From Tinkerer to Tech Leader: Marzell Brown’s Journey
Advice: “Always be open to trying new things. Failing in the process of getting something done is just part of the process…Be a big sponge.”
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Marzell Brown was always curious about how things worked. He loved to tinker and take things apart, driven by an innate desire to understand the mechanics behind everyday objects. But as a young man with no immediate family members who had attended college, the path to engineering wasn’t immediately obvious.
It was through two pivotal mentoring relationships that Marzell first discovered his calling. As a teenager, he joined a junior organization of the Masons, where he met an engineer who introduced him to fascinating gadgets and projects. Around the same time, his cousin, who was attending Kent State for education, suggested he consider engineering as a career. These seeds of possibility were planted late in his high school years, but they would change the course of his life.
Marzell’s journey to engineering school almost took a different turn. His high school counselor had advised him to join the military, and he had signed up for service. However, his father, who worked at a printing press, intervened. Despite his “limited view of the world,” as Marcel describes it, his father believed his son was destined for something different. It was a decision that would prove fortuitous in ways neither could have imagined at the time.
Applying late to college, Marzell was accepted to Case Western Reserve University. There, during his sophomore year, he met the woman who would become his wife, making his father’s intervention feel like “a blessing in disguise.” After graduating in 1996 with a degree in electrical engineering, Marzell began his career at Motorola in Chicago. But his strong family ties – having been raised by his grandmother and great-grandmother – eventually drew him back to Cleveland in 1999, where he joined Rockwell Automation as a software engineer.
At Rockwell, Marzell’s career evolved in unexpected ways. What began as a technical role expanded when he helped establish two STEM schools in Cleveland and initiated Rockwell’s high school internship program. His passion for education and mentoring led him to a unique position in academic enablement, where he now helps schools across the country access the latest technology and curriculum in advanced manufacturing and robotics.
Today, Marzell works to ensure that students – particularly those who, like his younger self, might not have obvious pathways to engineering – have opportunities to explore technology and innovation. He’s a strong advocate for early exposure to STEM, believing that children can begin engaging with problem-solving and programming concepts as early as age two. Through his work with organizations like FIRST Robotics, the National Society of Black Engineers, and various STEM ecosystems, he strives to make technology education accessible to all students.
Marzell’s advice to young people reflects his own journey: “Always be open to trying new things. Failing in the process of getting something done is just part of the process.” He encourages students to be “big sponges,” absorbing everything around them and not limiting themselves to just one area of interest. His story stands as a testament to the power of mentorship, the importance of early exposure to STEM, and the impact that one person’s journey can have on countless others.
Working at Rockwell Automation, a company of approximately 26,000 employees where nearly 98% are engineers, Marzell has found a perfect alignment between his personal mission and his professional role. His work helps bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring that the next generation of engineers, technicians, and critical thinkers has access to the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.