Mirrors: Amy Aines, Communications Leader
The AdaMarie Mirrors reflect back to us the many roads (often winding, never smooth) to success! Real stories of real women to see yourself reflected in. At first, you’ll see Amy in this mirror, but eventually, we hope you’ll see yourself.
Welcome, Amy Aines!
A guide for effectively communicating throughout your career journey in STEM.
Getting to Know You:
Field of Work: Communications Skills Trainer, Author, Speaker and Workshop Leader
Expertise In: Communication strategy, public speaking, coaching, and teaching career success skills to STEM graduates
Current Company: Championing Science and Damianakes Communications
Job Title: Founder and CEO
One-liner about what you’re working on: Building and leading workshops to teach STEM students how to communicate effectively, land a job, and build productive work relationships.
Currently geeking out over: Mentoring, what it takes to be effective and how to train mentors to empower their mentees.
Female STEM hero (alive or dead!): Hedy Lamar, actress and inventor. She is credited with bringing us the underlying WiFi technology that enables our cell phones.
Tell us about your professional journey – how did you get where you are now?
Two summer internships served as the starting point for my career. Or perhaps, it was all the time I spent talking on the phone as a teenager that made me a great communicator! I volunteered at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where I spent one day each week writing about topics such as plasmapheresis for their newsletter. Simultaneously, I worked for a small PR firm, leading a tan squad to market a suntan product by the 3M company, a product so sticky that no one ever used it. These foundational experiences opened doors for me. At the time, I was majoring in Communications Studies at UC Santa Barbara. In my senior year, one of my professors invited me to co-teach public speaking with her at the City College. It was a phenomenal experience, and I still love coaching people to become better presenters.
The early stage of my career was spent in marketing communications and public relations for Coastcom, a technology company that manufactured T1 multiplexers. I was an anomaly since there were very few women at telecommunications industry trade shows. In fact, I was one of the youngest professionals interacting with the press. I learned early on that by asking good questions and striving to understand complex subjects at a conceptual level, I could hold my own.
The first 20 years of my career were dedicated to Corporate Communications roles, constantly working alongside scientists, technologists, and innovators.
“I enjoyed learning about things I knew nothing about, and my ability to translate technical jargon into more accessible language quickly became a superpower.”
Throughout my corporate years, I served in various facets of communications, ranging from being a media spokesperson, culture and brand builder, technical writer, employee motivator, change manager, media trainer, workshop designer, speech writer, speaker coach, meeting facilitator, to a leadership advisor. I was part of the early days of the wireless industry, working for AirTouch – an incredible company that helped propagate wireless communication around the world.
Since 1999, I've been the CEO of Damianakes Communications, a boutique consulting firm I founded after a 20-year corporate career and a merger deal that provided me with a financial cushion to venture out on my own. I've been fortunate to contribute to the success of over 50 companies, ranging from start-ups to global giants in tech, biotech, wireless, and telecom sectors.
In early 2019, UC Press published "Championing Science – Communicating Your Ideas to Decision Makers", a book my husband Roger (a scientist) and I wrote to equip STEM graduates with essential communication, relationship-building, and influence skills. During the book launch celebration in Bhutan, I had an epiphany during a lecture on Buddhism and Bodhisattvas. It was time for me to teach!
Now, I assist STEM graduates in communicating with more confidence and clarity, enabling them to make a more significant impact earlier in their careers. I'm committed to bringing the book to life through workshops and training. Since I started teaching, I've been fortunate to serve various universities and government agencies, including NASA, the Department of Energy RECS Program, National Postdoc Association, Lawrence Livermore National Lab Stanford, JPL, the University of Virginia, Columbia School of Engineering, Northeastern’s Network Science Institute, UCLA, University of Virginia, and Princeton. I can't ever envision retiring. I love what I do. Nothing is more rewarding to me than helping young people acquire the skills for success.
We’re also curious to know your personal story and upbringing. What has made you “you”?
