135: Manyphay Viengkham-Systems Engineer; Resilience, Reinvention, and Creating Your Own Path

In this episode, Kathy and Linda talk with Manyphay Viengkham, an accomplished technology leader whose career spans energy innovation, systems engineering, and entrepreneurship. With degrees in biochemistry and computer science, Manyphay has built a career defined by curiosity, continuous learning, and resilience—navigating roles in major companies like GE and Honeywell before launching her own consulting business.

Together, they explore:

• How following her curiosity led from science to technology to energy innovation
• The importance of personal resilience and adaptability in career transitions
• Lessons learned from working across IT, OT, and product management
• Building a strong professional network and personal brand that opens doors
• The ups and downs of starting her own business—and finding joy in the process
• Why compassion, authenticity, and professionalism are essential leadership traits
• Learning to speak up and show your expertise, especially when underestimated

The episode wraps with their “Ask the (Not) Expert” segment, where Kathy, Linda, and Manyphay discuss handling assumptions in the workplace—like being mistaken for administrative staff—and how to respond with confidence and professionalism.

Key Takeaways

• Your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line—curiosity creates opportunity.
• Resilience and adaptability matter as much as technical skill.
• Building genuine relationships can define your career success.
• Authentic leadership blends confidence with compassion.
• Taking the leap into entrepreneurship can be both empowering and fulfilling.
• Manyphay's planned book has become a blog which can be found on Substack here: https://substack.com/@manyphay

Acronym Glossary

• AMI – Advanced Metering Infrastructure
• SCADA – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
• IoT – Internet of Things
• IT – Information Technology
• OT – Operational Technology
• HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

Transcript

Kathy: Hi, and welcome back to Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with Women in STEM. So happy to have everyone back here today, and this is a place where we gather to have casual conversations with women, talk about their experience, and so happy to have you here. Today I'm happy to have one of my friends, Manyphay Viengkham, uh, Manyphay and I worked together in the past.

She has an MBA, an MS in systems engineering, a BS in Computer science and biochemistry. Welcome Manyphay.

Manyphay: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

Kathy: I was going through [00:01:00] your bio when to prep for this, and you have so much education.

Manyphay: I don't have my master's in systems engineering yet. I was actually working on that and my MBA at the same time while I was going through my career at GE, and one of those had to drop, so, so to be continued.

Kathy: we've never really talked about that. But um, I am curious though, so computer science and biochemistry, how did those fit together as a major and why'd you pick that?

Manyphay: Actually I started off, um. Focusing on wanting to be, uh, a doctor. So I was planning on going to medical school, so I majored originally in biochemistry and, uh, you know, life, life happens and I was like, Hmm, probably not a good idea to go to medical school yet. I had my son at an early age, and so I decided not to go to medical school, while I had him.

 I didn't want to work in a lab, so I decided to pick up, uh, computer science just because I enjoyed programming. I took one class, and it was just awesome. So, so I decided to pick up another major, finish up my biochemistry while I decide when I would go back to medical school.

Kathy: What do you do for a job now? I like to go in reverse order because I like to talk about current and then we'll talk about like your history and how you got there. But what do you do now?

Manyphay: What do I do now? So, I'll say I, I focus on primarily advancing technology, um, especially, in the energy industry. I'm focused primarily around, new technology development as well as the deployment and adoption of new technology to, to embrace energy efficiency. And so, I apply all of my systems engineering degree, my product management skills, as well as my design thinking.

Kathy: You and I kind of started our own companies like near the same time. Um,

Manyphay: Yeah,

Kathy: how has that journey been for you?

Manyphay: it's been awesome. But there's definitely been ups and downs, so definitely been ups and downs. Just, um, I think the, the ups has been always just working on new projects, um, new initiative. And, uh, especially initiatives, like I said, that focus on energy and utilities. So that part I enjoy.

Uh, but the part of, uh, recruiting new, you know, getting new projects, marketing, so that's been, um, say a new ride.

Kathy: With you on that.

Manyphay: Yep. So, so, yeah.

Kathy: someone, um, when I was talking to people, when I was thinking about going out on my own, someone told me that it's a roller coaster and it's for sure a roller coaster.

