Director

Mary McGuire
mary.mcguire@womenandhitech.org

“Growth does not happen in comfort.” (In other words – get used to being uncomfortable.)

A 1979 graduate of Indiana State University with a degree in Packaging Engineering, Mary launched her career as a Packaging Engineer at a General Motors facility in Anderson, Indiana. Early in her career, she and her husband relocated to Mexico, where they lived and worked for more than eight years in cross-border leadership roles — an experience that shaped her global perspective and approach to building high-performing, culturally diverse teams.

Over a 30-plus-year career spanning Fortune 500 companies in the electronics and automotive sectors, Mary advanced through progressive Engineering and Operations leadership positions. She was an early champion of lean manufacturing, leading enterprise-wide Lean and Six Sigma transformations across multiple organizations and driving measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, and workforce capability. In 2023, Mary founded M2McGuire & Associates, a consulting practice through which she partners with organizations to advance systems and process improvements while providing training and coaching that develops employees at every level.

Awards & Honors: Lean Leadership Award; Six Sigma Green Belt & Black Belt; ISU Outstanding Technology and Engineering Alumni Award; ISU Distinguished Alumni Award

Board & Advisory Roles: Board of Trustees, Capitol Technology University; Community Advisory Board and Packaging Engineering Board, Indiana State University College of Arts and Science; Co-Founder and Leader, Destination Success — a mentoring organization dedicated to supporting ISU STEAM students on their path to professional success

Throughout her career, she has been a passionate advocate for creating pathways for women in technical fields and STEM disciplines. She brings that same commitment to every board, mentoring relationships, and consulting engagement — combining decades of operational expertise with a deep investment in the next generation of leaders.

Mary calls Carmel home — a community she loves and is deeply invested in. As a widow, she has found tremendous joy and purpose in the relationships she’s built through faith, service, and shared passions.

When she's not working, you'll likely find her on the golf course, planning her next adventure abroad, or packing her bags for a mission trip. Travel has always fed her soul — whether it's exploring a new country for pleasure or serving communities in need. Supporting pancreatic cancer research is also close to her heart, a cause she has championed since losing her husband to the disease.

What truly lights Mary up is time with young people standing at the threshold of their futures. There is nothing quite like watching a student discover that a career in STEM is not only possible for them — it's meant for them. She advises two student mentoring organizations at Indiana State University and finds that work as rewarding as anything she has done in the boardroom.

Her faith community grounds her, and she stays active in her neighborhood HOA and local civic life in ways that keep her connected to the people and places that matter most.

Mary hopes to help Women & Hi Tech make more connections with high school and college women to expose them to STEM careers.

Connect with Mary on LinkedIn to learn more about her professional journey: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mcguiremary