Anne Pauley is a technical program manager at Google, implementing world-class manufacturing processes for the Google Pixel smartphone. In this episode, Anne shares her expansive experience in additive manufacturing, industrial art, and engineering design, as well as a mission to bring more diversity to the hands-on fabrication space.In this episode, Anne shares her journey from Penn State to leading innovative projects at Google. She discusses her dual interests in mechanical engineering and music technology, her experiences at Penn State, and her professional journey through various companies including Disney, Meta, and Google. Through her work creating massive art pieces with the Flaming Lotus Girls art collective and her personal art studio, Cognitive Flow Design, she aims to disrupt the industrial design industry. Toward the end of the episode, Penn State rising senior Irena Potochny joins the conversation. Irena and Anne discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in engineering, and Anne offers advice for future engineers.

Episode Chapters

0:00 – 3:58 Growing up in State College

3:58 – 8:03 Pursuing engineering and music at Penn State

8:03 – 9:09 Participating in the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program at Penn State

9:09 – 12:02 Understanding additive manufacturing

12:02 – 13:17 Experience in the Blue Band

13:17 – 16:47 Pursuing a Master’s Degree at Penn State in mechanical engineering

16:47 – 18:20 Building animatronics at Disney; learning about different types of companies

18:20 – 19:26 Working at Meta’s Reality Labs, becoming a technical program manager

19:26 – 23:21 Innovating the Google Pixel phone, the complexities of designing consumer products

23:21 – 24:12 Achieving sustainability in manufacturing through 3D printing

24:12 – 29:39 Creating large-scale art installations for Burning Man with Flaming Lotus Girls

29:39 – 31:17 Creating innovative light art projects through her studio Creative Flow Design

31:17 – 40:08 Student section

21:17 -34:38 More efficiently using recycled materials for art

34:38 – 36:15 Advice for women entering the engineering field

36:15 – 37:07 Selecting materials for art projects

37:07 – 39:30 What classes Anne would want to come back to Penn State to take

Download the full episode transcript

About Anne Pauley

Anne is a technical program manager at Google. Anne graduated from the Penn State Schreyer Honors College with dual bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering (College of Engineering) and music technology (College of Arts and Architecture) before pursuing a master’s degree with a focus on mechanical design, mechatronics and additive manufacturing.

About Irena Potochny

Irena is a rising fourth-year materials science and engineering student with a minor in sustainability leadership. She is a past participant of the Idea TestLab program at Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank. Irena created an upcycled fashion show as a capstone project, and she is in the process of starting a small business to sell upcycled products. Post-graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in textile engineering.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.