Manyphay: Yeah, but I, I do enjoy it though. It is, there's a lot of, um, joys to it. So I'd say focusing on projects that I, I enjoy.

Kathy: Yeah. Has there been anything that has been surprising to you about being out on your own?

Manyphay: I don't think surprising. Um, nothing that really surprised me. I, I think that, uh, perhaps maybe a little bit surprised is just the fact that Having a strong network. And, uh, I'd say the, the reputation that I've had in my past career has really helped carry me through. So it has opened many doors.

Um, and having those relationships has been helpful. So it's not a surprise, but I, I, I come to realize how important that is, especially when you're branching off on your own.

Kathy: Yeah, I don't, I don't think that I could have, been out on my own if I didn't have the network that I had. And it's not like I necessarily built that network for that reason. Um, I have that network for like many reasons, but it's been one of like the most important, important things that, that I've done as well.

Linda: I would agree too. I do a little consulting too, and. Um, the relationships in my past, I, I never realized how, I mean, I realized how valuable they were. I don't want to discount that, but, um, just really felt the value that I had with those relationships as going forward because, and what they meant to people.

So I think working with them in the past and, um, working for the right reasons, like you said, Kathy, not, you know, not, you're not intentionally doing it, but you're working for the greater good

Manyphay: having those relationships, but also, um, I read a book somewhere about, your brand and that really is important I think, um, having, you know, a, a good work ethic. someone who. Guess describing how, how you are as a person, right?

Throughout your, your career and everything that you do is so important and you just never know where, where your influence makes a big difference in opportunities that come up.

Kathy: Yeah, absolutely. Did you guys, when you were younger, how was networking for you? Like did you, were you good at networking? Was it something you were intentional about? how did you guys build your network? Because I think like for like folks that are, you know, let's say that are younger, um. How, how do you do that?

Especially, you know, I think a lot of us are introverted in the STEM side. How, how did you build your network and was it intentional?

Manyphay: I'd say, no, I am, I'm. Growing up, I was very much an introvert, and I've always kept to myself, I'd always play by myself. Um, and, and so it wasn't until I'd say my college years where, uh, just being exposed and forcing to kind of be in front of a, an audience, um, and having mentors and teachers who have really encouraged and who have always been motivating and giving me confidence has helped me a lot. And I think throughout my career it's just constantly pushing myself to, to put myself out there and to, you know, kind of lean in and speak my thoughts, um, so early in my career, um, you know, just having people who saw my potential and just giving me opportunities.

Just constantly motivating me, so that helped a lot.

Kathy: What about you, Linda? Did you do intentional networking?

Linda: No, I didn't, Kathy. So if you asked me how I did it, I really don't know. you know, people have told me, gosh, you know, everyone and, and, um, I, I think remembering people and, you know, I'm thinking about these large conferences that I attended and trying to remember people. you know, part of it was just giving back.

Manyphay: Yeah.

Linda: In, let me talk about, you know, how to network with people, but I think the giving back is what opened that door to network with people. Because I was on a committee that, um, I was leading the committee for several years. I think I led that committee for about nine years. It was a large utility committee, and then I went to work for the company that the committee was around.

It was like a user group, but we formed it into a committee. So then of course I had a relationship with that committee, and then I let it going forward, and I remember thinking, um, this isn't part of my job. It's kind of taking away from my job. But, you know, it's, it's just such an important mission and it adds the value to our software.

Um, program, if we can get some synergy going with this group. What I didn't know about that group is what I was creating down the road. I created so many relationships by just being there, helping people understand what they need, and trying to get a little bit of synergy with that group. And people remembered that I found in my consulting career that, um, a couple times people said, you really helped me when I, you know, had a problem that I couldn't get through.

And I, you know, I didn't realize what that meant to people.

Manyphay: Yeah, I agree with you. I agree with you a lot. And in the sense that thinking of networking, not so much about, you know, short term, uh, I'd say task, right? But thinking of it as getting to know people, right? And building a relationship, having that different view I think takes a lot of weight off of, oh, I'm not networking, I'm getting to know people.

