Reprinted from: "2018-2019 SWE Hawaiian Islands (SWE-HI) Section Officers," Wiliki o Hawai'i: Engineer of Hawai'i, March 2019, Vol. 55, No. 1, p. 3.

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has recognized Pearl Yamaguchi of Medtronic for her impact on the Society as well as the engineering community with the WE Local ELiTE award (Emerging Leader in Technology & Engineering). Pearl Yamaguchi will accept the award at SWE's local conference, WE Local Bellevue on April 6, 2019 during the formal awards banquet.

The WE Local ELiTE award recognizes Pearl Yamaguchi for her technical excellence with 13 years of experience in the fields of technology and engineering. The award also recognizes Pearl's continuing dedication to SWE's mission - striving to highlight the impact and importance of women in engineering across the globe, leading by example, and demonstrating that a career in engineering can be a fulfilling, and rewarding pursuit for people of all genders and of any background.

Pearl Yamaguchi has a BA in English Literature and Art, and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii. She has worked for Medtronic, the world's larges medical device company, for 10 years in Hawaii, Arizona, and California where she is currently a Principal Clinical Account Leader managing clinical research sites in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her past experience includes roles as a Nuclear Engineer at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Engineer with Electricians, Inc. in Hawaii. She is passionate about SWE and has held multiple leadership positions including SWE Senator, Charter President of the Hawaiian Islands Professional Section, Medtronic Global SWEnet Board Member, Society Governance Task Force Committee Member, Region Mentoring Program Chair, and President of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Collegiate Section. As well as being active with her Santa Rosa Medtronic SWEnet and the LGBTQ Affinity Group, Pearl is Chair of the Hawaiian Islands Steering Committee and Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee. Pearl loves to give back by mentoring, providing leadership, and supporting SWE members and others on their journeys.