Jessica Paugh- Johnson
Jessica Paugh-Johnson is a Process Improvement Manager in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry with more than 15 years of experience in operations, supervision, and continuous improvement. After spending much of her career leading manufacturing teams and driving performance in fast-paced production environments, she found her true passion in process improvement. Today, she focuses on improving quality, efficiency, and productivity through data-driven decision making, emerging technologies, and strong team leadership.
Throughout her career, Jessica has held leadership roles across manufacturing, warehouse operations, and production supervision, including positions with companies such as GE Aviation, Owens Corning, and PL Developments. Over the last several years, she has specialized in process improvement within pharmaceutical manufacturing, leading quality and production initiatives while helping organizations build more effective systems and workflows. She recently earned her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, reflecting both her technical expertise and her ability to coach and lead others in continuous improvement.
Jessica’s leadership style is rooted in perseverance, authenticity, and creating environments where people can be themselves. She believes that when employees feel comfortable and supported, they are more willing to contribute ideas, share knowledge, and perform at their highest level. Outside of work, she volunteers in prison ministry through the Archdiocese of Charleston, where she brings lessons of empathy, hope, and resilience back into her workplace leadership.
• Advanced App Building
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
• Basic App Building Certification
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
• Frostburg State University- Bachelor's
• Prison Ministry at Local Detention Center
• Archdiocese of Charleston SC
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a sense of perseverance and fortitude. There have been victories and triumphs along the way, but there have also been disappointments and setbacks. Through it all, I've learned to trust and have faith, and no matter the circumstances, I just keep growing, keep learning, and keep moving forward. I've had a lot of influence and people around me, but ultimately it comes down to that inner drive to never give up and to keep pushing forward in a positive way. My high school motto was 'let your light shine,' and I've tried to live by that daily, knowing that God is with me all day. That's the real purpose in the world - to let your light shine every day.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Let your light shine every day. This was my high school motto, and I've tried to live by it daily. It reminds me that the real purpose in the world is to bring light to others and to show up authentically. Knowing that God is with me all day gives me the strength to keep that light shining, no matter what challenges I face.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think it's important for people to be able to be themselves and to never give up. Keep pushing - not in a forceful way, but pushing in a positive way - to make it known that you belong there and that you deserve to be there. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities. As women, we're so used to not seeing ourselves represented in leadership, so when you sit and look and see that representation, it's great. But you have to believe in yourself first and claim your place with confidence. Don't hold back who you are, because when you're not yourself, you're holding back something, and you're not giving everything that you could.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenges in pharmaceutical manufacturing are the age-old manufacturing concerns - getting quality product out at the right price and keeping costs down. But there are also exciting opportunities, particularly with investments in technology. AI is a big thing right now, and the question is how do you utilize AI to make impactful improvements in the manufacturing process. The industry is balancing the traditional pressures of quality, speed, and cost with the new possibilities that emerging technologies offer. Companies that can successfully integrate these new tools while maintaining quality standards are positioned to make significant advances.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I'm guided by my faith, knowing that God is with me all day. My high school motto was 'let your light shine,' and I try to live by that daily because that's the real purpose in the world. In my work, I believe in allowing people to be themselves, because when people feel comfortable being authentic, they give everything they have and don't hold back their knowledge or contributions. Outside of work, I'm deeply committed to prison ministry at our local detention center. At work, I'm focused on improvement and fixing things, but when I go into the detention center to minister to women who are in trouble, I've learned something profound that I take back to work: when someone is in their darkest moments, they need love, hope, and light - they don't need a lecture. This helps me remember that while processes can be improved, people need life and love. It's about bringing compassion, empathy, and light to others, whether in the workplace or in the community.