Sometimes the best career moves happen by accident. Madison Keck didn’t plan to work in PLM — but once she landed on the Nikola PLM team, she jumped in with both feet. In just a few months, she went from learning the ropes to leading trainings and solving system-wide challenges. Now, she’s tackling process optimization at a new company and sharing her expertise as a member of the COE Board of Directors.
COE: Can you share your journey to this industry and to your current role?
Madison Keck (MK): Honestly, I completely stumbled into my new role. I joined the Nikola PLM team knowing nothing about PLM, but I dove headfirst into learning the 3DExperience platform so I could help others get onboarded and comfortable with the system. Within just two months, I was leading weekly training sessions for new employees and answering user questions as they began working in 3DX.
Over time, I noticed the same issues coming up repeatedly. That inspired me to think about how we could improve the platform itself — making it more intuitive and preventing recurring problems. This mindset led me to a new role on the vehicle integration team as their first configuration manager. My job was to optimize EBOM and MBOM processes, ensuring accurate data and smooth collaboration between teams (easier said than done!). I quickly identified bottlenecks and worked to increase efficiency across the board. I now work at a different company, working on the same business process problems that I encountered before!
COE: What do you enjoy most about your current role?
MK: I love that my work connects me with every team, all working toward a common goal. I get to make processes smoother and help make everyone’s workday easier. Having worked in multiple industries, I’ve seen that PLM challenges are universal — so it’s rewarding to help solve them.
COE: You are newly serving on the COE Board of Directors. What made you choose to join, and what do you hope to accomplish?
MK: I chose to join the COE Board because COExperience has been the single most valuable source of professional connections for me. Conversations there about shared challenges and solutions have given me insights I couldn’t have found anywhere else. Many of those event connections have grown into ongoing relationships — monthly calls or quick texts asking for ideas to solve specific problems. I’m always happy to share, because I’ve been on the other side of those challenges too.
COE: What advice would you have for someone interested in pursuing a role in this industry?
MK: Jump in headfirst to any problem. The best way to learn is to shadow someone and truly understand their process — how and why they work the way they do. It’s easy to assume another team is “doing it wrong,” but until you’ve walked in their shoes for a week, you won’t fully understand their challenges. Learn the current process inside and out before suggesting improvements.
COE: What are some highlights of your time as a COE member?
MK: COExperience is the obvious highlight — it’s always a great time connecting with everyone. But some of my most valuable moments have happened outside the event, during brainstorming sessions with peers from other companies, tackling the same problems from different angles.
COE: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
MK: Outside of work, I’m usually working on DIY projects at home, running with my dogs, baking or chipping away at my MBA program. I like to keep busy!
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