So if you think of it that way, I think it becomes more enjoyable and, and I think, you know, more genuine than coming across as like, okay, you know, you feel like you have this task list of things to do when you go in a network environment and it's like you forget that hey, you know, enjoy it. Get to know people.

And I think there was a turning point, I don't know when it was, but it, there was some turning point in, in that,

Kathy: Well, and interestingly like that actually kind of like. Kind of ties into actually doing the podcast, right? Like it's about curiosity. It's about trying to get to know people, understand where they're coming from, understanding their needs, their challenges, and you know, can you be a resource to them? Can you help them with something like, and I think it's just the curiosity and the conversations that you build.

And in some cases, I don't know if you guys have had the same thing, but like when you are in certain areas and networking, and if those networking things involve travel. You spend a lot of time with the same people. You get to know people's families in some cases. And like, I have some really, really good friends that are nowhere near where I live, that I've, you know, I've met their spouses, I've met their kids.

I feel like it's part of a family that, it grows to be part of a family over time. Um, which is never anything that I would have expected as like a younger engineer, that that would be. The, the relationship part would be such a big factor in a career.

Manyphay: Yeah. And I think that's how I, I remember you and I, we were on some work trip and, uh, we had rented a car and that was an awesome opportunity for us to just get to know each other. We shared a lot about just our, our history, our backgrounds and, and shared, opened up about a lot of things and I got to know you much better and you got to know me and we found a lot of similarities.

So, and that has, you know, I, I think when we had a, a relationship, a friendship that just means so much more, right? Um, than just a normal casual work relationship. So.

Kathy: Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Um, and I think that we had, probably talked like once or twice before we were in a car together.

Manyphay: It was forced conversation.

Kathy: But it was fun. I like that was, that was probably one of my favorite things about that job. Okay. I want to go back to what was your career journey? So you get your degree in computer science and um, biochemistry.

Manyphay: Yeah.

Kathy: do you start and how do you go from there? Because you, you went through like a few different jobs and some very like, large well-known companies. How did you go from there to where you are now and just tell me about that journey and if you have like any favorite things that you've done along the way.

Manyphay: Oh yeah, sure. Um, so I, in a million years would've never thought that I'd be in the energy industry. Um. I for, for one of my, um, classes in, in the biochemistry degree, I needed an internship and I was like, where am I going to get an internship? I was living up in, uh, in Holland, Michigan, and I had a friend who was working at a power plant and they're like, Hey, we have a, an internship opening for an environmental specialist, or something along those lines.

I was like, okay. So I interviewed for the job, got the internship, and it has opened my eyes, um, in, in so many ways. Specifically just, um, the amount of work and effort that goes into, uh, generating power so that we can flip a switch and the power's there. So I started my career working for the maintenance supervisor at the power plant, and this was a coal plant.

 I'd like to share this story because back to, to relationships. Um, the maintenance supervisor that I was reporting to was Garrick Rochow, who now is the, uh, CEO of Consumers Energy. So. Never know, right, who the people that you worked for and where they'll be, uh, in the future. So that, that's always a fun fact.

but yeah, I started my career working at the utility. Um, this was Holland Board of Public Works up in, in Michigan, and I was there for nine years. Um, and curiosity, as you mentioned, was. Was something that have always carried me through throughout my career. Um, I started off as an intern then working as a programmer analyst to managing all of their it, um, applications both on the IT side as well as the OT.

So, and, and I'd say that I had mentors who really saw my potential. And gave me opportunities and I never said no. They asked me to upgrade the SCADA system at the wastewater plant and oh my goodness, I, you know, you can imagine as a young, young, professional, and they had this, like, what's so crazy, they had this one alarm screen that has this image of a brick wall, every time an alarm comes on, the brick wall would start cracking and water start gushing out. And so, and I was so paranoid of doing something wrong, I would have nightmares of me blowing up a plant or something, you know? And so it was so stressful, but it forced me to like, really, Hey, if you, if you want to do this job, you got to do it well.

And like, I need to know the inside and out of everything. So I like. I mapped every pipeline, every valve, every, you know, um, every sensor in, in, at that plant, just so that I had a good understanding of how everything worked before I started working on the SCADA system. 

