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Dasha Tyshlek: Excellence Over Perfection - Elephant in the Room Podcast
Feb 28th, 2023
In an era where cutting-edge technology often dominates conversation, it’s easy to forget the importance of human relationships. Dasha Tyshlek, Director of Business Development at Micro-Ant, shared her thoughts on relationship-building’s critical role in driving innovation, particularly in highly technical industries. In her interview on the Elephant in the Room podcast, hosted by Carrie Pena and sponsored by Adopt Technologies, Dasha explored how her journey in engineering, coupled with a passion for collaboration, has helped Micro-Ant create custom antenna solutions that are revolutionizing industries. This blog post highlights the key takeaways from their conversation. It emphasizes the importance of people-first approaches in advancing technology.
What is Micro-Ant and What Do They Do?
Micro-Ant specializes in designing and manufacturing custom antennas that operate in the microwave frequency spectrum. Their antennas are crucial in creating reliable and efficient wireless connections, from satellite communication to agricultural positioning systems. As Dasha explains, “Antennas are everywhere,” whether it’s a Bluetooth mouse or a device communicating with satellites over polar regions.
However, unlike standard antennas, Micro-Ant focuses on solving complex challenges that require highly specialized solutions. Their technology helps industries like agriculture, mining, and transportation operate with precision, often in challenging environments. Micro-Ant’s unique approach to antenna design is backed by rigorous testing and validation, ensuring its products meet the highest standards of excellence.
The Journey into Engineering and Manufacturing
Dasha’s path into the world of antennas wasn’t conventional, but a passion for project-based work and hands-on manufacturing drove it. After graduating from engineering school, she gravitated toward industries that allowed her to engage with physical products and complex technologies. A pivotal moment came when she was introduced to Micro-Ant’s CEO through a mutual connection. This meeting made her realize that her skills and passion for strategic planning, customer engagement, and manufacturing could perfectly fit the antenna industry.
“At Micro-Ant, we understand that most people aren’t exposed to antenna technology in engineering school,” Dasha says. “But we’re not looking for people who know everything about antennas. We teach our team the ins and outs of the technology, regardless of their background.”
Fostering a Collaborative Company Culture
One of the most unique aspects of Micro-Ant’s culture is the emphasis on collaboration across all levels of the organization. Whether you’re an engineer or part of the production team, the company strives to ensure everyone understands the products and the value they bring to customers. Dasha highlights the importance of relationship-building within the company: “We focus on ensuring our work environment is enjoyable and inclusive for everyone.”
The antenna class taught by Micro-Ant’s founder is a key initiative that fosters this collaborative culture. This class ensures that every employee, regardless of their role, learns about antennas and how they function. This knowledge-sharing approach helps bridge the gap between the experts and the broader team, making everyone feel connected and invested in the company’s success.
In addition, the leadership team embodies the concept of servant leadership. “Our leadership team has been trained to make lattes and serve them to the team in our company café,” Dasha shares. This small but powerful gesture reinforces the idea that everyone, including the executives, is part of the same team, working toward a common goal.
Excellence vs. Perfection: A Balanced Approach to Innovation
A central theme in Dasha’s career is the distinction between striving for excellence and chasing perfection. As an engineer and an artist, she believes perfection is often an unrealistic and judgmental concept, while excellence is about continuous improvement. “Excellence is a moving target,” Dasha explains. “It’s not about being perfect; it’s about always progressing toward something better.”
This mindset is essential in the tech-driven world of antenna design, where innovation and agility are key. Micro-Ant’s rigorous testing processes ensure that its products are reliable, but the company also understands that an obsession with perfection can’t stifle innovation. Instead, they focus on evolving their technology and processes to stay at the cutting edge of the industry.
Bringing Technology to Smaller Markets
One of the projects Dasha is most excited about is Micro-Ant’s Precision GPS/GNSS antennas. This technology provides millimeter-level accuracy for positioning systems, making it invaluable in agriculture, mining, and surveying industries. Traditionally, this technology has only been available to larger companies, as the costs associated with distribution and tariffs made it inaccessible to smaller players.
Micro-Ant is now revolutionizing this process by offering the technology directly to small and mid-sized farmers through a new website. “A single deployment of this system on a large farm can reduce fertilizer and pesticide use by up to 30%,” Dasha notes, highlighting the environmental and financial benefits. By making this technology more affordable and accessible, Micro-Ant is helping smaller farms compete with large-scale operations, leveling the playing field in a significant way.
Balancing Personal Growth and Professional Success
Dasha’s journey is deeply influenced by her mother, whom she describes as her role model. Growing up in a household that valued education and continuous learning, Dasha was inspired to pursue excellence in all aspects of her life. This drive for self-improvement has been a guiding force in her career, and she believes that investing in oneself—whether through education, mentorship, or artistic pursuits—ultimately leads to success.
As both an engineer and an artist, Dasha has found balance by channeling her creative energy into her work. Her artistic background has helped her develop patience and a positive mindset, skills essential in her personal and professional life. “Art taught me that perfection is unachievable, but excellence is something we can always work toward,” she says.
As Dasha continues to lead the business development efforts at Micro-Ant and beyond, her commitment to excellence, accessibility, and continuous learning ensures that Micro-Ant will remain at the forefront of the antenna industry for years to come. To hear her full story, listen to Dasha’s episode of the Elephant in the Room podcast.
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