The theme of this year's International Women's Day is "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality." It couldn't be a more appropriate theme under which to recognize the amazing and inspiring women who work in every department at Rapid, or to acknowledge the role they play in making robotics more accessible for manufacturing and work more accessible for the women in the industry.

We believe that robotic automation is about more than solving a labor shortage or making businesses run more efficiently. Robotics enables fundamental transformation in how manufacturing businesses are run, making it easier for manufacturers to provide childcare to their employees, freeing laborers from third shift work that keeps them away from their families, and reducing other workplace burdens that disproportionately affect women.

This year's International Women's Day is a celebration of women's achievements, and a call for greater parity in access to technology and tech education. Below are just a few of the women at Rapid who work hard every day to make that access a reality.

Kim Losey, Chief Marketing Officer

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

Great question! RMO's love to do pick and place tasks so an ideal personal RMO for me would follow my teenagers around picking up all of the things they leave lying around. I think I would name this RMO Sanity :)

What do you love most about the work that you do?

Helping people think bigger than they first imagined possible.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Hmmm, tough question. I'm a very good adaptable and creative problem solver but the superpower behind that is collaboration!

Jenny Huynh, Mechanical Design Engineer

Jenny smiling and enjoying an iced coffee.

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

TRAV THE TRASH COLLECTOR

What do you love most about the work that you do?

I like the creative freedom of being able to thoughtfully design our next iteration of robots and being able to see it built and displayed.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

I can take something apart and look for ways to make it better.

Jessie Jensen, Senior Account Executive

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

Rogue1 - Changing my son's diapers.

What do you love most about the work that you do?

Learning about our customer's manufacturing processes and helping them to alleviate some of their stress around the labor shortage in the US.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Multi-tasking baby!!!!

Mia Murphy, SDR Manager

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

"Tom" aka "To-Do-List Tom", personal secretary for writing down ideas and to-do list items as I say them out loud, deadline dates, sending recap emails, creating calendar invites, etc.

What do you love most about the work that you do?

Getting to work with and learn from a variety of talented, driven individuals and being a part of this revolutionary process to provide an easy solution to a growing problem for manufacturers. In short: Being able to make a positive impact in others' lives.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Adaptability.

Nichole Carlson, Senior Executive Assistant

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

I've always wanted my own Rosie from the Jetsons to do all of my housework, especially folding the laundry.

What do you love most about the work that you do?

My coworkers and my boss!

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Magical scheduling abilities developed over 20 years of being an executive assistant.

Erin Veneziano, Director of People Operations

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

Oh, wow! I've named a lot of things in my life (cars, bikes, plants, etc.) and I would name my robot ガンダム (Gundam). It's only job would be to retrieve the cookies from the top shelf where my wife hides them!

What do you love most about the work that you do?

I have the privilege to work with truly amazing people that are focusing their energy on world-changing ideas and technology. Oh, and also, ROBOTS!

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Elemental-Telekinesis - I am one with my machine(s).

Megan McDonnell, Business Development

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

Mr. Buttons - It would fold my laundry (including those dang fitted sheets).

What do you love most about the work that you do?

Sharing the hope with a struggling owner of a company that they get the support they need to make automation possible.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Pattern Recognition.

Kristine Brooks, Vice President, Legal

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

Leslie - it's not gender specific, so I am not assigning any traditional/gender roles to it. And, really, if it could just keep up on my laundry, the dishwasher loading and unloading, and tidying up my closet, that would be life changing.

What do you love most about the work that you do?

Helping people take complicated legal tasks and issues and make them easier to understand and work with. Legal work doesn't have to be intimidating or complicated.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Remembering to breathe and know that everything works out just the way it is supposed to.

Amber Perkins, SDR

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

"Fresh Break" wash and Fold all of the endless uniforms and practice gear from my kids.

What do you love most about the work that you do?

Definitely, the intellectual conversations that take place daily. I learn and grow with each new connection.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Grit- it takes a combination of perseverance, focus, passion, and resilience.

Mandy Dwight, VP, Business Development

Mandy on a bench taking a selfie with a statue at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

The RMO is a rockstar in manufacturing but can it make donuts? Because that's one thing I always need more of in my life. Made it through a workout, just powered through all the mail in your inbox, it's your cat's birthday? Here's a donut. (Thanks, Fred, you're such a helpful RMO.)

What do you love most about the work that you do?

This makes me a complete nerd but I love talking about automation-- especially the really game-changing stuff with others who are equally passionate about the industry. Luckily in my day to day work, I not only get to talk about the latest and greatest technologies but I get to walk the factory floor to see automation in action. I learn something new every day and I hope that never changes.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Multitasking. In a fast moving startup, you wear a lot of hats and need to balance many tasks to make sure that everything gets done. I'm so thankful for this superpower as it's allowed me to work at some of the most exciting robotics companies in the world.

Justine Ramos, Director of Talent

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

Picasso - Latte art

What do you love most about the work that you do?

Recruiting is not just a job for me; it's a passion. I love meeting people from different backgrounds and experiences and connecting them with an opportunity to work on exciting challenges helping transform an industry.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

A love for learning about people.

Claire Gauthier, Product Manager

Claire in the Presidio at sunset, with the Golden Gate behind her.

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

Sue Chef, she would be able to chop all of my vegetables to help me while cooking and allow me to specify the size based on what I'm cooking.

What do you love most about the work that you do?

I like getting to work across many different functions and teams at Rapid.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Curiosity.

Jaime Chong, Visual Design Lead

Jaime smiling in front of a curtain of light.

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

HAL. By day, they'd be an in-home model for impromptu marketing photoshoots and measurements. By night, they'd make a great percussionist while I practice ukulele.

What do you love most about the work that you do?

I get to tackle interesting challenges and communicate complex topics using a universal, visual language (and pepper in some delight here and there).

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Memorizing Hex color codes and distinguishing between many shades of red.

Kimberly Wandell, Recruiting Coordinator/Talent Ops

Kimberly enjoying a hike along the seaside.

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

"Gordon" -- an excellent sous chef that can prep and chop veggies, peel garlic, knead dough, etc...but also with task switching available for reaching things up high, and also who can deny a good back scratch?

What do you love most about the work that you do?

Making sure everyone has the best possible experience on their candidate journey. Working for a company with amazing people, technology, and mission.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

Adaptability, always learning, and persistence.

Devayani Borse, Supply Chain Manager

If you had your own personal RMO (Rapid Machine Operator), what would their name be and what job would they have?

Yogi - Job will be to cook healthy food.

What do you love most about the work that you do?

I like many things like opportunities to collaborate, contribute, help others & challenge myself to excel professionally & become better version everyday.

What superpower do you use on a daily basis?

My ability to respond swiftly & manage challenging situations calmly.