Associate Research Engineer, Nike Inc.
Beaverton, OR

My name is Amy Gishifu and I graduated from Harvey Mudd College in 2002 with a B.S. in engineering.  In 2004 I earned my Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, San Diego.

I like being an engineer, but unlike in the classroom, the daily activities at Nike do not involve problem sets or multivariable calculus.  There is much more team project based interaction, and it is about solving problems together.  I have technical knowledge, but I have learned what I need to know for my job mostly by doing my job.  I have had to learn about biomechanics, sports engineering, and plastics on the job, not in the classroom.

My Day-to-Day Life as an Engineer

As an associate research engineer at Nike, my day-to-day responsibilities include researching and developing new cushioning products specifically involving air.  I work a lot with plastics, which is something that was not my specialty in school, but that I am rapidly learning a great deal about.  My research involves design, analysis, process development, and materials and mechanical testing.    

My work definitely involves a lot of team collaboration.  Particularly, my group researches new cushioning techniques.  Once we think that we have a good thing going, we have to work with different shoe categories, like running, basketball, cross training, etc. to come up with a design that everyone can work with.  There is a lot of give and take between what will provide good cushioning and what looks good.  We also have to work with biomechanists within the company to see how this product can help or hinder athletic performance.  We work with polymer specialists and different vendors to see if there is a product out there that is capable of meeting our design needs.  It takes a lot of people, time, and effort for a concept to finally come together.

Working in such a team-oriented environment, I have realized that face-to-face interaction and networking are very important.  Even if you can write a quick e-mail to someone, it is much better to go tell them in person, or to at least give them a phone call.  Because people can get hundreds of e-mails a day, they will more likely remember what you say if you say it to them in person.

Having committed to this more personal approach to communicating with my colleagues, when I first started at Nike, it was difficult to keep track of names and projects.  As I got used to my new job, I realized that I had to get to know people both inside and outside of my direct group.  If I wanted to get anything done and to integrate myself in the company, I had to go out and talk to people.  I had to “show face,” and let people know who I was, and how I could be of service to them.  I had to pick up the phone, walk the hallways, and speak up as much as possible in meetings just so people knew I existed.

I find that the work environment at Nike is different everyday.  Our group is unique in that we work with both design and processing.  On any given day, I meet with designers, analyze mechanical test data, and run experiments with a thermoformer.  Since we are doing things with plastics that are different from other industries, it involves a lot of research.  But knowing that I am doing something that no one else has done before makes the work all the more fun and exciting.

Staying Current within My Industry

At work I strive to learn as much as I can, and to stay current within the industry.  Sometimes I put in extra time just to learn and explore.  My goal is to have people know that I am part of the cushioning group, and that I am capable of doing the job.  Although I may be new, I want my colleagues to know that I am becoming more knowledgeable about air cushioning.

In that vein, I would say that the most frustrating part of the job is not being able to take in all the information that is out there.  I want to learn so much about plastics, biomechanics, sports, and the dynamics at Nike, but there does not seem to be enough room in my brain.  Although it is tempting to take a huge bite of information and process it all at once, I have to discipline myself and let myself learn as I go along; to take things one day at a time.

In addition to personal networking, I also stay current within the footwear industry by reading magazines our group subscribes to and by attending industry conferences.  We attend not only sports-based conferences, but also plastics and medical device conferences.  At these events, we are able to get ideas and to see what kinds of technologies are available for us to possibly use in our new products.

Networking

Though I am a member of the Society of Women Engineers, I network mostly with colleagues within the Nike.  I have not had the opportunity yet to network with other engineers that have similar roles in other companies, but I think in years to come, I will have that opportunity.  I have also managed to keep in touch with various managers whom I have been interviewed by and have worked with in the footwear industry.  I maintain contact with them via e-mail just to let them know how things are going.

In addition to getting to know my coworkers at Nike through work-related interactions, I have managed to meet a lot of people by just going to the gym or attending company-wide functions on the Nike campus.  Sometimes I will meet someone at the gym who works in a certain department.  While working, I may need something from that department, and it is a lot easier to interact with a group if you already know someone in the group.  So going to the gym or just interacting socially can help in networking and enlarging your professional circle.

My Personal Connection to Engineering

At this point, it is hard to characterize exactly how passionate I am about my position.  Since I have only recently started working at Nike, I am still trying to get a handle on my role and learn about plastics and cushioning as well as the company as a whole.  Nevertheless, I am very passionate about the idea that I am applying my engineering knowledge to something that may help athletes enjoy their sport more than ever.

Concerning corporate culture, depending on the company that you work for, you may end up feeling like just a worker ant working for the huge machine.  Although Nike is a huge company, I feel that I am doing something that directly benefits the company and their consumers, which makes me feel that my job is worthwhile. 