That was one of a, a, one of the big projects there. Another project that I was really proud of was, um, deploying the AMI system um, for them, that was the last project, big project that I had. Uh, and that opened doors for me to work at GE.

And, um, but before that, I was at, the top of where I, I could grow in, in, in that company. And so I decided, you know, well maybe now's a good time to go back to pursuing my medical degree. And so I said, well, either, either go to medical school, um.

So I decided to take my MCAT and, I did quite well. Got accepted to Wayne State, and then I got pregnant again. 

Kathy: Oh my gosh. 

Manyphay: Exactly. I think the higher beings are telling me, you know, basically a every time, every time I try to pursue medical school. I end up getting pregnant. So I was like, oh, okay. I, I think, um, I think I'm good here. No regrets. but I knew that, hey, I, I, I wanted to continue to grow, so I decided well, um, either.

Either I continued down the energy path at a bigger company, or I pursue what was a new, industry, which was the whole bioinformatics, which at that time they didn't have a degree in that. And so the combination of my computer science and biochemistry degree was just like the perfect combo of that.

And so I was like, well, maybe I start a new career and start, applying for the whole, at that time it was the Genome project and a lot of these bioinformatics companies. So, um, and I was like, all right, I'm going to apply. To half of energy companies and then half to, biotechnology companies and, uh, let fate decide.

And so, uh, lo and behold, you know, GE reached out to me first, and so I went down that path and I'm glad I did. Um, and so GE recruited me as a senior systems engineer and, uh, started working on smart grid initiatives. I spent another 10 years, working at GE, uh, doing smart grid stuff as well as two to three years of my later career at GE, I was on the power division side, so leading their, their deployment of their asset performance management technology, so,

Linda: Manyphay that smart grid. Um, 10 years. 10 years at GE. Was that just starting then? I mean, just really starting to get into the smart grid at that time 

Manyphay: it was the start of that in, um, the whole AMI in initiative. 

I mean that's what opened the doors to, to GE. 

Linda: What was that like working on Smart Grid when it was brand new? What? What was your favorite contribution to the team about Smart Grid?

Manyphay: I played multiple hats and one of the hats that I played was the business analyst role. And what I enjoyed about that was helping them see how AMI helps improve their process, right. Especially on the billing side. by allowing, um, customer service support folks to be able to, you know, um, remotely turn on and off meters.

Just showing them the benefits of that and how much. Um, you know, time savings that they would, would improve and, allowing their meter readers to go work on other things rather than reading meters every month.

Linda: Mm-hmm.

Manyphay: That's the part that I'd say I enjoy the most is like, um, helping people see the, the value of some of these technologies.

Linda: I worked in AMI for a while too, and it, it was, it was really exciting to share it with the internal group on how they could manage that from their desk or, or from a computer console. And I had, I was involved in a lot of AMI projects, so I can relate to that. Um, what's funny is the, the customers always thought we could do that from day one.

So it wasn't as fun sharing with the customers. because they said, well, couldn't you do that anyway?

Manyphay: Yeah.

Kathy: Like, no, you actually needed a call when you had an outage. We sent meter readers around or like, there's also like the self meter reading, like that's also something that is like common and like was what at least was common in the rural areas is you would read the meter yourself and send in your reading.

Manyphay: Yeah.

Kathy: it's amazing how far that has come. 

Manyphay: The other part that's really, a fun part of that project was really showing on the backside, on their operations side, how, you know, integrating the AMI system with their outage management system, right? Beyond just the billing side. It helps, just in their operations and, and giving them better visibility into what's happening out in the field, right?

Kathy: Okay, so after GE, what did you do after GE? 

Manyphay: After GE, a company by the name of Micro Land out in, um, based in India. They, they were a, they've been primarily an IT service company. And they wanted to get into the industrial IoT industry. And so they asked me to help them, uh, stand up a, a new center of excellence and, and essentially a new business to help them get into the whole industrial IoT.

So I did that for about two years. and then Honeywell recruited me and basically they were on the forefront of, developing their own digital organization. up until then, I've always been in front of the meter, right? Working with utilities, working on deploying applications to utilities.