As a little girl, I enjoyed reading the dictionary for fun. It's no surprise that my career has been all about choosing and using words to get results. I'm insatiably curious. I've always loved learning - especially about things I know nothing about. I've had the privilege of working with many experts, serving as a translator to help them express their ideas.
My dad had a few philosophies that shaped who I am. He used to say “the cream rises to the top,” so be good at something, and “if you want to stand out, do what you say you're going to do.” At first, I thought that was too simple, until I realized how many people don't keep their commitments. My dad also taught me that no matter someone's title or how much power they hold, we are all just people. That perspective made me comfortable with anyone – and I've worked with many executives and prominent leaders.
I had a phenomenal mentor, John Kane, who kept changing my job title so I could take on more responsibility and get paid more. John taught me that you can figure out how to do anything you've never done before if you have a good example and smart people to answer your questions. He had me write a test plan for a digital multiplexer. That experience gave me the courage to step into new situations believing that I could succeed.
We know that real life isn’t a smooth and linear journey. What was your initiating moment that led you to your calling - can you tell us about that moment, what helped you move forward, what you learned/discovered?
My first job after graduating from college was in workers' compensation claims, a position I excelled at but thoroughly disliked. My resignation left my boss genuinely disheartened.
I decided to quit to safeguard my mental health, even though I hadn't secured another job yet. Fortunately, I soon came across a small advertisement in my local newspaper that led me to my next role. It's here where I met my mentor, John Kane, who candidly admitted that he hired me because he couldn't afford his first-choice candidate. Hearing this wasn't the most encouraging start to a new job, but it surprisingly served as a source of inspiration for me.
The most transformative shift in my career occurred in 2019, during a trip to Bhutan, shortly after the publication of our book "Championing Science - Communicating Your Ideas to Decision Makers". While attending a lecture about Buddhism and bodhisattvas - teachers sharing knowledge - I experienced a moment of clarity.
This term, which I recognized from a 70s Steely Dan song, took on a new significance. I realized the importance of being such a teacher, which prompted me to pass on the wisdom I had accumulated throughout my extensive career. My new goal was to equip a new generation of STEM students with communication and influence skills, which they typically don't acquire in their academic curriculum.
You’re a working woman in a performance-driven industry. Where do you find balance?
Balance has always been a priority for me. The loss of my friend Kathie to a brain aneurysm when we were 14 years old taught me to appreciate the unpredictable nature of life, and underscored the importance of not waiting to enjoy the best parts of it. We are constantly making choices about how to spend our time. It's up to us to understand what we need and advocate for it. After my first daughter was born, I negotiated a job share with a colleague. We were the first women in our company to do so.
To me, balance doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing scenario. I always make time for things that matter with family and friends – even a few hours away from work can be rejuvenating. That said, I am extremely conscientious and always deliver on my commitments, so I am careful about the promises I make. My Wednesday mornings are sacred because that's when I sing with The Stay at Tone Moms, a fantastic group of women who bring joy to people in retirement homes and other community venues. In addition, I volunteer as an advisor to the STEM Advocacy Institute and Beyond the PhD.
If you were a part of the human body, what would you be?
I would definitely be ears. I find it incredibly gratifying to truly listen and connect with people, understand their ideas, and help them find solutions to their challenges. I love singing and listening to great music and hearing the sounds of nature that surround us.
We’d love to feature your work! How can we spread the word about what you’re doing?
You can visit my Championing Science website to find out more about the book, download a free chapter, and see topics of past workshops. Here are some informational interview materials I cover that will come in handy if you are starting your job search. I also offer individual coaching focused on how to tell your story, prepare for job interviews, and stand out from other candidates. Here’s a talk I did for the STEM Advocacy Institute: "Seven Ways You Can Be a More Engaging, Confident, and Compelling Speaker." I also gave a seminar in March at Princeton’s GradFUTURES Forum that will teach you principles for effective communication. I'm not doing much consulting anymore, but I do take on projects occasionally. If you are curious, you can check out www.damianakes.com.
