IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2022 - 40

economy and drive innovation. " So, she
continues to nurture entrepreneurship
through programs and certificates and
organizes the CBPP business plan competitions
to foster aspiring entrepreneurs
at UAA and within the community. The
students in her entrepreneurship class
compete and have won prizes, providing
a nice extension beyond classroom learning.
To promote an inspiring experience,
she created the competition to include
mentoring sessions with judges and
events for networking, selecting judges
comprising executives, entrepreneurs,
and partners in venture firms. She also
coauthored " Academic Entrepreneurship, "
published by World Scientific,
which is used in courses at UAA.
A Prolific Innovator
Throughout her career, Wisniewski has
served on public and private boards of
directors, including Greatbatch, a company
that develops implantable medical
devices. This company patented the first
implantable pacemaker. In addition, the
U.S. Secretary of the Navy appointed
her to serve on NRAC. She was invited
by IBM to be the Distinguished Speaker
at their Distinguished Speaker webinar
in July 2022, where she presented " The
Convergence of Emerging Technologies
With AI-Global Impact. "
One of the most meaningful awards
for Wisniewski was given in 2017 when
she became a fellow of the Academy of
Inventors. This award is in recognition
of " academic inventors who have demonstrated
a prolific spirit of innovation
in creating or facilitating outstanding
inventions that have made a tangible
impact on quality of life, economic
development and the welfare of society. "
She has received awards for noteworthy
contributions to advancements in
scientific research and technology, outstanding
leadership, entrepreneurship,
and teaching. Among her awards are the
Rotary Vocational Service Award, 2022
Innovator Award, Graduate Teacher of
the Year, the 2001 Women in Technology
Award for Entrepreneurship, and
Distinguished Alum-William Paterson
University.
Wisniewski's advice is to not let
others " pigeonhole you in a category. "
People have been surprised that as a
mathematician she has held executive
positions and has succeeded as a technology
entrepreneur, but math, she says,
has " opened a lot of doors. " Her advice
is to follow what you really believe in.
" What's the real fire inside of you? What
do you feel strongly about? " she asks.
" To be successful you must have that fire
and a commitment. You may face a lot
of challenges, but with a strong belief in
what you are doing, you will turn those
challenges into successes. "
-Katianne Williams
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40
IEEE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2022
" Participating in IEEE has developed me
as a well-rounded engineer and helped
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-Likhitha Patha
Electrical Engineering Student, IEEE Brand
President, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University
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IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2022

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