Katy Crist
Director of Marketing and Communications
Tokyo Electron Limited
Austin, TX USA
“Everybody has to accept their own journey and be proud of whatever that journey is.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationKaty Crist
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Growing up, I was influenced toward entering the semiconductor industry because my father worked for Motorola and had found a lot of success.
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.
I moved to an insurance company, where I worked in customer service.
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.
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.
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.
I started at TEL as a supervisor in a product business unit and moved through various roles as the organization’s needs changed.
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.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Director of Marketing and Communications
I lead the creation and execution of marketing, branding initiatives, corporate social responsibility, and social media.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Technology
Communicating / Sharing Stories
Day to Day
My day is full of meetings to oversee marketing at TEL. I plan, direct, and coordinate marketing strategy. I oversee social media marketing strategy and content marketing. I spend time doing competitor research. I develop promotions with business unit managers. I'm responsible for understanding and developing budgets and finance. I develop and manage advertising campaigns. I build brand awareness. I support sales and lead generation efforts. I also organize conferences, trade shows, and events.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
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.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I'm not as good as others because I didn't get a college degree."
Challenges I Overcame
Family Stress
Work Stress
