top of page
Women In Leadership: Suzanne Kwak
As we celebrate Women’s Month, we take this opportunity to recognize the women who are paving the way for future generations— especially in fields where they have been underrepresented.
In this special feature, we sit down with Suzanne Kwak, a leader who has navigated challenges, seized opportunities, and carved out a path of success for herself and many more women to come. She shares her defining moment in her journey, highlights women who have inspired her career and explores the opportunities available for women in this space today.
Grab your coffee or beverage of choice and join us as we talk about ambition, resilience, and the power of women in leadership.
Encouraging Women and Girls
As we reflect on the significance of Women’s Month, it’s essential to consider how we can contribute to shaping the future. Encouraging more women and girls to explore STEM careers is crucial in ensuring the industry's continuous growth and diversity. Suzanne shares her thoughts on how we can all play a role in fostering an environment that encourages women and girls to pursue STEM careers.
“From my perspective, I think that we have to encourage women to be curious. We have to encourage them to be comfortable with a healthy amount of competition. We also need to encourage women to be- and show grace to themselves. So, what do I mean by that, from a curiosity again, in particular, I'm in product development, so be curious about any problem that you're faced with. Just have a natural curiosity and a willingness to learn. I think that will take you incredibly far in your journey. The other piece is healthy competition, I'm a sports fan. I'm an advocate of having fun. And I noticed that women who can embrace competition have a tenacity, and they can get through things. So if you look at your male counterparts, right, they do a great job of having fun and heckling each other. Try that. It actually works to diffuse stress and build bonds, and it will help you in your career. And then lastly, show yourself some grace. I think too often women have a tendency to expect perfection from themselves and that's just not realistic. It's not realistic for us to expect it of ourselves or others. And so, I would encourage you to just show yourself a little grace. And if you don't know everything, be curious, ask questions, try your hardest and learn from it.”
By nurturing curiosity, fostering healthy competition, and practicing self-compassion, we can create an environment where women feel empowered to pursue a career without the fear of limitations and know they are supported every step of the way.
Leadership Is a Series of Lessons
For Suzanne, leadership isn’t defined by one single event, but a series of moments that provide valuable lessons. A defining moment that helped her become the leader she is today is that leadership is a continuous journey— one that requires being open to learning and growing.
“I reflected on this question, and quite honestly, my perspective is that leadership is a series of lessons and that you really need to be open to those lessons and you need to pay attention. If you can show up every day with the spirit of improving and getting better and learning from whoever happens to be around you, that will make you a better leader. Your leadership is really an aggregation of all of those life lessons and applying them to the situation at hand.”
This perspective is a game changer for Suzanne in how she approaches leadership and growth. By showing up with the intent to get better each day, you evolve into a confident and more effective leader.
Women Who Inspire
The women who inspire us often come from different corners of our lives, shaping our decisions and guiding us through successes and setbacks. Those who continue to influence and inspire her are her three daughters.
“I'm going to answer that with the present. So I have three daughters, actually all in STEM fields. But really, my inspiration is raising them to be all they can be. So they push me to do all I can do. But they also help me be confident, help me show them what can be possible. So for me, it's about the next generation. There's a myriad of people that stood before me, and by no means were they not important. But really for me, it's the next generation, which happens to be my three daughters.”
Their influence is a constant source of inspiration, fueling her to inspire and create opportunities for other women in the field.
Opportunity Awaits
In this rapidly evolving defense industry, the opportunities for women are growing and Suzanne believes women bring a lot of great abilities to the table.
“The opportunity for women to contribute in product development in any kind of stem is about the uniqueness, I think, that women show up with. So it's been my observation that women are very good at assimilating information. They're very good at taking in a variety of inputs and then creating an action plan and making a decision. So what is unique for women is not about, you know, the specific position. It's not about the business needs, those don't change. It's how women show up and drive results. And I think they do it in a very, very proactive way. I think women tend to be decisive and they tend to be able to pull information and people together. So that's unique, right? I think that is the crux of leadership, how do you propel the business forward? How do you propel people forward? And I think women do that very well.”
Their ability to bring people together, inspire collaboration, and lead with purpose makes women invaluable assets. As women continue to showcase these strengths, they will continue to unlock great opportunities for leadership and impact in the space.
It’s clear that women are shaping the present and driving the future of industries like STEM and defense. Suzanne's insights remind us that leadership is a continuous learning journey and that by fostering an environment where women are encouraged to grow, we are building a future of inclusivity and innovation. Let’s continue to support, uplift, and celebrate the women who are shaping the world around us today and every day.
bottom of page