“Especially in an industry that is constantly on the forefront of innovation, having a team that can approach a problem from many different angles is invaluable.”
Kyle Ray is an engineer who has served on the TAME Board and is currently employed with the Bank of Montreal.
Why do you support TAME?
I first became involved with TAME through my employer, ConocoPhillips, a long-time corporate supporter of TAME. What drew me to the organization was their focus on bringing STEM education to underrepresented minority and female students. When I first got into STEM, I wasn’t seeing the same level of diversity in the business world as I was seeing in the schools, and I didn’t feel like there was a lot of mentorship or awareness of what opportunities were out there.
TAME programs benefit both students and employers. On the employer side, companies certainly see the value of a diverse workforce that offers a breadth of opinion and perspective. Each person looks at a problem through a certain lens shaped by their previous experiences. Especially in an industry that is constantly on the forefront of innovation, having a team that can approach a problem from many different angles is invaluable.
I’ve been involved in the Math and Science competitions for a number of years now, both on a regional and a statewide level. These kids definitely have a passion for knowledge and I could see them light up at the challenges they were able to face.