Her Story
About Michaela
Michaela Abouomar serves as a buyer for Samuel EPC, a construction company based in Abilene, Texas. She began this position recently and brings years of experience in purchasing and accounting, including prior roles with UAW‑LETC at the Clearfield Job Corps Center in Utah and earlier work with S.V.I.S. Trade s.r.o. in the Czech Republic, where she gained experience in foreign trade purchasing, quality management (ISO), and sales coordination.
As a native Czech speaker and military spouse who relocated to the United States, Michaela has shown resilience by adapting to new cultures and rebuilding her career across multiple companies. She takes particular pride in securing her current role and completing her first week on the job. Michaela attributes her success to the support of her husband, whom she describes as driven and deeply inspiring. In her professional life, she values honesty and fostering a positive, collaborative environment. She encourages young women entering the field to be patient with themselves, observe and learn, and stay true to who they are.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Michaela
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the support of my husband and my parents. My husband is the smartest person I know—driven, disciplined, and constantly growing. Watching him pursue his goals inspires me to want more from life, and his encouragement has been a steady source of strength throughout my career. My parents taught me resilience, honesty, and the importance of staying true to myself, and their guidance has shaped every chapter of my professional growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay patient with myself, keep learning every day, and believe in myself even when starting from scratch. I was taught to observe, ask questions, and not rush the process.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The advice I would give young women entering the industry is to be patient with themselves, observe, and learn. Don’t rush the process. The most important thing is to stay true to who you are — when you do that, everything else will fall into place.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the industry right now is the rapid growth of construction projects. With that growth comes high turnover among vendors and employees, which can make consistency and communication difficult. Many companies are also facing shortages of people working in the field, which puts pressure on project timelines and on procurement teams to keep everything moving smoothly.
At the same time, this creates opportunities — especially for buyers — to build stronger vendor relationships, improve processes, and bring stability to fast‑growing teams. Even though I’m still new, I can already see how much impact strong communication and reliable partnerships can have in this environment.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me, both in my work and personal life, are honesty, respect, and creating a positive, collaborative environment. When people treat each other well and communicate openly, it makes life pleasant and work feel meaningful. I believe in showing up with integrity and contributing to a space where everyone feels supported and able to do their best.
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