Her Story
About Heather
Heather Bravo is a senior human resources professional with over 20 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. She currently serves as HR Business Partner for Craftsman Cutting Dies while also owning and operating Bravo and Associates, her HR consulting firm. Her expertise centers on employee relations, building strong culture and communication, crisis management, HR consulting, leadership, and entrepreneurship. She holds a California state law certification through SHRM, a Stanford crisis management certification completed in July 2023, and a WEST Level 1 Wine certification. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources from Capella University after completing an AA in Law status. Heather is a member of both the SHRM national chapter and the SHRM Central Valley chapter.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family, especially my dad and mom. We came from humble beginnings and just don't know when to stop. Education is key because no one can take that away from you. I've been blessed with phenomenal mentors who keep me grounded and humble. Staying humble, remembering where I come from, serving others, and giving back to younger generations really sparks my success. My religion has also humbled me a lot.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to stay humble, be as transparent as possible, always tell the truth because the truth is like the sun - it may hide for a bit but will always come out. The hardest thing is doing the right thing. Don't let anyone walk all over you, push back. Don't call anyone yes sir or yes ma'am in a subservient way. You have to be 10 times better than anyone else, especially as a woman of color. Set boundaries, don't define yourself by being the work wife or mommy, get your seat at the table and don't take your eye off that prize.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't fall into the mommy and wifey mode or the party planner mode. You're so much more than that. Get your seat at the table. Don't buy into compliments about looking cute or being told you shouldn't say something because you're a woman. Define yourself, create boundaries, and don't take no for an answer. Educate yourself, earn your seat at the table, and once you get there don't take your eye off that prize. Know your worth and don't stand down if you truly believe something.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is that manufacturing is still very much old school with a lot of the good old boy club in it. Corporations are buying small manufacturers but don't know how to develop succession paths or work with women. The struggle is how to stop turnover, get high retention rates, help people get education and move up from production worker to manager. Companies fail at meeting their core values and aligning resources with people. With multiple generations in the workforce there's misunderstanding and mental health issues that need addressing through education and training.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Loyalty is the biggest thing for me. Once you break my trust or the tie of loyalty, we're done. Trust is essential - I need to be able to trust you and you should trust me. Open lines of communication and transparency are key; I want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly. I have two rules: don't lie to me and don't hide anything from me. Because once you do, I can no longer help you.
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