Maggie Koops was a key contributor to the 2017-2019 MID Cohort due to her background in Aerospace Engineering, willingness to make a mess, and try new things. Maggie is the posterchild for "make, break, iterate" and she was always one of the go-to teammates when it came to prototyping and testing products.
Why did you join the MID program?
I was finishing up my Aerospace Engineering degree and actively looking for jobs.
I wasn’t excited for any role (or role I could move into after a few years at the
company) that I interviewed for. I was seeking a role that I could work both on my
own and collaborate with others. Most engineering jobs are data analysis, running
simulations, or building parts in CAD. My boss at the time saw my struggle and told
me I needed to meet with Dr. Patterson. Jeremy sold me on the MID and haven’t looked
back since.
What was your favorite project/class you took? What did you enjoy about it?
Doug’s Marketing class was my favorite. People are complicated. Selling to people
is more complicated. Doug taught his marketing class like a psychology class - How
are your consumers going to interact and respond to the product you are trying to
sell? It made me question what I buy and why I buy it. On the downside, I now notice
bad fonts, packaging, mission statements, commercials, etc.
What are some things you learned in the program that you are able to use now?
As an engineer, you learn to solve problems. Those problems have one solution and
are solved by brute force. That process isn’t applicable to the real world. The MID
program taught me that it takes a team of people from all backgrounds to elegantly
solve a problem.
What advice do you have for someone about starting the MID Program?
Get involved. Goof around. Spend the extra time with your cohort. Don’t be shy.
If the MID program assisted with the current role you have now, how so?
Engineering and the MID gave me two drastically different skill sets. I am always
interested to see which skill set people see in me. On one hand, one person would
never guess I'm an engineer. Whereas another person will look to me for engineering
answers. The ability to morph in and out of various characteristics is an invaluable
skill for employers. My current role involves running a business, networking, and
identifying technology solutions. The MID has helped with the first half of those
roles. My engineering side allows for competent conversations with founders about
their technology.
