Katy Crist
Tokyo Electron Limited
Austin, TX USA
"Everybody has to accept their own journey and be proud of whatever that journey is."
Career Roadmap
Katy's work combines: Business, Technology, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Take time to do research and educate yourself on the different industries. At TEL, we have the SEMI High Tech U program, where we bring in 40 high school students for three days to explore careers in this industry. If you're interested in the semiconductor industry, this program—or similar career exploration programs—are great options for learning more about the ins and outs of the industry. I recommend you stay open to different learning opportunities and dive in to just explore your options.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Director of Marketing and Communications:
Bachelor's Degree: Marketing/Marketing Management, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Growing up, I was influenced toward entering the semiconductor industry because my father worked for Motorola and had found a lot of success.
2.
I tried a short stint in a semiconductor fabrication plant—where I worked in the infamous “bunny suit”—but I quickly realized I didn’t enjoy the restrictive suit or the typical 12-hour shifts.
3.
I moved to an insurance company, where I worked in customer service.
4.
I always considered myself an introvert until my company asked me to take on a training role—I was hesitant at first, but now I feel like I thrive standing up in front of others.
5.
After the insurance company closed their doors, I got a job at an orthodontics office where I was tasked with advertising their new and improved braces process.
6.
I loved the job, but kept my resume open because I was curious about what else was out there—I got asked to join Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) and moved back into the semiconductor industry.
7.
I started at TEL as a supervisor in a product business unit and moved through various roles as the organization’s needs changed.
8.
I worked as an analyst, worked on our learning management system, worked in media, and finally moved into marketing—I’ve been managing the marketing department for the last eight years.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I'm not as good as others because I didn't get a college degree.
How I responded:
There have been times when I've felt less than others because I didn't have a college degree. But I've worked really hard to get to where I am. I've taken a lot of personal time to be a lifelong learner. I've also taken many college courses and certificate classes. If college is something you're interested in, I recommend getting your degree early on when you have more time to focus on it. If college isn't for you, don't let it stop you from accomplishing goals and being proud of your journey.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I come from a deaf family, which was sometimes a hardship growing up, but it also taught me a lot of great people skills and gave me a diversity and inclusivity oriented mindset.
I often want to take a project on at full speed. I've had to step back and really understand the time and effort it takes to get everyone on board. It can be frustrating but that's the company's culture and I've learned to respect it and be patient.