And so it's mostly a lot of front of the. Front of the meter type of efforts. Um, but this gave me the opportunity to be behind the meter. So with Honeywell, you know, um, there I primarily I was on the product management side and helping, um, develop their new portfolio, um, building management solution.

So, um. Things like, for example, um, monitoring access controls, monitor, the efficiency of their HVAC system. they were new technology to kind of give a portfolio visibility and insight into the operations of, of managing large commercial buildings.

Kathy: Okay. And then you went from Honeywell to, um, the consulting firm that we worked at together. What made you leave Honeywell and go into consulting.

Manyphay: Um, I wanted to go back into the utility world, so I wanted to jump back on the, you know, in front of the meter, um, and working with more focus on utilities. Um, and so, so I got the opportunity to. To work for West Monroe. And, um, and so that was, that was refreshing and gave me a, an opportunity to, to again, get back into the utility industry. And so I enjoyed that.

Kathy: And then what made you decide to go out on your own?

Manyphay: I'd say I can do this. I felt like there was so much more skills that I can provide. but there was also, a niche that I felt like that, that I could really, Give back. And, and that niche was really combining my skills between, um, my product management skills as well as my systems engineering skills and my design thinking, skills. And so I, I still wanted to be working on developing new products. But in, but basically, kind of where, where the convergence between new technology as well as deploying this in the utility industry.

So, um, so I decided to branch off on my own, I'd say also seeing you jump and starting your own consulting business, like, oh, I think I can do this too. 

Kathy: I think it's interesting. And, um, being able to like, be your whole self, right? Like, like that's kind of like when you're talking about like why you started. That's one of the things that I enjoy the most about being on my own is I can, I can do what I want to do and look for projects that I want to do and that bring me joy.

The joy of being able to do what you want to do. And Linda, I know, like you and I talked about this, um, on our last podcast about, being in control of your schedule. I mean, not a hundred percent, right? Like you've got clients that you're serving and, and things like that, that are obviously important, but you are in control of the work that you do.

You're in control of your schedule and, um, you're answering to your clients as opposed to somebody else who's like in between, right? That's trying to sell.

Linda: Yeah, and sometimes I think, um, Manyphay what made me think of what, what you said about, um, more skills that you had to offer. I think, you know, your, your work and your title and your job sometimes becomes your identity, and then you feel like, well, I, I have a, you know, when you go out on your own. You feel like you, have more authentic identity because you can share the things that, um, you have skills in that maybe your job didn't require.

So you didn't, you know, that was someone else's job. You didn't need to do that. So I talk a lot to a lot of people how they feel like their job is their identity. I mean, a lot of people that maybe lose their job think that was my identity. What am I going to do now? And, um, going out on your own is, is your own identity?

And it's a, it's a different switch.

Kathy: it is for sure a different switch.

Manyphay: is a different switch and, and it allows you to diversify Right. And, and diversify in different projects. I've always, in my, in my career, I've always wear different hats and I enjoy that. Right. And so I enjoy, like, on, on certain projects I'll be. very much a, a program management type of role.

And other projects I may be more focused on helping, customers a adopt new technology. Um, and, and another role, it's all about innovating. And so that for me, um. Keeping it like exciting. That's, that's what keeps me exciting. It's not like, oh, I'm not always doing the same task, same job every day.

Alright. Um, and so having that diversification and allowing me to use all different parts of my skills, really motivates me and keeps, keeps me, excited all the time about what I'm doing. 

Kathy: you said you started out wanting to be a doctor. what were your influences when you were growing up and what made you decide you wanted to be a doctor? And then I also want to tie that into, so you are, um, your family were refugees and so did that play a factor into your career decisions?

And what was that like for you growing up?

Manyphay: Yeah. So. our family, um, back in the late seventies, we, you know, my parents escaped the, the, the war. Um, and so they left Laos and we lived in, uh, the refugee camps of Thailand for about three years before we got the opportunity to come to the US. going back to people and relationships.

Um, my dad at that time, he was a, he grew up as a monk. He was like, he was a monk that, you know, was forced to go into war. Um, and then when we came to the United States, he, he was, he was still a, a Buddhist at heart. Um. he met a few people who were so helpful and like, just cared for our family so much.

