Episode 19: When Are You the Most Creative?, with Michele Stuart

Michele S. Stuart, PMP, has performed management improvement, cost reduction, systems and statistical analysis for over 35 years. With a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Virginia Tech, Michele has an extensive background in project management, business process re-engineering, productivity and methods improvement, workspace/warehouse layout and redesign, inventory control, and staffing, scheduling and routing improvement.

She is President and founder of Efficiency Engineers, a consulting firm specializing in Business Optimization through Industrial Engineering and Information Technology formed in 1994.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• Michele’s recent Entrepreneur of the Year award given to her by the Society of Women Engineers, a global professional society representing 43 countries
• How Michele decided to become an engineer as a kid, even when it was a very uncommon career choice for women
• Talks Michele gives to get children interested in engineering
• How she chose industrial engineering
• How engineering has changed for women from when Michele started to today
• Michele’s virtual company: how she created it and how she manages it
• The unique question Michele asks people before hiring them
• Why Michele’s only lost two employees in 22 years
• What Michele learned as a “military brat” and why she loved growing up that way
• What she learned about value over cost as a kid
• How Michele’s parents treated allowance and the lessons she learned because of that
• Why starting her business was the best and worst financial decision Michele ever made
• How Michele and her husband have shared the load throughout her life
• Why Michele has thought more about retirement in the last year than she ever has
• The Biology teacher that was a huge influence in Michele’s life

Ways to contact Michele:

• Website: efficiencyengineers.com

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