I feel that by working for a large footwear provider, I can make products that increase the joy of exercising – an activity that is important in our daily lives.  In particular, I have heard people complain about their workout shoes not being waterproof, how they cause blisters, or just never fit right.  I like knowing that I can make a difference in the performance and comfort of the everyday athlete; it is fulfilling to know that my work makes a difference in people’s lives.

The nicest perk of my job is that when I say that I work with Nike, people automatically know the company and what we do.  Working at the world headquarters is also great because it is located on beautiful grounds, and we have two onsite gyms and great sports facilities overall.  Nike also provides great health benefits for my family members and me. 

At the end of the day, I would say that my job is cool.  Where else can you run down a hallway in brand new shoes, and say that you’re doing research?  I get to work for the world’s largest sports equipment provider, develop products that will make athletes more comfortable doing what they do best, and interact with a whole range of people, from accountants and designers to production line workers.  I also have the opportunity to bridge my passions for engineering and sports, and I have the flexibility to be creative and to take risks.  It’s a lot of fun!

How I Got to Where I Am Today

When I first started college, I picked mechanical engineering because I wanted to eventually design cars.  I wanted to be the engineer who worked with the designers to make great-looking cars.  However, after spending two summers as an intern in the automotive industry, I realized that it was not for me.  The auto industry was not as fun or glamorous as I had made it out to be in my mind.  It was scary and disappointing thinking that the reason why I became an engineer was not going to be a viable option.  I started to doubt whether or not engineering was something for me, but after some searching, I found a niche that I ended up liking and ultimately pursuing my career in.  It was during this time that I reconsidered an even earlier interest of mine.

That is, ever since high school, I assumed that there had to be scientists out there designing new technologies for shoes.  Whether it was Air or Pumps or something new and fantastic, I figured that there was a reason why these technologies existed.  As I became more involved in sports, I thought about how cool it would be for me to design something that would actually benefit athletes.  I started searching online for some engineering related to sports, and I stumbled on Nike’s website that featured their Sports Research Lab.  After seeing what they did, I was hooked, and I knew that applying engineering to sports was possible, and that it was something I wanted to pursue as a career.

I started looking for sports engineering positions, and I found an internship offered by Adidas in Germany while I was in grad school.  I applied, and after a lot of pestering e-mails to the hiring manager, I got an interview, and was eventually offered the position of research engineer.  Once I got my foot in the door, I knew that it was the type of career that I wanted to pursue.

Navigating the Job Market

To date, I have gotten my jobs through strong determination.  I never stopped looking for career opportunities.  I actually read through all the emails that the career services center sent out to the engineers, searched job Internet sites every day, followed up after failed interviews and unanswered resume submissions, and repeatedly contacted HR and hiring managers to the point where they were probably so fed up with my e-mails and phone calls that they had no choice but to talk to me.  I kept my resume out there, and crossed my fingers that someone would actually take notice.  I even contacted companies that seemed interesting, but were not hiring at the moment.  I figured that in the event that they did start hiring, they would know that I might be a good candidate. 

Even with all the time and effort this job search method required, not every job that I applied and got interviewed for led to success.  I was told once that I did not get to the second round of interviews because I said, “I think” too much, rather than “I know.”  I kept getting rejected for internships that I really wanted, and I did not always get my “ideal” job.  It took several years before someone at Nike even looked at my resume.  It was discouraging, but I kept applying. My experience has taught me that persistence always pays off. 

So to young aspiring engineers, I would say, “Do not give up!”  If you know what you want to do, do whatever you can to get into that career.  Take the “lame” jobs, but always take something away from that experience.  And if you do not know what you want to do, keep looking!  Even if you have a job that just pays the bills, do not stop looking for something that really makes you excited.  You will be spending at least 40 hours a week at your job, so you might as well make it fun!

Outside Engineering

Even though I really enjoy my job, I make sure that I do not bring work home.  On the days that I do have to work long hours, I do it in the office, not at home.  I let home be my space for downtime, where I do not think about work at all.  I also do as much as I can on the weekends, and make sure that I take my vacation days.

It is hard not to get involved in sports when working for Nike.  I like to de-stress by playing basketball or going on a run or rock climb at the gym.  I also try to travel as much as I can.  This year I’ve been to China and Germany, and I’m planning on taking trips to Japan and San Francisco later this year.  I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and I also try my best to sign up for art classes to balance out my analytical side with the more creative side.  In the winter, I try to hit the slopes since it’s only about 2 hours away.  In the summer, I try to do as many outdoor activities as I can, such as running, hiking, camping, and barbequing.