Brandi O'Harra

I attribute my success to a commitment to leaving a meaningful legacy and positively impacting the people I encounter along the way. I believe every interaction—whether professional or personal—is an opportunity to make someone feel valued and supported. I often encourage my children to connect with as many people as they can and to aim to leave others feeling better than they did at the start of the conversation. In my work, I try to bring positivity wherever I go by greeting people, smiling, introducing myself, and offering help when needed. One of the most rewarding moments was when my daughter attended her first large Grainger event and met many individuals who spoke highly of how I had supported them over the years—many of which I didn’t even remember because helping others simply felt natural to me. Experiences like that reinforce my belief that true networking isn’t just about opportunity; it’s about uplifting people and making a lasting, positive impact wherever you go.

The best career advice I ever received came from my husband. Early in my time at Grainger, my leader asked what I wanted to do next, and I initially said I didn’t want his job because I preferred being fully responsible for my own results. When I shared this with my husband during our usual Friday happy hour, he asked me what I truly enjoyed doing. I told him that people were my passion—I loved getting to know them, helping them grow, and learning from them. He then asked me a simple question: “What does a good leader do?” In that moment, everything clicked. I realized that leadership was exactly where my passion belonged. He also gave me another piece of advice that has stayed with me ever since: you can either let your career run you, or you can take control and run your career yourself. That perspective changed the way I approached my professional journey and has guided every major career decision I’ve made since.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to be confident and comfortable with who you are. Never compromise your morals, integrity, or values, even if it means walking away from a situation without having the next step fully lined up—doing what is right will always pay off in the long run. It’s also important to be competent and prepared, because you will be tested. Stand firm in what you believe is right and don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by anyone, regardless of their position. Respect in this industry is often earned through having honest, sometimes difficult conversations, holding people accountable, and providing feedback with genuine care and good intent. Those moments may create discomfort or conflict, but they also lead to growth. When you approach leadership and communication from a place of authenticity and purpose, you not only earn respect professionally, but you also have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives both inside and outside of work.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is that it has traditionally been male-dominated, especially due to its strong connection to manufacturing. While opportunities for women have improved, there is still a need to prove expertise and challenge outdated assumptions about women’s capabilities in technical areas. At the same time, this presents an opportunity for women to stand up for themselves, advocate for fairness, and demonstrate their value. By confidently showing their knowledge and supporting one another, women can help shift the culture and drive meaningful progress within the industry.

The values most important to me are mutual respect, accountability, being faith grounded, integrity, honesty, and transparency. Faith is huge in my life - I'm very faith-driven. These values guide everything I do, both professionally and personally. They're the foundation for how I interact with people, how I lead, and how I make decisions. When I hold people accountable and have those tough conversations, it always comes from a place of good intent rooted in these values. That's what allows me to impact people not just at work but in their actual lives.