Emily McPherson has been a member of NYSWA for five years and is currently seven months into her first year as a member of the board of directors. But don’t let her short tenure misguide you…she’s been working in engineering and project management for the wireless telecommunications industry for over 10 years.

Emily is a dedicated professional who is also currently serving as a member of the Workforce Development Committee. Check out our conversation with Emily below to find out why this is important to her and how we owe her college friend a ‘thank you’ for bringing her talents to the industry many years ago.

What brought you to the wireless industry initially?

A friend of mine from college was in the industry. When I noticed their company had a position open, I reached out. He couldn’t say enough about how exciting and challenging his job was, so I jumped at the opportunity.

What do you see as the greatest opportunity for our industry over the next few years?

Wireless is no longer a niche industry. Everyone is impacted by what we do. This opens up so many opportunities for us to use this awareness to develop and grow our workforce as well as strengthen the industry overall.

What are you most looking forward to contributing to your role as a NYSWA board member this year?

I’m most excited about developing new and expanded training and education programs for people who are interested in joining the wireless industry. This is a big reason I am also a member of the Workforce Development Committee. I want to be able to share the work we’re doing in an effort to get others involved.

How has your involvement with NYSWA impacted your career?

By attending NYSWA events, I have been able to make connections with companies and individuals that I normally would not interact with day-to-day. Some of those connections have turned into clients, trusted vendors and partners.

As our industry looks to the next generation of leaders, what would you share with someone just starting their career in wireless?

Get involved with NYSWA early in your career. We have a lot of different types of events, which make it easy for you to get out there and meet your industry peers. There’s certainly something for everyone.

What is your passion? What gets you out of bed every day?
Solving problems. Everyday there’s a new problem to solve, a new challenge to overcome. No two days are the same. I find that energizing.

What is something about you that most people are surprised to learn?

You could say engineering is in my blood. Both my father and grandfather before me were electrical engineers.

What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

Treat everyone with kindness and respect. You never know who might end up being your boss – or your client – one day.