Um, and these were strangers that he met. when we first landed in the United States, we lived in Washington state. And, um, my dad was, somewhere in the city and a man approached him and said, excuse me, but, and this, and my dad doesn't speak much English, but the, the man asked if he was Laotian.

And keep in mind that, this is back in 76 no 79. And um, so the fact that this man actually knew what Laotian was, kind of perked his interest and he said, wait, here, I have something for you. And so he went to the back, he went to the building, he came out with a, a Lao bible. And you know, so my dad was quite surprised.

I was like, oh. I know how to read this. and from there, just that, the people at the church have just embraced our family and they were just so compassionate. You know, even though, my dad had not, decided to, to change his, his view or religion, but the fact that they were so, compassionate.

And really just took us under their arms in helping us in so many ways. Um, changed his views on many things, um, changed his views on, on religion, but it also, incorporated our family into a another type of community that we had never had right when we, when we landed in the States and that community.

 Really was what, embraced our family, I grew up with those, those views and, values. And that's where I decided, oh, I want to be a missionary. Right? And I wanted to share that same compassion. And so that's where that started. And so I, from a very young age, I was like, um. I was like, okay, I'm going to be a doctor and then I'm going to be a missionary. That was my, that was my goal, right? And, um, and so my dad, he was very much, very, um, you know, he, he is, he's my, [00:30:00] uh, he's my hero. He's who I look up to. And, um, he is always, letting us know that, Hey, if you want to succeed in this country, you've got to have an education. I do a little blog on LinkedIn, but it's, it's, it's primarily to honor him. But his views that has really helped formed me in many ways in my thoughts. 

Kathy: And you just went. I don't want to say just one, but earlier this year you went back to Thailand and Laos. How was that for you? For the first time, right? Like that was like your first time

Manyphay: Yes. After like almost close to 40 years, over 40 years, I, I have not been, been back. And so, um, that was awesome. It was, uh. It was very touching in so many ways. I got the opportunity to meet my uncles and aunts and cousins for the first time. but also, seeing, the country, the people, but also, because we lived out in the village, right? And so when we drove out there, just seeing the jungle, and just imagining my mom when she was younger, because she was pregnant with me, like she was like 6, 6, 7 months pregnant. And when they were escaping the war, being pregnant at that stage, going through the jungle to, to.

 to find refuge. I mean, I can't, I can't imagine. And so I had a lot of respect after seeing that, for myself and the stories that she shared with me.

Kathy: and one of the things, um, so I went to Laos, um, uh, 2019, and one of the things that I did not know is that it's the most bombed country in the world. And there are still all these like unexploded IEDs that. Kids will come along like it's, I know, I think they call it like the hidden war. Um, and I had, I had no idea.

And so, I guess we never talked about the fact that your mom was pregnant and when, when they were trying to escape the war. Like I can't even, I can't even imagine that, like that. Um.

Manyphay: Yeah.

Kathy: The bravery and the, you know, just like, because when you're pregnant, like you're trying to protect, you're doing everything you can to protect that baby.

Um, yeah. Wow.

Manyphay: I think in, in addition to, but also just getting to see family, and getting back to, I'd say the roots and just seeing, where my dad grew up, where my mom grew up. that was very touching. 

Kathy: Um, okay, so I want to tie this into you have written a book. me about the book and when is that coming out? What's it called? All that.

Manyphay: I, well, you know what? So I finished it, I've written it. but I've, I've been contemplating whether I should publish it. So, and I've decided, I decided not to publish it and there's several reasons, um, which is why I've, I've decided to, to do my blog and put it on. A platform that I, I feel like can reach out to more people, um, decide not to, not to publish it.

Um, because really the intent of the book is really to help motivate and encourage people, um, to, to be more resilient. Right. And, um, and it's, it's also. Telling the story of my, my dad, and so I just decided, yeah, I decided not to publish it. but instead to, write short stories instead.

Kathy: and you said your blog is on LinkedIn.

Manyphay: Yeah. I just started, so I'm only on like article four or five.

