Meet Tanya Stere

Tanya reviewing a machine inspection before shipping.

Tanya, is currently working as a Quality Management System Admin at Salford Group. She graduated from Mohawk College General Business in 1999 and in her free time she enjoys beach, road trips, and weekend holidays with my family.

A fun fact about her current role: “I am lucky enough to hold a position allows me to work closely with both the leadership team and production associates, learning and documenting best practices for future team members. Every day presents new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow.”

When did your love of STEM begin?

When I was about 15, we had a VCR that kept eating the video tapes. My stepdad told me I could take it apart and clean it up and see if that fixed the issue. It didn't, but I really enjoyed working with my hands, taking it apart and seeing how it all worked. I loved puzzles and was interested in how things went together. Whenever something needed to be put together, I was recruited for the assembly. When I first moved out on my own, I didn't have any proper tools of my own, so I ended up building a bookshelf using a butter knife and a shoe with a solid heel. Where there is a will, there is a way.

What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?

What you do makes a difference. It's never boring. There is always something more to learn, more questions to ask. I am lucky to be surrounded by people who inspire me and encourage me, both in and out of the workplace.

What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?

Never stop learning. If you find yourself in a room of people you can't learn from, find another room.
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better - that is a Maya Angelou quote that I have taken to heart.