Megan Chong, UI/UX Designer
Megan Chong has been at Toyota Connected North America for more than two years and was a former intern while studying Behavioral Neuroscience at Northeastern University. She is a UI/UX Designer working on the latest generation of Toyota Audio Multimedia and Lexus Interface, which are launching on the 2026 Toyota RAV4 and 2026 Lexus ES.
Megan Chong, UI/UX Designer
In her role, she collaborates with her team in Plano, Texas, as well as colleagues from Toyota Motor North America, Toyota Connected Japan and Toyota Connected Europe. Megan and her team go well beyond making things “look good.” They strive to create meaningful user-centered products and services, constantly seeking to understand and address common pain points with the goal of building better in- and out-of-car experiences for Toyota and Lexus customers.
When she’s not creating intuitive and effective design, Megan exercises her creative passions through playing the violin (or guitar or piano), participating in speed puzzling competitions, and hiking.
Alyssa Simon, DevOps Engineer
Alyssa Simon is a DevOps Engineer within the TechOps department at Toyota Connected North America. She’s been part of the team for more than four years and brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. A typical day in Alyssa’s world involves working with her fellow Cloud Engineering peers to support, maintain and optimize the use of many third-party tools, such as GitLab and Argo CD. It’s an essential function because many working groups at Toyota Connected rely on these tools to do their jobs.
Alyssa Simon, DevOps Engineer
She and her husband are avid sports fans and enjoy spending time with their two dogs. Alyssa was a competitive figure skater for seven years and once shared the ice with Olympic Gold Medalist Tara Lipinski, but she’s hung up her skates in favor of her newest prized possession: golf clubs.
Umaymah Sultana, Software Engineer
Umaymah Sultana is a Software Engineer who works on the navigation portion of Toyota Connected’s in-house developed Virtual Assistant, which is part of the Toyota Audio Multimedia and Lexus Interface systems. She’s been part of the team for more than two years, and like Megan, was also an intern. Her day is split between heads-down working on coding, testing her work on vehicle head units to see how changes impact the Voice Assistant for our customers, and meeting with coworkers about upcoming projects. Add in a few midday coffee runs to stay fueled, and she’s got a packed schedule.
Outside of the office, Umaymah loves all things outdoors – whether she’s hiking in U.S. national parks, waking up early for sunrises, or staying out late to stargaze. She’s also bilingual with plans to add to the list. She speaks both English and Bangla (Bengali), but also understands Arabic, minored in Spanish during her time at the University of Texas at Dallas, and will soon take Japanese language classes.
We asked Megan, Alyssa and Umaymah to share their experiences in STEM and offer up advice for other women who may be considering the field:
What has your experience been like as a woman in the STEM field?
Megan: My experience has been both rewarding and, at times, challenging. I’ve found that being detail-oriented and empathetic has allowed me to thrive. I’ve gradually learned to advocate for my ideas with confidence and have been fortunate to work with teams who value inclusion and have mutual respect for what everyone brings to the table. I am always amazed at the work everyone does here, and I can confidently say I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else or with anyone else.
Alyssa: At first it was a bit intimidating, but over time, I’ve come to see that one of the most exciting aspects of working in STEM is the challenge. It’s a constantly evolving field where you’re always learning and growing. While some obstacles have been tougher than others, each one has been equally rewarding and has pushed me to grow both technically and personally. Having colleagues who are supportive and willing to have each others’ backs is a huge part of what makes working at Toyota Connected so great.
Umaymah: As a woman in STEM, specifically in tech, I’ve experienced “imposter syndrome” periodically since I don’t always see many other women surrounding me. However, the great thing about Toyota Connected is the Women in Tech BPG (Business Partnering Group) that allows us to share experiences and work on crossing hurdles together. I’ve also found that mentorship greatly helps boost confidence in navigating spaces in the engineering world.
Why is it important to have more women in STEM?
Megan: Women bring different perspectives, skill sets and approaches to problem-solving in the workplace, allowing for more innovation. Overall, I feel the UX (user experience) space is becoming more inclusive, which will help open more doors for anyone who is interested in entering the industry.
Alyssa: Having more women in this field can offer unique insights and experiences that can challenge the status quo and drive progress in meaningful ways.
Umaymah: Having more women in the field introduces diversity not just in identity but also in thought, experience and approach to the way we do things. This can lead to more robust problem-solving because you’re adding in new perspectives.
What career advice would you share with young women who want to pursue a job in STEM?
Megan: Sometimes it can be challenging to find your voice, especially early on in your career. Just know that there are people who will be supportive and constructive during your journey. Don’t be afraid to pioneer new ways of doing things and be sure to encourage others to do the same.
Alyssa: Curiosity is one of your greatest strengths in this field, so ask questions — even if you feel like everyone else already knows the answer. Surround yourself with people who support you, seek out mentors when you can, and remember that your perspective is valuable. You absolutely belong here.
Umaymah: Everyone should feel empowered to show their personality and unique skills and talents when pursuing any job, whether in a STEM field or not. Don’t let anything stop you from being the representation you wish to see.
About International Women in Engineering Day
International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated annually on June 23 to honor the outstanding contributions of women engineers and to encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.
