EP 19 — Spirit Electronics’ Marti McCurdy on Inspiring the Next Generation in STEM

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Marti McCurdy, CEO of Spirit Electronics. Marti shares her remarkable journey from serving in the Air Force to leading an aerospace and defense company. She discusses the challenges she faced and overcame, the importance of fostering innovation within her industry, and her dedication to engaging the younger generation in STEM fields. 

 

Marti emphasizes the value of a strong network and the critical role of teamwork in driving success. She also offers her strategies for creating a strong, collaborative company culture. Marti also touches on the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field and her commitment to supporting the next generation of STEM professionals. 

 

Topics discussed:

 

• The biggest challenges of starting and leading a company, and the strategies used to overcome them.
• Fostering a culture of innovation within the company to stay ahead in the competitive aerospace and defense sector.
• The importance of creating a collaborative and adaptive culture that accommodates multiple generations of employees.
• The critical role of teamwork and having a strong network in driving the success of her company.
• The commitment to engaging and inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals to ensure a bright future for the industry.
• The complexities of meeting compliance and security requirements in the aerospace and defense industry.
• Addressing the challenges related to supply chain security and how to manage these effectively.
• The need for specialized skill sets in the industry and the gaps in the current education system.