Her Story
About Shalonda
I came into this industry almost by accident. My mom worked at this aerospace company for years before she retired, and one day she came home and brought job applications to myself, my twin sister, and my brother, asking if we wanted to work there. I told her no thank you because I already had a job. But I filled out the application reluctantly, got called, interviewed, was hired, and never left. That was almost 30 years ago. I even got to work with my mom for several years before she retired, and we laugh about that to this day - how I said I didn't want to work there and here I am almost 30 years later. It's a good company. Before aerospace, I worked for a boys' home and then in the food industry in an office atmosphere doing their payroll and things of that nature. I've been back and forth with several different roles with the same company for the 28 years, spending probably less than 10 years in my current position. I got my degrees later in life - my associate degree in business administration from Western International in 2008, and my bachelor's degree in business management with an emphasis in supply chain from the University of Phoenix in 2013. I also have a certificate for supply chain management.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shalonda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I want to say my family. I know that's kind of cheesy, but my parents - I grew up watching them moving up in their careers, their work ethic. And I think they instilled that in me. I try to be an example for my children as well. I used to get on my younger two daughters for going to school when they were sick, but then I had to take a step back later because I was like, oh, they're just mimicking me, because I would be sick and I would still go to work. So I learned that you have to lead by example.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was from my manager at the time when I worked at a Tony Roma's restaurant. She was the General Manager and she told me we need to build relationships, not just a resume, and to embrace lifelong learning. She basically told me to just continue to evolve. She was like, you know, when you get stagnant, look for courses or knowledge in other areas so that you can continue to have hands-on experience. She basically said, the more you know, the more valuable you are to the company that you're working for.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't be afraid to speak up, take initiative or step outside of your comfort zone. Ask questions - curiosity is a superpower. I know some people don't like to ask questions, but if you don't know something, ask, that's how you learn, right? This industry has evolved since I've been working here and I see more women in this industry now. I would say seek mentorship - connect with experienced women in this industry so they can offer guidance and support. And then sometimes prepare for work-life balance challenges, because this is a demanding industry. Sometimes I still struggle with the work-life balance part, so just prepare for that.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, the biggest challenge is supply chain with all the tariffs and things that are going on in the world. We're struggling to get product here. Also, we've done business with a lot of smaller mom-and-pop shops, and a lot of businesses are going, are shutting down.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I want to say being transparent and, of course, being ethical. Also empathy - caring for others and being nice.
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