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There’s a story within every #MyRichmondFed employee. We asked Brittany Hayes five questions about her journey from college to a test engineer for a currency technology program.

What was your career path to the Richmond Fed?

I went to Virginia Tech where I majored in biology and minored in chemistry. Now I’m at the Richmond Fed as a test engineer. Before the Fed, I was doing machine testing at a pharmaceutical plant. It’s kind of the same thing that I do now, but in a very different environment. Most of the packaging equipment at my previous company ran at much slower speeds. I was astonished when I heard how fast the cash processing machines at the Fed were. These machines and sensors make hundreds of decisions to evaluate a single banknote in such a short amount of time; the technology is quite impressive. Previously, if I were to reach into my pocket and pull out a $1 note, I may have looked at it for a second, then would hand it off to pay for what I needed. Now, when I look at a $1 note, I see all the processes, years of refinement, innovation and testing it took to get that banknote into my hand. It's quite remarkable, actually.

You recently went to Munich to meet with a vendor for work. What were the highlights of your trip?

Most of our time was spent in the testing lab. It was exciting to see the new software and hardware features in person. It also allowed us to see any issues that arose or any enhancements that needed to be made. It is always extremely beneficial to collaborate with our engineering counterparts in person. The knowledge transfer both ways was invaluable. 

Outside of work, we were able to take time to explore Germany's culture. We joined a member of the vendor team to Garmisch-Partenkirchen to hike Partnachklamm and enjoyed panoramic views of the Alps. It was truly a life-changing experience. 

What do you find most exciting when thinking about the future of cash, technological advances and innovation as it relates to your career?

The other day in testing, I came across a $1 banknote from 1923. A note that was printed over a century ago, and yet, holds the same exact value of a $1 banknote printed today, which is one of the reasons cash remains one of the top preferred payment methods. From a technological standpoint, since the value remains the same, it allows the flexibility to implement new authentication features, thresholds and designs while still being able to slowly phase out the older series of notes. That's when working in currency technology becomes very fascinating. Various trends are analyzed daily across the Federal Reserve System, and if a change is required, my group is the first to test and evaluate the impact of that change.

What are some of the resources and/or mentorship advice you have received from other women in technology since you’ve been at the Fed? 

I tend to be overly critical of myself, especially in my work. This usually results in imposter syndrome, where I don't believe I actually deserve recognition for some of the things I've accomplished. I remember hearing our First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Becky Bareford speak to a small group of Virginia Tech finance students about her journey at the Federal Reserve. One piece of her story that really stood out was that she was approached with a new leadership opportunity completely outside of the role she was in at the time. Her story really resonated with me to be confident in the things I have accomplished and all the things I have yet to tackle. Being a successful woman starts with believing in yourself enough to explore the unknown.

You’re a career champion, too. What advice do you have for early career talent?

Be open to wherever your career takes you. You may graduate and have an idea of what you want to do, but you should follow where your journey leads you. Be open to any kind of experience to learn something new. At age 21, I thought for sure I would spend the rest of my life in genetic research. And here I am, doing engineering work on a Systemwide program for the Federal Reserve.