Influential Woman · Telecommunications

Deidra Schulz

Lead Project Coordinator, Project Resources Group, Inc.

Austin, TX

11Years experience

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree High School Diploma Degree Vista Ridge High School Degree Cedar Park Degree Texas

Her Story

About Deidra

I've been working in telecommunications and project management for about 10 years now. I initially started out in customer service, working in the mortgage industry and for Texas DPS, but during the housing collapse we had layoffs and I had to go through a temp agency. After a few job offers, I finally landed at KGI Wireless, and they gave me an amazing opportunity. I started out as an admin assistant there, and within 8 months I had worked my way up to a project coordinator, assisting electrical engineers, civil and structural engineers in the telecom industry. I stayed there for quite some time and that's where I learned everything that I know. KGI was an amazing company. From there, I landed at Convergent, a global systems integration company that connected the telecom world to installing fire alarms, security systems, and things like that for major businesses like Health and Human Services. Now I'm here with CRG as a project coordinator handling small business accounts in partnership with Google Fiber. It's been a great journey. Today, my work involves a lot of communication between our client, Google Fiber, and the actual customers. I have to ensure that the communication lines between both parties is never convoluted, whether that's emails, instant messages, phone calls, or text messages. I have a portfolio right now of about 30 accounts in Austin and about half of that in San Antonio, and it's going to grow as Google Fiber is expanding their market through Kyle, Buda, and other areas. One great thing that I appreciate is that I'm able to actually go shake hands and meet the people, the owners of these small businesses, and build that rapport with them so that they know they're in good hands and that I will do everything within my power to ensure that the process from setup to installation is as streamlined as possible.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Deidra

01What do you attribute your success to?

Honestly, my faith in God. I just got baptized last Sunday, not this past Sunday but last Sunday. Both of my parents, unfortunately, have already passed away, but they were very spiritual, religious people, and they instilled in me lots of things that I will never forget, and I was finally ready to dedicate my life to God, and it felt great. I know that my parents are proud of me. My parents raised me to show my love and appreciation for others. I do tell complete strangers that I love them and people think I'm completely crazy, but it's like, you know, human to human, I appreciate you, and I love you. That's kind of how I move, that's how my mom raised me, and my heart is huge. I have a huge heart, and I don't know how to be any other way, but that's just something that I wholeheartedly believe in.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say invest in yourself outside of whatever career path you choose, because that's going to be the best way to ensure that you're an asset in any field that you choose. The telecom industry is a really hard industry to break into, it's like sink or swim, and there were lots of days where I didn't think I was gonna make it, but I had a great support system to start with, and it just really motivated me to keep going and learn as much as I can on my own, so that when the next opportunity arises, I will be ready.

03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Making genuine connections with people is most important to me. For a long time, I wasn't able to do that, for whatever reason. I love being able to make genuine connections with people and kind of spotlight others' talents in the process with no want or need for anything in return other than, you know, next time you see me, just say hey or whatever, and we keep it moving. I like to reciprocate what I receive, so in order for me to receive the things that I want, I have to show that, and I believe in showing that through my actions. Empowering other women is really something that's close to my heart. I feel like our community, and I'm not just speaking of African American community, I'm talking about the community of women, I feel like there's a lot of room for growth in appreciation of each other's gifts and talents. I want to show others how I was raised, to show my love and appreciation.

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