Her Story
About Melanie
Melanie Giles dedicated 35 years to the manufacturing industry before retiring at the end of the year to launch a consulting business. Throughout her career, she held roles in operations management and leadership as well as HR and labor relations, and she now offers consulting services in labor relations and operations strategy. With an engineering background, Melanie approached every situation with humility and curiosity, learning from everyone she encountered, from shift workers to lab staff. This mindset, combined with her technical expertise, gave her an advantage over some male counterparts. In 2004, she applied advice to base decisions on past experiences, current situation, and future hopes and dreams by prioritizing family time over a potential VP role, later advancing to VP on her own terms with no regrets. She advises young women entering manufacturing to be a sponge, hold their head up and shoulders back, know what they know, be proud, learn in every situation, and believe in themselves. Melanie notes that manufacturing remains a good ol' boys club with bias against females and minorities in higher roles, though it is evolving with younger generations embracing diversity of thought.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melanie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I approached every situation with humility and curiosity. I could learn something from everybody I met, whether shift workers or lab staff. My engineering background gave me an advantage because male counterparts often lacked that humility and curiosity.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Based on your past experiences, your current situation and your future hopes and dreams, what is the best thing for you to do? I have applied that personally and professionally. In 2004, it helped me choose family time over a potential VP role at that moment, and I later became VP on my own terms with no regrets.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be a sponge. Hold your head up, shoulders back. Know what you know, be proud of yourself, but be a sponge and learn in every situation. Don't be timid, don't be afraid, believe in yourself.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Manufacturing is still largely a good ol' boys club with bias and disregard for females and minorities in higher roles. It is evolving and getting better, especially with younger generations recognizing diversity of thought, but still difficult compared to other industries.
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