In this episode, Kathy and Linda talk with Catherine Jackson Jones, a coach and mentor with the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding STEM opportunities for students and empowering educators to bring real-world STEM experiences into classrooms across the country.

Catherine shares how NMSI builds awareness and access to STEM fields, particularly for students in under-resourced and rural communities. Through long-term partnerships with school districts, NMSI provides professional development for teachers and administrators, helping them integrate critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills into every subject. Catherine explains how the initiative creates lasting change by training educators to sustain programs long after NMSI’s involvement, ensuring equity and opportunity for all students.

Catherine also opens up about her personal journey — growing up in poverty, being the first in her family to graduate college, and how a single teacher’s belief in her changed the trajectory of her life. That experience fuels her passion for helping students see their own worth and possibilities, no matter where they come from.

Together, they explore:

• How NMSI supports teachers and districts to create engaging, hands-on STEM learning
• The importance of exposure, opportunity, and representation in STEM education
• The ripple effect one teacher or mentor can have on generations of learners
• How engagement and curiosity transform learning environments
• Breaking cycles of poverty through education and belief in possibility

Ask the (Not) Expert

A listener asks:

Catherine shares her teacher’s perspective: divide responsibilities clearly, let everyone choose their section, and document who’s responsible for what. That way, teachers can fairly assess individual contributions — a real-world lesson in accountability and teamwork.

Rapid Fire Questions

• Favorite STEM book: Alchemy of the Mind, by Diane Ackerman
• Favorite college course: Shakespeare with Dr. Rey
• Best advice ever received: “You’re bigger than the moments that surround you.” – Theresa Smith, the teacher who changed her life

Episode Takeaway

Catherine’s story is a testament to the power of education, mentorship, and believing in others. Her passion for teaching — and for helping students realize their potential — reminds us that opening even one door can change entire families and communities.

Learn More

Visit the National Math and Science Initiative at www.nms.org
to learn how to get involved, support programs, or explore partnership opportunities.

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In this episode, Kathy and Linda talk with Manyphay Viengkham, an accomplished technology leader whose career spans energy innovation, systems engineering, and entrepreneurship. With degrees in biochemistry and computer science, Manyphay has built a career defined by curiosity, continuous learning, and resilience—navigating roles in major companies like GE and Honeywell before launching her own consulting business.

Together, they explore:

• How following her curiosity led from science to technology to energy innovation
• The importance of personal resilience and adaptability in career transitions
• Lessons learned from working across IT, OT, and product management
• Building a strong professional network and personal brand that opens doors
• The ups and downs of starting her own business—and finding joy in the process
• Why compassion, authenticity, and professionalism are essential leadership traits
• Learning to speak up and show your expertise, especially when underestimated

The episode wraps with their “Ask the (Not) Expert” segment, where Kathy, Linda, and Manyphay discuss handling assumptions in the workplace—like being mistaken for administrative staff—and how to respond with confidence and professionalism.

Key Takeaways

• Your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line—curiosity creates opportunity.
• Resilience and adaptability matter as much as technical skill.
• Building genuine relationships can define your career success.
• Authentic leadership blends confidence with compassion.
• Taking the leap into entrepreneurship can be both empowering and fulfilling.
• Manyphay's planned book has become a blog which can be found on Substack here: https://substack.com/@manyphay

Acronym Glossary

• AMI – Advanced Metering Infrastructure
• SCADA – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
• IoT – Internet of Things
• IT – Information Technology
• OT – Operational Technology
• HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

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In this episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM, Kathy and Linda sit down with Lawanda Parnell, a retired technology and utility leader whose career began at IBM in the early 1980s and spanned decades of innovation and leadership.

Lawanda shares her journey from studying business administration with a strong math and computer science foundation at the University of Florida, to becoming one of the few Black women in tech during her era, to leading large-scale projects in the utility industry.

She reflects on:

• Transitioning from IBM into the utility sector and the challenges of large-scale software implementations.
• How her love of math, particularly calculus, shaped her career path.
• The importance of mentors and sponsors, including those who encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree.
• Building strong, diverse teams and the value of hiring people smarter than yourself.
• Overcoming the fear of public speaking as an introverted techie.
• Her perspective on management versus technical career paths and advice for navigating that choice.
• Why utilities need to do a better job of marketing themselves to the next generation of STEM professionals.

The conversation also dives into listener advice questions, covering:

• Should you move into management if you love technical work?
• What to do if your company offers to pay for grad school in a field you don’t love.

Lawanda’s story is one of resilience, lifelong learning, and the joy of finding passion in work while paving the way for future generations.

About Lawanda:
Lawanda Parnell is a retired technology and utility leader whose career began at IBM and later spanned leadership roles in the energy sector, including CPS Energy and Pedernales Electric Cooperative. With a background in business and computer science, she combined her love of math and technology with strong project management skills to lead large-scale IT transformations and mentor future STEM professionals.

Want to ask a question for our new advice segment?

• Leave us a voicemail through our website www.ordinarily-extraordinary.com
• Or email: ordinarilyextraordinarypod@gmail.com

Music by Kay Paulus

Follow Kay on Instagram @kaypaulus8

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