Kathy: well I, so I've seen, I've seen that you've had postings out a about that. So I will, I will go back and, and look at them. cause I think you have a really, like, just a interesting, a really interesting story and, um, things that. I, I can't even, you know, just things I can't even fathom that 

you have. 

Linda: I'm intrigued as well. I did catch one of them as, um, we were preparing for this I just had a chance to read one and it was the one about your dad teaching you the Lao language and, and, um, I, I thought that was really moving and how important that is. The bilingual is just, really important for a lot of people.

Um, that are trying to connect in communities and being an interpreter must be really cool.

Manyphay: Yeah, I remember that. a lot of stories are about my dad just because, like I said, he's been such a influence on, on me in, in so many ways. Right. And, um, but he's just the most compassionate person, you know? And I've learned that, hey, You can still succeed in a career, but still be compassionate and not lose sight of that.

Because there's, you know, one thing that, throughout my career, just meeting people who are just so harsh, and it's like, I don't have to be like that. I don't need to be a harsh, I don't need to be rude and harsh. You can still be compassionate and kind and still succeed in a, in a corporate world.

Linda: That is so true.

Is your dad still with us?

Manyphay: no, he passed away in, um, when I was like around seventh grade, seventh, eighth grade. 

Linda: You must have known some of that language when you came here as a young girl, and then did you refresh it with your dad?

Manyphay: Uh, so I did. At home we spoke mostly la Laotian, right? but then when, and then as you start going to school, you know, you like, we had a very small, there's only like my family and a few other families that that's. Spoke Laos. And so, but most of my time was speaking English.

it wasn't until my father started sponsoring like multiple families. Like we, he sponsored over 30 families from Laos over to the US and that's when like I started getting more, getting more fluent in Laotian still had this like American accent, but I was, um. I was picking that back up and so he, he made sure that I, I, that I learn how to read and write, which I'm really grateful for.

Kathy: Do you still speak Laotian or can you, so like when you went to Laos, did you speak Laotian?

Manyphay: They were surprised cause they thought that I couldn't speak Laos. Um, but uh, yeah, no, I speak very fluent Laos. I speak Laos. I can read Laos. I can, I can write, but it's like, um, my grammatical errors are so bad.

Linda: I don't think anyone can write anymore. I don't care what language it is.

Manyphay: Yeah.

Kathy: Well, it's only going to get worse because ChatGPT.

Linda: Oh, right,

Kathy: to do now. We're all going to sound like we're all going to sound the same.

Manyphay: Yeah.

Kathy: Um, Manyphay, what are you most proud of in your career or your life?

Manyphay: Hmm. I, well. I'd say still being here, right? Um, what I mean by that is that I've, I've grown right? I've, I've grown in so many ways. Um, I, I'm proud of myself in the sense that I have, um, grown in. in. my knowledge, in my skills. Um, and just I'd say being able to deal with tough situations.

Not that it's any easier, so yeah, I, I'd say just my accomplishments and just been, and just, just growing. Right. Um, and. I look back at all of the projects that I've been on and some of these companies that I've worked for. and I'd say that I'm proud of every, every project that I've worked on, just because I'd say I didn't give up, I didn't give up on a lot of things, but I've, basically continued to. Just wanting to pick up new skills, new experience, 

Kathy: All right. Okay, so we're going to jump into our ask the Not expert segment. 

so this is for us all to ponder and try to provide advice. We are not experts. We are not trying to be experts. We are not pretending to be experts, but, so this is just our opinion. So first question is from Tara or Tara. I'm an engineer at a consulting firm, and sometimes clients assume I'm in an admin role instead of a technical role.

How should I handle comments and assumptions? Without making it awkward. And actually I'm kind of curious, have either of you ever have people mistaken you of, of like what your role is when you have gone either to customer sites or client sites? Like has there been misunderstandings? 

Manyphay: Like you're there just as a note taker.

Kathy: Yes. Sometimes the one's asked to be the note taker because.

Linda: Right. Happens all time. 

Manyphay: Don't, yeah, in some situations, like in that case where, oh, you know, can you take notes? Okay. You know, uh, I don't mind taking the notes. especially during, early in my career, it's like, all right, I'll take the notes either way.

