Megan Moore, MBA

I attribute my success to strong early mentorship, particularly from a leader who saw potential in me before I saw it in myself. That guidance shaped how I approach leadership, especially the importance of listening with the intent to understand rather than respond. I’ve also grown significantly through opportunities to work across different departments, which strengthened my adaptability and communication. Emotional intelligence has been a key driver in my ability to collaborate effectively and build trust across teams. Being in a male-dominated industry also pushed me to advocate for myself, earn respect through consistency, and develop a leadership style grounded in authenticity and empathy.

The best career advice I ever received was to listen with the intent to understand, not with the intent to respond. My mentor Mark Kelly taught me this, and it was transformative for me as a young professional. He helped me realize that too often we stand in our own way of listening because we're busy crafting our next point, or trying to sound like we're the smartest person in the room, or trying to prove why we belong at the table to begin with. In that process, we forget that everyone else at that table earned their place too, and people have perspectives and experiences outside of our own that they're willing to share with us. The best thing we can do is just let them speak and absorb that information, and allow it to challenge us and help us grow our understanding. I learned that the strongest voices in the room aren't always the loudest, but rather the ones that are wise enough to listen first before they craft their response. This was really impactful for me as someone who was young and green at 22, in a very intimidating environment. He also encouraged me to recognize and truly see my own value, and he advocated for me to pursue my MBA, which helped further strengthen my skills and confidence.

I would say don't make yourself smaller, because there are already plenty of people in the room who are going to do that for you. You have to walk in knowing that you belong. You don't have to shrink yourself to make other people comfortable. Stay curious and learn from the people around you, but never confuse being new with being incapable. There are plenty of moments where you'll feel underestimated, but you can't let that harden you. You have to let it sharpen you. Be prepared and be willing to admit when you don't know the answers, but also be eager to find those answers. Most importantly, you have to remember that strength and leadership do not require you to become one of the guys or one of the good old boys. The industry doesn't need another copy of what's already there. It needs the benefits from different perspectives and different leadership styles, and people willing to raise the standards for those who come after them. You have to take up space, learn everything you can, and most importantly, support other women whenever you're able to. Never forget that you earned the opportunity to be there.

One of the some challenges in manufacturing today is navigating ongoing supply chain disruptions and fluctuating material costs. Companies must also adapt quickly to rapid advancements in automation and digital technologies to stay competitive. At the same time, these changes create opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance production quality. There is also a growing opportunity to build more resilient, sustainable, and innovative manufacturing systems for the future.

I believe that having a healthy work-life balance is essential, because it's more than anything necessary for personal happiness as well as facilitating long-term success in your career. In a demanding world, it can be easy to prioritize productivity over your own personal health and relationships, but that leads to burnout and ultimately impacts both your performance at work and your quality of life outside of work. Maintaining that balance allows people to show up and be more present in their professional and personal roles. It helps create space for growth outside of work, strengthens your mental and emotional resilience, and reminds us that success should not come at the expense of your health, your happiness, or the people who matter most to you. Beyond work-life balance, I also value empathy and emotional intelligence in building meaningful professional relationships. I believe in leading with authenticity and creating an environment where people feel like they're part of a team and that I'm on their side. I focus on analyzing how I want to be perceived by others and ensuring that the attributes I demonstrate are ones I respect and admire.