Her Story
About Elsie
I have been in the manufacturing industry for 20 years, working as a manufacturing associate, then to Shift Manager. I specialize in leadership training, health and safety training, and team building. I take a group or team and work on the whole culture to get it to be whatever the company may want. For example, I recently inherited a new team and had to change the culture through teamwork, collaboration, and working one-on-one with employees. I do one-on-ones with the employees, evaluate them, and put them into key roles to benefit the company. My most notable achievement was taking on the newest and youngest team, where the employees were right out of high school and only about 10 out of 35 had been there 5 plus years, with everybody else being there from starting to about a year. I took that team and had them come out on top with the highest key performance percentages. It took some time, but we definitely got there and I'm very proud of that accomplishment. I recently left Saint-Gobain CertainTeed am currently in transition, looking for my next career move in the manufacturing industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Elsie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would definitely attribute my success to God, first and foremost. By the grace of God, I know he's the only one that got me through even the hardest days. Definitely my family's support, who has been there to encourage me and give me great feedback, advice, and just had that support. It's very important to have a support system, especially in that field. Thankfully, a lot of my support system, my brothers, I had two older brothers, so they were hard on me, so I was a little bit roughed up when I first started, but definitely making sure that you have a good family or support system has definitely attributed a lot. And maintaining a balance, not losing yourself in that zone, so to speak. You know how we get caught up and that's all we focus on. Don't lose yourself. That's one of the biggest things. Do not lose yourself in all of what you're trying to achieve.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them to be true to themselves, despite what is around them and what people may tell them. Especially in the manufacturing industry, where 90% is male, it's definitely male-dominated, but I would definitely tell them that regardless of whatever people may say, as long as they have that drive and determination, they can reach heights without having to lose themselves. The biggest part is not losing themself. We want to try to be on the playing field with the men, and it's always that ranking, right? They're always, we're always, especially in a male-dominant industry, but if they can stay true to themselves, persevere, don't give up, and set them up for a goal, they can achieve that, as long as they're willing to achieve it. They have to be willing to do it.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.