Portrait of Ashlie Taivalkoski

From Farm Life to Factory Floors

I grew up on a working farm with three older brothers, a Mohawk Iroquois mother who taught me fierceness and self-belief, and a father who managed a paper plant by day and was a part-time farmer. Our house was filled with elbow grease, high expectations, and mutual respect. I was expected to pull my weight, fix what was broken, and believe I was just as capable as anyone else.

I didn't grow up dreaming about robots. I dreamed of stability, of opportunity - and of earning my place in the world. After high school, I paid my own way through community college while working full-time in manufacturing. Every decision I made was guided by grit, curiosity, and a desire to make things better.

The Spark That Lit the Fuse

My path to automation sales began when I saw my first SCHUNK product at an SME event in Chicago. I was instantly drawn to the brilliance of technology that could bring safety and efficiency to even the toughest environments. I knew I had to be part of it.

In the early 2000s, a family friend offered a sales role - intended for my husband. He declined, but recommended me instead. That moment changed everything, and I've been working in robotics automation ever since.

People Power Progress

Technology doesn't drive itself - people do. A robot and its code sitting in a warehouse is just expensive hardware until a team of people brings it to life. The same is true of leadership. True innovation happens when we build diverse, collaborative teams where every voice matters.

As a woman in automation, I'm passionate about breaking down traditional gender roles and creating environments where young women can see themselves as leaders, builders, and changemakers.

Paving the Way Forward

At SCHUNK, I lead a sales team that solves complex challenges alongside integrators and manufacturers across the country. I'm grateful to be part of a company that supports women's voices and encourages leadership that reflects resilience, inclusion, and action.

Let's build an industry where talent, drive, and creativity - not gender - define success. Because the future of automation isn't just about smarter machines. It's about stronger, more connected teams of people driving them forward-together.

Find out more about IFR's initiative "Women in Robotics".