I need to take notes. All right. I'll take notes. Um,

Kathy: and I can read my hand writing

Manyphay: yeah. But then it's like, okay, but I, I can do more than taking notes. And so that's when I'm always just like chiming in on my thoughts. And then that's when people start realizing, oh. She's more than just taking notes. Right? and there's a, a positive way to, send across a message by just, for me it's just sharing what I can, what I can contribute.

Does that make sense? Rather than just say, no, I, I'm not a, I'm not an admin. I was like, okay. I'm not a confrontational person. And so, um, but I, I usually show through my example or just kind of contributing my contribution.

Kathy: Okay, so you would not address it directly.

Manyphay: I typically don't, unless it's really, you know, um, forceful.

Kathy: What about you, Linda?

Linda: Yeah. Um, you know, something that you said, um, and it seems to be a theme in some of our other guests is if you know something, say something. You know, if you, if you know the answer to that, um, you know, technology people tend to be introverts and especially in a. In a situation like that where you have, maybe a dominance of other people that want you to take the notes and, and think your admin, um, contribute, like you said, contribute your knowledge and what you know.

And pretty soon it does change a little bit. And, oh, she does know. She, she is part of the team. She is a contributor. But don't be afraid to speak up and, and add to the conversation. Some people have struggled with that.

Kathy: I have a little different question that's kind of similar to this, um, when you all have gone to conferences and um. I think we've all been on the vendor side. Now, in addition to the customer side, like the customer being the utility side, when you go to conferences, um, and you're in a booth, do you ever get mistaken as either like a booth babe, which I think those are starting to go away.

Um, or somebody who's not technical when you're in a booth at a conference, which I think is similar to what this question is, I just see it more prevalent on this side, but that's just like my experience, I think. I'm also going to say I have made that assumption myself. Let me also be clear. I've been in the industry for 32 years. I make the same assumptions that other people that I hate for people to make about me, right? Like I also have made these assumptions, which makes me feel horrible.

Manyphay: Yeah,

Kathy: I don't anymore, but I did.

Manyphay: that's, I mean, that's, that's happened to me. But I, what I find what I enjoy the most is the fact that you can shock them. Right. Shocking them with your words, for example, with the note taking, sometimes it's like, okay, I remember, early in my career, I would take notes, but then I would also insert, oh, Manyphay's idea, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Right? So I insert my opinions or thoughts into that. And so that kind of, it brings the shock and awe. It's like, oh. Did she write that? I didn't know what she would think like that, and so I think that to me is, is enjoyable in a, maybe, you know, I don't know if that's a, a, a good or healthy thing, but I actually like to, to, to give this surprise to people, right?

And so rather than taking it, um, looking at it offensively or defensively. You know, use that as an opportunity to, to surprise them. And I think that that to me puts a smile on my face like.

Kathy: All right. Um, we're going to go into rapid fire questions, so we'll see how rapid they, they go. Um, do you have a favorite stem book, movie or TV show?

Manyphay: Big Bang Theory.

Kathy: Mm. Okay. It's a good show. I like that. Okay. Um, if you could start over. Doing any career and money was not an object, so you don't have to worry about that. What would you do?

Manyphay: Would I go back to medical school? Hmm.

Kathy: You might get pregnant. That's what I'm thinking.

Manyphay: Yeah. I. I probably have like 10 kids. Um, I would maybe do something that, um, because I like to build things and so like something in carpentry. Mm-hmm.

Kathy: Okay. What advice would you give your younger self? 

Manyphay: Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Things will always work out. Uh, growing up I'd always stressed out a lot about things, um, and scared and so. That's, that's one thing that I would constantly remind myself if I were to go back. Things will always work out.

Kathy: I think sometimes like my grownup self needs that too.

Linda: I just want to say thank you, Manyphay for joining us today. It was great to get to meet you and um, just had a great conversation with you today. It was really fun.

Manyphay: Nice to meet you as well, Linda.

Kathy: Thank you Manyphay I really appreciate you being on, and please stay tuned for our wrap up. Thanks everybody.