Tiera Guinn Fletcher is an African American engineer who graduated from MIT in 2017 and works for Boeing. She is one of the designers and structural analysts building the Space Launch System for NASA which is set to send people to Mars. I had the pleasure to chat with Tiera about working for NASA and her life goals.

 

 What did you want to be as a child?

TGF: “As a child, I wanted to be an inventor, scientist, mathematician, architect and designer. By 11 years old, I knew that I wanted to be an aerospace engineer.”

 

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What was your reaction when you found out you would be working for NASA?

TGF: “I was ecstatic! I felt like I had achieved my short term goal and ready to tackle the other goals to come. In addition to being ecstatic, I was also in a state of disbelief. For so many years, I only dreamed of working for NASA. I couldn’t believe that it became a reality. ”

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 As a young woman who has accomplished so much already at a young age, what challenges and sacrifices did you face when you were starting out in your line of work?

TGF: “As a young woman of color, I face the challenge of being underestimated in my field. There are not many who look like me in my line of work, which then means that I am a triple minority. “

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What’s the first thing you do every morning to start your day on the right foot?

TGF: “Pray. The first thing I do every morning is have a conversation with God. ”

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What is success to you and what did it take to accomplish it?

TGF: “Success to me is fulfilling my purpose. So much joy is realized in pursuit of purpose. ”

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Which of your traits are you most proud of? 

TGF: “I am most proud of my resilience, focus, and joy. Those qualities have brought me a long way. “

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Has learning a mistake ever led you to success?

TGF: “I make mistakes all of the time! As we all do because we are human. I learn from each mistake and try my best not to make the same mistake twice. ”

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What’s the best advice for someone who feels they haven’t found their purpose yet?

TGF: “For someone who has not found their purpose yet, keep seeking after it. For ones you have, continue to seek confirmation. ”

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What does the world need more of? Less of? 

TGF: “One thing that the world needs more of the aspects of peace. The ability to work together, communicate effectively and thrive as a unit.”

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Whats the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? 

TGF: “The best piece of business advice I’ve ever received is to understand the ebb and flow of career-life balance and always keep that balance in check. ”

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About Tiera Fletcher

Tiera Fletcher is an aerospace engineering graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During her senior year, Tiera worked as a Rocket Design and Analysis Engineer at The Boeing Company on NASA’s Space Launch System; the most powerful rocket ever built. Fletcher continued as a Structural Analysis Engineer in Alabama and then on to a Rocket Structural Engineer in Louisiana at NASA. Tiera travels the world to motivate people to follow their dreams through Rocket With The Fletchers.