Explore the many ways that engineers can get involved with public policy ― from learning about the issues, to speaking to legislators, to even running for office!
Jenny Tsao, lead of the SWE Public Policy Affinity Group, provides tips for women in STEM who want to start getting involved in public policy. Katherine Culbert, engineer and candidate for Texas Railroad Commission, unpacks her decision to run for office and the lessons she has learned through this experience.
Host Karen Horting, CEO and executive director of SWE, moderates the discussion and shares her public policy memories and experiences, including with SWE’s annual Congressional Visit Days.
Please note that as a 501(c)(3) organization, SWE is strictly nonpartisan and cannot endorse political candidates.
Listen to the episode on SWE’s website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Speaker: Jenny Tsao, Lead, SWE Public Policy Affinity Group
Jenny Tsao is currently the SWE Public Policy Affinity Group lead. She has been a systems engineer in various industries for 14 years in the Washington, D.C. area primarily working on and leading data and analytics efforts.
She has been a SWE member for 17 years and hopes to inspire SWE members to get more active in public policy and help provide more resources for those who are interested.
Jenny was previously a SWE government relations and public policy coordinator and has attended multiple SWE Congressional Visit Days over the last decade. She also completed a year-long Congressional fellowship in the Senate in her work role.
Speaker: Katherine Culbert, Candidate for Texas Railroad Commission
Originally from Upstate New York, Katherine is a graduate of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a bachelor’s degree in paper science & engineering. She earned her MBA from the University at Albany and her master’s degree in law from Northwestern University.
She is a professional engineer in New York, a Six Sigma Green Belt, and a certified project management professional. Since moving to Houston, she founded K and K Process where she has worked with various clients managing process and pipeline safety projects.
Katherine is running for the Texas Railroad Commission where she is looking to hold corporations accountable, enforce safety standards, and protect our environment. She has been a SWE member for 18 years and wants to encourage other members to run for office.
Host: Karen Horting, Executive Director and CEO, Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Karen Horting, CAE, is the executive director and CEO for the Society of Women Engineers, a position she has held since Dec. 31, 2013.
With more than 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and fund development, Horting was most recently the SWE deputy executive director.
In this capacity, she was responsible for all fund development activities for the organization, including corporate membership and SWE’s Corporate Partnership Council and more traditional philanthropy such as foundation and government grants, individual gifts, and bequests.
She also oversaw many of the Society’s programs and services, including professional development, K-12 outreach, the annual conference, and SWE’s international expansion.
She currently serves on the Leadership Circle of the 50K Coalition, the FIRST Robotics Board of Directors, the STEM Ed Coalition Board of Directors, Engineering CAS Diversity Advisory Board, and the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board (DAAB).
Diverse: a SWE podcast has been recognized as a top women in STEM podcast and a top engineering podcast!
