a global pandemic without the internet – without the ability to have video calls, meetings, and classrooms online, or stream movies, search for news, or connect with your friends? I have been a part of making that possible. There are financial rewards as well – I am well paid for just 4 years of college, and I am able to provide well for my family and not have to worry about money. Believe me, that makes life much easier.

What advice do you have for girls interested in a STEM career?
Work hard and stay curious. We are all unique, and you just might be able to look at a problem from your unique angle and come up with something BIG! Something that has never been done before!

What brought you to volunteer with Girlstart?
There are simply not enough women in STEM careers. While there are growing numbers of women from other countries moving to the US, there are not many US women becoming electrical engineers. I am usually the only US woman on my team, and often the only woman of any nationality. Women bring different perspectives to problem solving, and are needed if we want to remain competitive technologically. Additionally, I would like to see more women become financially independent and intellectually recognized. That means getting girls in the US interested in STEM subjects and opening their eyes to career paths that they might not have considered otherwise.

Why is confidence in STEM important for girls?
There are so many societal messages for girls to ‘dumb themselves down,’ despite all the counter messages they may be getting at home. STEM has traditionally been a male dominated arena, so if girls are confident in their STEM abilities, I believe that they will be confident in all aspects of their life. It can’t help but spill over. I want girls to never make themselves small in order to help someone else feel bigger – that only makes us all smaller. When girls are doing their best, everybody benefits!