Celebrating Women in Engineering: Nicole Walden

Nicole Walden is a mechanical engineer who wears many hats, bringing experience in product development, CAD training and support, and manufacturing. Right now, she’s leading the engineering alignment for several companies within her organization as they get ready to switch to a new ERP system. She’s also responsible for training over 150 SOLIDWORKS users to follow company standards. Throughout her career, she’s been dedicated to continuous learning, solving problems, and building a strong community in the engineering field.

Discovering a Passion Early On

Growing up, Nicole was always around the hum of tools and the smell of sawdust. Her dad, a maintenance man, worked hard to support the family, often juggling two or three jobs at a time. If she wanted to see him, she had to be where he was, which meant spending time in the workshop. When she was just four, her dad gave her a personal sander. Nicole often tinkered alongside him, learning how to fix everything from VCRs to car engines. Her dad’s motto was simple: if something broke, you figured out how to fix it. This hands-on experience sparked a lifelong curiosity in Nicole.

As a freshman in high school, Nicole began doing CAD-based work. She discovered that CAD work allowed her to earn enough money to help pay for college. By her sophomore year of college, she had mastered SOLIDWORKS, which became central to her career.

She initially considered architecture and structural engineering before discovering her interest in mechanical engineering. She had several internships, most of which were entirely CAD-based. When she moved to Florida, she began working in product development using SOLIDWORKS. That’s when Nicole connected with her first SOLIDWORKS User Group (SWUGN), and she eventually became a user group leader. This experience led her to work on the reseller side of things for SOLIDWORKS in Texas.

A Versatile Career in Engineering

Nicole’s experience spans engineering and manufacturing, giving her a unique perspective on bridging the gap between design and production. For six years, she immersed herself in manufacturing, gaining a deep understanding of how engineering designs translate into real-world products.

In her current role, Nicole is responsible for aligning internal companies with a new ERP system from an engineering standpoint. This includes training SOLIDWORKS users and ensuring they adhere to company standards. Nicole’s extensive background in SOLIDWORKS and her experience as a reseller make her a key player in this transition. She leads training sessions, using her vast experience to help others master the software.

Influences and Inspirations

Nicole’s practical approach to engineering comes straight from the lessons she learned from her dad. He never doubted if something could be done; it was always about figuring out how to do it. This mindset gave Nicole a problem-solving attitude that guided her throughout her career. She learned to value hands-on experience and practical knowledge, which has been crucial in her various roles.

Her dad’s influence also shows her respect for people’s abilities, no matter their titles. Growing up, she saw engineers seek her father’s advice even though he didn’t have formal education. This taught her to appreciate the practical wisdom that comes from experience and never to underestimate anyone’s knowledge or skills.

Building Community and Sharing Knowledge

Nicole’s dedication to the engineering community shines through her involvement and leadership with SWUGN. She has led groups in Florida, Houston, and now Chattanooga, always fostering a sense of community and shared learning. These meetings allow SOLIDWORKS users to share knowledge, explore new tools, and support each other. Nicole’s passion for teaching and helping others drives her involvement in these groups.

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Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. offers complete 3D software tools that let you create, simulate, publish, and manage your data. SolidWorks products are easy to learn and use, and work together to help you design products better, faster, and more cost-effectively. The SolidWorks focus on ease-of-use allows more engineers, designers and other technology professionals than ever before to take advantage of 3D in bringing their designs to life.