Keep Going Until Something Tells You to Stop
Hosting Women in Manufacturing at Sigma Design
An inspiring day of connection, collaboration, and celebrating women in manufacturing!
On Tuesday, October 27, Sigma Design had the pleasure of hosting Women in Manufacturing Oregon and Washington at our Camas headquarters for a morning of meaningful conversations and inspiring perspectives. Guests toured our facility, learned how we design, engineer, build, and test products across a wide range of industries, and heard from our President & CEO, Lindsey Dotson, in a talk titled “Building Trust in an Industry Defined by Change.”
A Nonlinear Path
Lindsey shared her very nonlinear journey into engineering, manufacturing, and leadership, one shaped less by a roadmap and more by a willingness to say yes to opportunities. Along the way, she offered honest reflections on navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry, stepping into unfamiliar roles, and learning to trust both herself and the people around her.
“None of those opportunities showed up at the moment I felt completely ready,” she said. “They showed up first. The confidence came later.”
Trust as the Common Thread
At the heart of Lindsey’s talk was trust: trust in yourself, trust in relationships, and trust built into the way an organization operates. She spoke about what it takes to move from vendor to trusted partner, why how you respond to a mistake matters more than the mistake itself, and how a culture of continuous improvement builds confidence over time. “Technical capability gets you in the door,” she said. “Trust is what keeps you there.”
She also reflected on leadership advice, the good and the not-so-good, and why the principle behind advice can be right even when the advice itself is wrong.
The conversation didn’t stop when the presentation ended. Attendees brought thoughtful questions and a wide range of experiences to the discussion, and as Lindsey put it, “We probably could have kept the discussion going for another hour.”
Hearing From Our Guests
While guests were here, our team asked a few of them to share their thoughts on Lindsey’s presentation and their experience at Sigma. It meant a lot to hear firsthand how our team, company culture, and the core values woven throughout our space connected with attendees. Watch the video below to hear what they had to say!
Keep Going
Lindsey closed with one of her personal philosophies, a reminder of how often we stop ourselves before anything else does: “Keep going until something tells you to stop.”
A huge thank you to Women in Manufacturing Oregon and Washington, everyone who joined us, and especially those who stepped in front of the camera. We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect, share experiences, and celebrate the incredible women shaping the future of manufacturing!
