Furthering his education was always a priority for Binder Wash Water Operator, Joel Wood, at CertainTeed Insulation in Chowchilla, California. The support and financial assistance he received to finish his degree helped Joel maximize his potential!

Saint-Gobain is an industry leader with thousands of talented team members who are dedicated to one unified purpose: Making the World a Better Home. With more than 160 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada, there are so many robust and fulfilling career opportunities available. You’ll have the opportunity to work with colleagues from a wide range of businesses, cultures, and experiences.

About Success in the Making

Anyone can be a manufacturer! Whether you are just starting out or transitioning your career path, the manufacturing industry presents opportunities for success. Saint-Gobain North America’s Success in the Making series features the stories of team members who built their careers in manufacturing and thrived!

Watch the full Success in the Making series on YouTube.

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024 
More than 161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries 
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 

We’re proud to expand our partnership with Students 2 Science to provide over 450,000 New Jersey students with hands-on experiences and career guidance to shape their futures in STEM. 

Students 2 Science is on a mission to level the education gap by bringing high-quality STEM education to students in need. As part of our longstanding relationship, our PSEG Foundation has awarded them with a $250,000 grant to support an expansion of their STEM programs Improving Student and Aptitude for Careers in STEM (ISAAC) and the Career Advancement Program. 

This expansion will allow Students 2 Science to run 300 elementary school sessions, 300 middle and high school ISAAC days and a summer program for students in grades 3-12. 

Visit http://spr.ly/60410nc6F to learn more.

View original content here.

Originally published on Principal.com

Modernizing technology is all about reimagining how we enable business processes and how we improve customers’ experiences.

That’s Beth’s job. But she adds an element: Modernizing the way we work at Principal® and the makeup of our team—supporting a more gender-inclusive workforce in a traditionally male-dominated field.

See what she has to say about her role and experiences as a woman in tech.

How did you get into IT at Principal, and what’s your role today? 

I was moving to Des Moines, Iowa, and was eager to work at a large company like Principal; I knew the brand. I originally started in project management.

I wanted to get more aligned with my technical background, so I moved into technology leadership—first in the department I was in, then in sales compensation, then in our actuarial modernization program. The latter broadened into a larger role leading finance modernization.

Today, I lead the engineering teams that support our retirement transformation initiatives.

I’ve moved around a ton but have always enjoyed being a part of our tech community.

What excites you about the work? 

I really enjoy modernization and transformation—the projects that look at how our people, process, and technology need to adapt to what our customers are expecting from us.

Principal has been in business for 145 years and is becoming more digital; it’s fraught with challenges but also really rewarding to bring changes to life.

What’s been your experience with work-life balance?

I’m mom to two middle-schoolers. It takes some work to find the right balance. But Principal does a really nice job of providing an environment where you can be there for your children and still bring your best to work every day. I couldn’t be successful in either thing—parenting or work—without the flexibility we have.

How have you felt supported as a woman in tech at Principal? 

Principal is the first place I observed a woman in the chief information officer role. Having a woman to look up to at that level of leadership was unique—relative to other places I’d worked—and shaped my career aspirations.

Of course, our current senior leadership team has many strong women. I think it continues to set us apart.

And how have you helped support others? 

I try to double down: We’ve got great women in leadership. What can we do to keep supporting that trend?

I’m happy to invest my time and do everything I can to coach someone with potential to be everything they can be and not doubt themselves.

Principal® is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and an E-Verify participant. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion or religious creed, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic partner status, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also prohibit harassment on these bases.

Know your rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (dol.gov)

If at any stage of the employment application process you need a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, contact Human Resources at MyHR@principal.com or 1-866-524-6947. Read our employment policies for more information.

Recruitment fraud is a scheme that offers fictitious job opportunities to people. This type of fraud is normally done through online services such as bogus websites, social media, or through unsolicited emails/SMS texts claiming to be from Principal or Principal employees. Only applicants who have filled out an official application on our career site (careers.principal.com) will be considered for employment opportunities. Principal will never ask for money during any stage of the employment application process. If you receive a communication (e.g., LinkedIn message, Facebook Messenger, SMS text, personal email, etc.) asking for money or personal financial information, don’t engage or respond. Please contact our Human Resources team at MyHR@principal.com or 1-866-524-6947, and your local law enforcement. For more information, review our recruitment fraud information.

You can find our U.S. workforce privacy notice here.

Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Company®, a member of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392.

4065790-122024

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.