Chana Watkins

"I attribute my success to being willing to bet on myself. Whether it's building businesses, learning new skills, or overcoming personal obstacles, I've never been afraid to start before I felt completely ready. Faith, perseverance, and a commitment to serving others have been the foundation of everything I've accomplished."

"The best career advice I've ever received was to stop waiting until I felt ready. Some of the biggest opportunities in my life came before I felt fully qualified or prepared. I've learned that growth happens when you step into challenges, trust your ability to learn, and remain willing to do the work. Every role I've taken on, from ministry and education to industrial sales and entrepreneurship, required me to learn as I went. If I had waited until I felt ready, I would have missed many of the opportunities that shaped who I am today."

"Don't let being new, young, or one of the few women in the room convince you that your voice doesn't belong there. Learn your industry, ask questions, and never be afraid to admit when you don't know something. Competence builds confidence. Show up prepared, follow through on your commitments, and let your work speak for itself.

Also, don't limit yourself based on what you think your career should look like. Some of the best opportunities come from taking chances, learning new skills, and being willing to step outside your comfort zone. The industries that need more women are often the ones where your perspective can make the biggest difference."

"I believe the greatest challenge, and greatest opportunity, is workforce development. We need more skilled professionals entering the trades, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. There is incredible demand for welders, technicians, inspectors, and industry specialists, but not enough people are being exposed to these careers early enough.

That's also where the opportunity lies. By investing in training, mentorship, and education, we can build stronger businesses, create life, changing careers, and help address a critical workforce shortage. It's one of the reasons I'm passionate about both industrial sales and developing training opportunities for the next generation."

"The values that guide both my work and personal life are faith, integrity, humility, and perseverance. I believe in doing what I say I'm going to do, treating people with respect, and approaching every challenge with a willingness to learn and grow.

Integrity is especially important to me because trust is the foundation of every relationship, whether it's with a customer, a colleague, a friend, or family. Humility keeps me teachable, and perseverance reminds me to keep moving forward even when circumstances are difficult.

My faith has also taught me the importance of serving others, leading with compassion, and recognizing that success is about more than personal achievement. It's about making a positive impact on the people and communities around you."