Samantha's Story: Mentors, Relationships & Growing at TS

Growing up, Sam always considered herself an extrovert. When she got to college, however, she felt things shift. “At my college, people were very into their books. I felt myself becoming more introverted. I didn’t feel like myself.”

Then, after completing her junior year, she started as a security intern at Textron Systems, and things started to change. Sam spent the summer of 2023 learning about our business, laughing with new friends and focusing on her future. As summer ended and her senior year approached, she accepted a full-time position as an associate security analyst upon graduation in 2024.

One year later, she’s thriving at our New Orleans sites, including the Shipyard and Stone Road manufacturing centers.

Here at Textron Systems, Sam has worked hard to break free of her shell and shift her mindset — and a few key mentors have played a part in that growth.

Getting Better, Together

As Sam started her first job in a new place and a new home, she made a valuable connection in an unlikely place.

“I remember going up to the cycling instructor during my first class [at the gym]; I had a question about something she’d said, and we got to talking. I told her I’d just moved here for work. She asked where, I said Textron Systems, and she said, ‘No way, me too!’ That very night, she introduced me to two other co-workers, including Colleen — we call her my work mom now.” She laughed thinking back on this. “You know, it’s funny. I never go up to strangers to ask questions, but because I did, I met a solid group of people who all work at Textron Systems, and we all have something in common together.”

What exactly made Sam do something she never would have done under different circumstances? What forced her to speak with the instructor and Colleen, the latter of whom has since become a work mom, a mentor and a friend?

“As a full-time employee, I started to realize something: your entire life doesn’t happen in your cubicle or at home. It happens when you’re taking chances. Sometimes, you just have to get out. That can be hard for some people. It was hard for me. But now, I know that sometimes, the grass is greener outside your cubicle.”

As Sam’s relationship with Colleen grew stronger, so, too, did her confidence and ambition. At Textron Systems, we advocate for mentorships, knowing just how effective they are in cementing a new employee’s development. Speaking with others who have been in your shoes can be invaluable when learning about any business, offering a safe space for deep questions, continued education and ongoing conversations. The more Sam tapped into this mentorship, the more she found herself taking flight.

“Colleen has always been there for me when I feel stuck. She reminds me that I’m young and says to approach all things as a learning experience.”

These conversations have led Sam to explore new opportunities in her field. “I started to understand that everything [Textron Systems was] putting in my way was so I’d have the training and knowledge to better both myself and the company. Everything is built to help me in the long run, no matter where the future takes me.”

At Textron Systems, we believe that when employees are driven and encouraged to thrive, company success is sure to follow. Everybody can win, and Sam is proof that this logic holds true. “At first, I thought all these opportunities would only benefit Textron, but that’s not the case. These opportunities are here for me, so I can better myself and set myself up for success.”

Many of these opportunities came directly from Sam’s manager Shane — another mentor she has come to trust. His devotion to her well-being, in many ways, is a prime reason why her confidence continues growing.

“My boss is excellent. There was a time when I struggled with motivation, and instead of coming down on me, Shane started putting more things on my plate that I was interested in. He saw that I needed to be repurposed, and when he shifted my responsibilities to start working with the Security Operations Team in Hunt Valley, I felt like I was running again. I could fill my calendar with things I looked forward to doing. I was able to find even more mentors, including Tori and Mikayla among others, and they’ve helped me grow in new ways I couldn’t have imagined.”

In hindsight, Sam cannot thank Shane enough for all his efforts. “He saw me, and I know other people are having that same experience, as well.”

Passing the Torch

Over the course of her first official year, Sam’s mentors have helped her embrace new challenges, push past internal fears and establish herself as a force in the industry.

Now, she is helping others who struggle to put themselves out there, as well.

“I didn’t even know there was an intern who went full time for the first few months he was here. When it finally clicked, I reached out to him and asked, ‘How come I never see you?’ He told me that he never attends anything, and I said, ‘Well, that’s why! No one is going to see you if you’re sitting behind your cubicle.’ I told him a little about my experience, and just like that, we’d each made a new friend.”

Without even realizing it, Sam has become a version of the mentor she received when she first started. In a company with a culture defined by relationships, she is one of many to answer that calling.

To learn more about current opportunities at Textron Systems, visit our careers page and see how you can help us keep Pushing Past Possible.