Karina Salinas
Karina Salinas is a seasoned operational excellence and manufacturing engineering executive with more than 28 years of global experience driving performance across complex industrial environments. Currently serving as Senior Director of Operational Excellence & Manufacturing Engineering at L3Harris Technologies, she leads initiatives that enhance productivity, optimize cost structures, and strengthen organizational performance across multiple sites. Known for her pragmatic, results-driven approach, Karina has built a reputation for embedding a culture of excellence that delivers measurable process and financial improvements across the end-to-end value chain.
Throughout her career, Karina has progressed from hands-on operational roles in manufacturing facilities in Mexico and the United States to leading large-scale, global transformation efforts. Her tenure at Johnson Controls included key leadership roles where she oversaw continuous improvement and supply chain transformation across dozens of plants worldwide, supporting billions in revenue. She has successfully implemented Lean, Six Sigma, and enterprise-wide operating systems to improve safety, quality, delivery, and employee engagement, while fostering collaboration and standardizing best practices across regions.
Karina’s leadership philosophy is grounded in engagement, empowerment, and continuous learning. She is known for spending time on the shop floor, working directly with teams to identify challenges, remove barriers, and develop sustainable solutions through Kaizen workshops and coaching. A passionate advocate for people development and inclusion, she has also led employee resource groups and supported community initiatives throughout her career. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Karina brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to building high-performing teams that drive lasting operational success.
• Executive Program in Strategic Leadership Series from University of Milwaukee
• Executive Program from Wharton Business School
• Strategy Certification from Harvard Business School Online
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• University of Michigan
• Leadership Institute
• Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, Facultad de Mercadotecnia- Master's
• Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo- B.B.A.
• Harvard University
• Harvard Business School Online
• The Wharton School
• Women in Manufacturing
• Hispanic Collaborative Network Board of Directors (Wisconsin)
• Hispanic Employee Resource Group Enterprise Chair
• Mentoring one-on-one with people starting their careers
• Leadership in Hispanic Employee Resource Groups
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to more than 30 years of hands-on experience across aerospace, defense, and automotive manufacturing, combined with a deep commitment to continuous improvement and people development. From starting as a materials coordinator in Mexico to leading global operational performance across 90+ sites and 16,000 employees, I’ve learned that sustainable results come from building strong systems, empowering teams, and sharing best practices so no one has to solve the same problem alone.
I’ve also stayed grounded in the work—spending time in the field, listening to teams, and connecting strategy to execution—which has allowed me to consistently improve safety, quality, and performance while driving innovation at scale.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to be the leader that you once needed, especially for people who are already in a leadership position. Be that mentor for people who are studying and just starting out. Maybe they haven't found their voice, or maybe they don't know where to go, so be able to provide that opportunity for people. For people who are on their career journey, I would say to be ready for the position that you are currently in, but also be on the lookout for what else do you need and what do you need to get there. What is it that you need to be prepared for so that you can start to get ready for your next position. Don't wait until the position is open to say, oh, I'm missing this or that. Start working on things as you are, and always be looking for value. How can I generate more value for the company so that you are able to continue to promote yourself by incorporating value to the organization.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is driving consistency across global operations—aligning dozens of sites with different cultures, leadership styles, and levels of maturity while maintaining a single standard of excellence. Another is overcoming resistance to change and ensuring improvements stick long-term, which requires not just strong processes but real mindset shifts, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
At the same time, there’s a major opportunity in integrating new technologies like AI and automation to accelerate performance—if we can successfully balance speed with quality and safety while breaking down silos and upskilling teams to fully adopt these innovations.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I’ve also made it a priority to give back to the professional community. Through organizations like Women in Manufacturing and Hispanic employee resource groups, as well as my work with the Hispanic Collaborative Network in Wisconsin, I’ve focused on mentorship and advocacy. Representation matters, but so does access—to knowledge, to opportunity, and to sponsorship.