Two accomplished STEM leaders joined us live in the WE23 Diverse Podcast Studio to share emerging trends and career advancement tips in the public and private sectors.
Tamika Abbott, director, office of security technology at the U.S. Department of State, discusses innovations in the security space and details her career journey in the public sector that included missions across the globe.
Jackie Reeves, director of IT operations – endpoint solutions at Abbott, reflects on the latest developments in the medical technology industry and shares her experience of reentering the workforce after a career break.
Listen to the episode on SWE’s website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Speaker: Tamika Abbott, Director, Office of Security Technology, U.S. Department of State
Tamika Abbott is the Director for the Office of Security Technology. She manages technical security countermeasures that stabilize and protect government staff, property, and information, at Department of State facilities, domestic and abroad.
Mrs. Abbott previously held the role of security technology operations director, where she oversaw technical security and life safety programs for 200+ U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the globe. As the regional director of security engineering in the European region, she directly managed 25 offices and provided technical solutions in over 50 countries.
In 2017, Mrs. Abbott was presented with the Diplomatic Security (DS) Employee of the Year award and was acknowledged for her work in Afghanistan, where she modified programs that saved lives and enhanced global security. Mrs. Abbott holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering Technology from Virginia State University.
Speaker: Jackie Reeves, Director, IT Operations – Endpoint Solutions at Abbott
Jackie Reeves is the director of endpoint solutions, part of the end user experience team in infrastructure services at Abbott. She has been in the technology field for over 20 years and has worked in multiple industries including a major airline, financial services, and healthcare.
As an accomplished IT leader, Reeves has extensive experience leading IT infrastructure and service delivery organizations. She has track record of steering IT infrastructure and service delivery units to success, fostering collaboration across business domains and vendor networks. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from Macalester College.
Host: Larry Guthrie, Director of Content Strategy, Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Larry Guthrie is the Director of Content Strategy for the Society of Women Engineers. He has over 20 years of experience in all areas strategic marketing and communications, both in the corporate and association settings. Guthrie is responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating omnichannel content publishing strategies that align with SWE’s audiences and stakeholders.
Before joining SWE, he was the director of communications at CCIM Institute, where he developed and oversaw the overall marketing, communications, content, and media strategies for the association. Guthrie holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from Old Dominion University.
