Her Story
About Nidia
I am an assistant quality manager in the automotive industry, where I lead a team of 5 people at a facility that manufactures seats for automotive customers. Originally from Mexico, I now live and work in South Carolina. My day-to-day responsibility is making sure we deliver products that meet customer expectations at their final destination, comply with all customer requirements, and ensure we don't ship any defects - that all inspection materials meet the standards and specifications we are contracted for. I have been in engineering since 2014, when I earned my degree in geology engineering, and transitioned into quality management in the automotive sector in 2019. One of my biggest strengths is implementing new systems and ensuring procedures are followed correctly. Throughout my career, I have been moved to struggling company locations to help turn things around and implement better processes. I have been gaining significant expertise in auditing, and my next career goal is to move into quality auditing, safety, and compliance roles. I am passionate about continuous improvement and bringing knowledge and structure to organizations that need it.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nidia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success mainly to the contributions from my family and the values of being from a culture of unity and change. Being from a Hispanic community is slightly different - we grow up with a lot of values where you don't give up, but you learn how to be gentle at the same time. You're always pushing to be better, and you always get the support from your family. We always communicate that no matter what happens, there's always someone that is cheering you up. There's no failure, there's always another door that is opening when one closes. That support system and those values of perseverance combined with gentleness have been the foundation of everything I've accomplished.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Change has a unique way of stripping us down, and it is on us to reveal ourselves and put ourselves back together. From a woman's perspective, we need to bring our knowledge to the table from a different perspective. Instead of asking 'why me?' or 'why is this happening to me?', we need to shift to 'what can I teach?' or 'how can I present this from my knowledge?' Rather than being the victim in the situation, ask yourself what is this teaching me, and how can I focus this into a strength and work through it. It's about accepting the challenge - not saying 'I cannot do it' - but harnessing that energy and presenting it forward. Don't be afraid of asking for help, because sometimes we don't know everything, and that's okay. Not knowing is okay, because we have a path to follow.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important thing I would tell my younger self is to be gentle with myself and to allow myself to fail. It's okay not to put myself in a perfect picture, because nobody is perfect. It's okay to have opportunity areas, and it's okay to slow down. Life keeps changing, and the ground beneath us will shift. The people that we love are going to be there, and we are going to remain here. We are who we have, mainly. And if we don't like what we have, then we don't have the grounds that we need. So being gentle with myself and allowing myself to slow down - that would be the first thing I would tell my younger self. I have learned that it's important not to be too hard on ourselves, to embrace the journey rather than just focusing on the destination, and to stay grounded in who we are and the people who support us.
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