The oldest of four children, Jill Tietjen grew up in Hampton, Virginia. She earned a BS in applied mathematics (minor in electrical engineering) from the University of Virginia and her masters in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She spent more than 40 years in the electric utility industry where she served as an expert witness and helped plan new power plants. She is now an author (11 books so far), a speaker, and an advocate for women worldwide.

What inspired you to explore STEM when you were young?

I loved math and wanted a career where I could use it. I do not love science – and particularly, I cannot stand chemistry. Don’t like biology either. This is important – you don’t have to LOVE math and science in order to succeed in a STEM career.

What do you enjoy most about what you do in your STEM career?

In my career, I solved problems. I worked with teams to plan the electric utility system. It gives me tremendous satisfaction to see that the lights are on and to know that I helped make that happen.

What is an interesting fact you would like to share with students about your STEM field?

The sun does not shine at night. The wind doesn’t always blow. Electricity has to be provided on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.