Her Story
About Cynthia
I graduated with an industrial engineering major and a master's degree in engineering management. I started in aerospace as an engineer for about 20 years, moving from engineering products to quality manager and then Six Sigma black belt roles focused on productivity. For the past 5 years, I've been in operations management at Louis Vuitton's repair center, managing 30 direct reports and overseeing repairs for leather goods, jewelry, ready-to-wear clothing, and other categories to ensure customer satisfaction.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cynthia
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success is mainly due to effective communication. Having strong communication skills is very important because we have to work with everybody, not just upper management but people on the floor, to get things done. It's important to relay your message at every single level of the company.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I received from a mentor is that success in a company isn't just about what you accomplish by yourself, but how you accomplish it through collaboration with other departments. The more you collaborate, the more it highlights your work, helps you expand your network, build relationships, and create a team bond environment.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't get discouraged because your career isn't always trending up. Keep doing your best every single time. Find your strengths in both soft skills and technical skills, develop them to a different level, and keep learning to become a better professional and do a better job.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In a very big company like Louis Vuitton, the challenge is getting your work shared and being recognized because there are so many people working there that it's hard to get yourself visible. Networking is pretty key and that's what we're working on right now.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect is number one. Also team building and collaboration. I'm very structured and like to plan ahead so nothing is missed. Integrity is important - make sure you do what you do with integrity and do your best.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.