At five years old, Jina-Lin O’Donnell discovered the magic of welding – inspiring her to take on a special trade that had lived within her family for years.
“My family used to own a CNC Fabrication and Welding shop, so when my dad picked me up after preschool, and took me to the shop, my school clothes were usually covered in oil. After he passed away when I was six, my mom sold the business, but I kind of always had a knack for taking stuff apart, fixing things, and sometimes tools would go missing from the garage only for my mom to find them in my Barbie house.”
Joining the 7.5% of female welders in the country when she was 17 years old, Jina-Lin has always been interested in sharing her passion with others – something she has accomplished as a welding instructor at The Walter Hive, where she volunteers to teach Girl Scouts, while sharing more about her professional journey.
“I never thought I would be in a position to teach people what I know. It feels good, and I make it my mission to make sure girls experience positive and impactful things. I want them to know that if I could do it, so can they.”
If you see her in action, leading a workshop, holding a torch confidently, and courageously standing behind melting metal, you’ll realize she gives off Girl Scout vibes, and that’s because she is a fellow Girl Scout Sister!
From a Daisy to a Junior, Jina-Lin vividly remembers her Girl Scouting years in Wisconsin. From the sense of belonging she experienced, to the friendships and memories she created.
“Being in Girl Scouts empowered me to feel like I had a voice, to feel like I had a place, and take up the space I believed I deserved. So, stepping into a male dominated field and role, I already had what was/is fundamental to succeed in an industry like this, which is my confidence.”
Jina-Lin practiced her craft as a certified welding inspector for many years until landing her current role as a plant manager. With her leadership, she is now hiring other female welders, and expanding gender diversity and inclusion in the welding industry. So next time you visit The Walter Hive, you might see Jina-Lin doing what she does best: weld, inspire, and make the world a better place.
Published in the 2023 winter issue of Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council’s Girl Scout Connections.