Her Story
About Sharon
Sharon Stephens is a Quality Assurance Manager based in Cartersville, Georgia, United States, currently working at Constellium. In her role, she leads quality management system (QMS) harmonization, process improvement initiatives, and compliance efforts aligned with IATF 16949 standards. She is responsible for strengthening audit readiness, reducing cost of poor quality, improving operational consistency, and maintaining strong OEM and supplier relationships. Her leadership has contributed to measurable improvements in efficiency, cost reduction, and overall plant performance.
Her career in manufacturing spans nearly three decades and began in production and document control roles before advancing into quality systems, quality engineering, and operations leadership. She spent a significant portion of her career at TI Automotive, where she held progressive positions including Quality Systems Specialist, Production Supervisor, Quality Engineer, and Quality Assurance Manager. Throughout this progression, she developed expertise in root cause analysis, APQP, PPAP, internal auditing, process optimization, and cross-functional team leadership, eventually transitioning into senior quality management roles.
Sharon earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. Her professional focus centers on building practical, sustainable quality systems, improving operational discipline, and developing teams through structured problem-solving and continuous improvement. She is especially known for her ability to translate complex quality requirements into clear, actionable processes that support both compliance and performance outcomes.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sharon
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my ability to not take things personally.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my mentor, Lori Caffiano, who encouraged me to observe both strong and weak leadership practices as valuable learning opportunities.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering my industry to stay focused, remain open-minded, and practice active listening in every situation. It’s equally important to be transparent and intentional in communication, while also making sure your voice is heard—especially in environments that can be male-dominant.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field is consistently having to prove my intellect and expertise in order to be taken seriously. Despite this, I remain persistent and continue to stand my ground, refusing to back down in the face of these obstacles.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are knowing when to speak up, and recognizing the importance of patience and experience in the workplace.
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