Automation Ladies—Nikki Gonzales, Ali, and Courtney Fernandez—kick off season six with a fresh look at community, career pivots, and building support systems in industrial automation. They discuss integrating companies and skills, creating unique learning opportunities like OT SCADA CON, and the importance of collaboration in both personal and professional growth. This episode provides hands-on advice and encouragement for engineers, automation professionals, and technology enthusiasts looking to improve their network and career satisfaction.
Expanding Careers Through Strategic Moves and Integration
Ali highlights a major transition—moving her company, PCE, to Texas and guiding its integration into Kraken to focus on government contracts. This move is about more than just a location change. It's a strategic decision to specialize and pool expertise, positioning her team for growth in areas like SCADA and UL certification. “PCE is kinda like being, absorbed slash integrated into Kraken, and then I'm gonna help crack[en]… We're gonna become, like, the government contracts division because that's what we really do,” Ali points out.
Navigating this change meant recognizing her team’s strengths and finding the right environment to maximize their impact. She stresses the importance of listening to intuition—whether it’s about business moves or everyday choices: “You really do need to listen to when God's talking to you because stuff happens, and then he's just trying to say something.”
For professionals considering similar transitions, Ali’s experience demonstrates the value of blending technical skills with new opportunities, highlighting the advantages of relocation, seeking better resources, and combining forces for a more focused impact.
Building Community and Learning with OT SCADA CON
OT SCADA CON stands out as a purpose-built conference for the industrial automation community. Inspired by the lack of clear distinctions in automation roles and the need for authentic networking, Ali created an event where engineers, electricians, and tech enthusiasts learn from each other and grow their professional circles. “It's a community conference... we're trying to build community. So, like, the word community is definitely part of a word I would use to describe the conference we're trying to build because you're trying to get there to become part of a community,” Ali shares.
Unlike standard conferences, OT SCADA CON features speakers from diverse backgrounds talking about real-world topics—process, SCADA, safety, robotics—and encourages direct collaboration and exchange. Speakers are not just experts but also approachable, eager to connect with attendees: “Some of them are master electricians. Some of them are technicians. They're just really good at one or two couple things, and, you know, they're willing to speak about that topic.”
This approach creates a supportive environment where attendees gain hands-on experience and make lasting professional connections—far beyond what’s typical at most industry events.
Collaboration, Support, and Manifesting Opportunities
The hosts discuss how sharing goals out loud and teaming up with the right people leads to new opportunities. Nikki explains, “We have the opposite mentality where, like, tell everyone, and that'll force us to make it happen... sometimes it doesn't,” but often the public commitment leads to momentum and support.
Courtney highlights how personal and professional challenges, like losing pets or managing family priorities, open doors to creativity and collaboration. When things get tough, she looks for ways to give back and connect: “It's not all bad because sometimes when bad stuff's happening, it makes you more open to the possibilities around you... I started trying to see, you know, other opportunities, wherever I could because the only other option is to just sit there and be sad.”
The podcast underscores that strong networks and open communication are vital. Whether it's starting new projects, managing burnout, or building community, mutual support makes it possible to grow and succeed in both career and life.
Key Quote from the Episode
“It's a community conference... we're trying to build community. So, like, the word community is definitely part of a word I would use to describe the conference we're trying to build because you're trying to get there to become part of a community.” – Ali
Key Takeaways
- Ali discusses moving PCE to Texas and integrating with Kraken to specialize in government contracts and SCADA solutions.
- OT SCADA CON is introduced as a collaborative, community-focused event connecting people from all backgrounds in industrial automation.
- The Automation Ladies emphasize that sharing goals, collaborating openly, and building strong support networks drive career and personal growth.
Wrap Up
Career pivots, building community experiences like OT SCADA CON, and fostering genuine collaboration are central topics in this episode. These actions help automation professionals expand their skills, stay motivated, and create rewarding connections. For readers, the takeaways are practical: Look for opportunities to integrate your skills, attend events that offer hands-on networking, and don’t hesitate to share your ambitions with your network. Building a true community is not only possible—it’s essential for ongoing growth and satisfaction.
About Our Episode Sponsor
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