Her Story
About Harriet
Harriet Abajong serves as lead analyst and interim supervisor in the pharmaceutical industry, a field she entered in 2020 after earning her master's degree in chemical engineering from McNeese State University in Louisiana. In her role, she oversees a team of analysts, creates schedules for raw materials and finished products testing, participates in daily progress meetings, and assists with testing as needed to support production demands. She attributes her professional growth to hands-on mentoring from supervisors and colleagues, which helped her develop skills in instrumentation and navigating industry hierarchies that were not covered in her academic training. During graduate school, she held the position of vice president with the National Society for Black Engineers. Abajong values loyalty and integrity in both her work and personal life, and she advises young professionals to focus on doing their best rather than worrying about minor details while being willing to move to environments where their contributions are appreciated.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Harriet
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say God. Because when I was young and I moved away from home, I didn't know that I would make it this far. There are times in my life when I didn't think I would get a job. So I used to pray, and then my mom used to tell me that it will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, that means you're not at the end yet. And I do pray a lot, and all my success, if God hadn't given me the strength and the knowledge and the ability, I wouldn't have made it as far as I have. It's because of grace and mercy from God.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to go where I'm wanted. Whenever I feel like I'm being taken advantage of, or I'm not reaching my goal, I was advised not to be afraid to take the leap to somewhere else where I can grow my skills, and where mostly I'll be appreciated.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The little things don't matter as much as you think. When I was starting out, I used to focus on the littlest details and worry about it. But if you know what you're doing and you have the knowledge and skill set, even if you don't have the skill set, skills are something that you can learn. Always make sure that you're doing your best. Once you're doing your best, the rest will work itself out.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are the people. You spend a lot of time at work, and some people are cranky or in bad moods. You have to deal with all that. You can learn the skills, but the people are the hardest bit to navigate because everyone has a different attitude towards work. You always have to have patience with people.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value loyalty a lot. Loyalty is one big thing for me. I strongly believe that I can't ask anything from someone that I am not given. I like to keep my old friends. Growing up, my mom used to tell me, make new friends, but keep the old. I value integrity as well, because I like my work to reflect what I believe in, which is integrity. So loyalty and integrity are big things for me.
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