Steminist blog: BECOMING Series
Becoming: Interview with Harshini Sivakumar
Olivia Atuah
Our subject, Harshini Sivakumar, is a first-year MBA student at Harvard Business School. At school, she serves on the leadership team for the HBS Aerospace & Defense Club and is currently interning part-time with Vatn Systems. Prior to grad school, Harshini spent 4 years at Boeing in their Defense, Space, and Security business unit as a Systems Engineer and Operations Team Lead in the Washington D.C. area. In these roles, she managed a team of engineers in the operation of multiple space vehicle and ground hardware systems. Harshini grew up in Rochester, Michigan, and graduated from Georgia Tech with her Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering in 2021. Outside of work, she loves to bake new desserts, read, watch movies, volunteer in her community, and spend time with family, friends, and her fiancé, Jun. This summer, Harshini will be interning with McKinsey & Company as a Summer Associate, where she is eager to combine her technical and business expertise and serve clients in the Aerospace and Defense sectors.
How do you view your position as an emerging voice in aerospace and engineering?
Aerospace is such an entrenched industry, with many people who have been working in it for 20, 30, even 40 years. Because of this, being a newer voice can create some tension at times, but I think that’s exactly why it’s important to have new perspectives in those spaces. There’s a balance to be found between learning from experienced mentors who have been incredibly valuable to me and also stepping back to question systems that may no longer serve a strong purpose and could be improved.
How have you learned to balance confidence in your work with humility, especially as a woman in STEM?
A lot of learning that balance has come from the people around me. As I mentioned, I’ve had strong mentors, both women and men, who have helped guide me in different ways. I like to think of it as having a “personal board of directors”; people who support you but are also willing to be honest with you. There have been moments where I’ve subconsciously held myself back, and they’ve encouraged me to step forward. On the other hand, there have been other moments where I’ve needed to slow down and reassess, and they’ve helped with that too. That kind of network helps you navigate when to speak up, when to listen, and how to grow in a balanced way that benefits you, personally and professionally.
How has your experience been as a woman in a male-dominated field like aerospace?
For me, it’s been very important to continue to show up and not let people's perceptions hold me back. There are times when I’ve walked into a room, and people felt like I wasn’t as qualified as maybe the other men in the room. That ingrained difference that people feel towards you can be felt very early on; I first noticed it in high school. I also recognize that, whether I intend to or not, I’m a role model for younger women entering this very male-dominated field who may be feeling those differences now. I take that responsibility seriously and try to represent the kind of presence I would have wanted to see. I’ve learned to separate what’s about my work from what might be influenced by perceived bias. Sometimes having open conversations helps, though not always. But consistently showing up and being intentional about how I carry myself has been key.
What skills or habits should young women start building if they’re interested in STEM careers?
I think the biggest thing is to start asking questions and not stop asking them. Curiosity is incredibly powerful. Seek out what genuinely interests you and find opportunities to explore it, whether it's aerospace or just STEM in general.
It’s also very important to pursue what you’re truly passionate about, not what others expect of you. I was encouraged at times to pursue paths that didn’t interest me, such as computer science, and I’m really glad I stayed true to aerospace.
Another important piece is not losing the parts of yourself that make you who you are. Your hobbies, your personality, your femininity—none of that needs to be sacrificed for your career. Being a well-rounded, holistic person is just as important as developing professional skills. Don’t ever feel like your hobbies are not good enough to coexist alongside your career.
Do you have any examples of when your experience in the workforce required you to think differently from what you learned in college?
Yes, definitely. When I started working, a lot of people asked me,” What from college do you use in your day job?” And the answer is almost nothing. I use very little of the specific technical content from college in my day-to-day work. What I do use constantly are the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that I developed there.
A big realization I had was how important it is to understand both the technical and business sides of the industry. Aerospace is evolving more quickly than ever, with more startups and faster innovation cycles. That’s what led me to pursue an MBA. There’s often this idea in college that you have to choose between being a technical person or a business person, but in practice, the two are deeply interconnected.
Have you been involved in any STEM outreach or inclusion efforts that stood out to you?
One of the most meaningful experiences for me was volunteering at the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., which is one of my favorite places in the world. I helped run programs for students ranging from elementary to middle school, where they learned about engineering and even built small rockets. It was incredibly rewarding to see students go from not knowing what to expect to becoming genuinely excited and curious. Being able to answer their questions and help spark that interest—especially in a place that inspired me as a child—was really special.
Are there any books, podcasts, or media that have influenced your journey in STEM?
I’ve always loved science fiction. Books by Andy Weir, like The Martian and Project Hail Mary, have been some of my favorites, along with the Red Rising series. They allow me to explore scientific ideas in a creative and engaging way.
On the podcast and nonfiction side, I listen to a podcast called Main Engine Cut Off, which focuses on developments in the space industry. I like to say that if you take five minutes to read up on what's happening in the industry, you’re already 20% ahead of most people. Learning from these has definitely set me apart from other people in my industry, and it’s such an easy thing to do.
What advice would you give to other young women pursuing STEM careers?
You don’t have to fit into a mold to succeed. It’s important to stay true to who you are and not let others define your path.
At the same time, don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself. There will be moments where you’re challenged or underestimated, and finding your voice in those situations is incredibly important. And if you ever find yourself in an environment where you’re not supported or respected, it’s okay to seek out spaces that value you. You deserve to be somewhere that helps you grow. The most important thing to remember is that you can succeed in these fields without changing who you are.
