Sophia Jaso

I attribute my success to the journey I've had in the field of utilities and natural gas. I joined the field back in 2005 and started out as a meter reader. I worked hard and got promoted to the appliance service team, and then went into management. Working in the union position and even becoming a SHOP Steward, they guided me into a successful career, and now I've been promoted to Senior Supervisor. I'm very lucky and blessed that I work for a company that encourages education and growth. They pay for our education if we choose to embrace it. I received my bachelor's degree last year in organizational management, and I'm currently working on my master's in HR management, which I'll complete in February of next year. I probably would have never taken my education as seriously if I would have gone straight out of high school. I appreciated it more as I got older, and I'm able to apply my life and work experience to my studies.

The best career advice I've received is to keep going and don't quit. Throughout my years in the utility field, we see so few women, and it's nice when you do have a few that are there to support you and encourage you to keep going and don't give up. My dad was always a true ally of supporting women, and I think my mom and my dad have always been such an encouragement to me. They taught me that you can have the career and life that you love, you just have to stay the course and never give up.

I would tell young women that these jobs are probably not your normal ones you may want to do, and this may not be the field you want to go into, but that opportunity is out there. Don't let it scare you. It's possible, and there are women like me that will support you in it. I've always wanted to show other women that you can have a career that believes in you. Throughout my years in the utility field, we see so few women, and it's important to know you're always going to have support out there. You can always do whatever you want, whatever it is you want. I've always wanted to be supportive and encourage women to know that yeah, we do have our normal jobs we can go to, but you can do anything.

The biggest challenge I'm facing right now is being in school attaining my master's degree while working full-time in a supervisor role and giving everything 100%. We have about 10-hour days on average, and I'm currently on call, which means I work Friday to Friday, 24-7, with my phone on for any emergency orders. There are some struggle days, I will definitely agree. Balancing work, school, and all my responsibilities requires a lot of dedication, but I'm committed to seeing it through.

Being a dedicated employee in my field and working my way up the ladder is very important to me. I love life and have a little side business baking cookies, because cookies don't have to look perfect, they just have to taste delicious. Baking is like my own therapy. This past year, I've really gotten into the mindset that health is wealth. I've probably never worked out so much in my entire life. I'm training for my first 10K race in May and I'm up to almost five and a half miles right now. I've been very much on a health journey, trying to stay on track, because I feel like if my body is good, my mind might be good. I also work hard to help children have new shoes. I donate shoes to Belvedere Elementary School in East Los Angeles, and I've been doing that for about 15 years. I work with the Vans Outlet Store and have been partnering with them for about 7 years. These children are in underserved areas, some living in poverty or homeless shelters, and I want to always help make sure they can have new shoes for Christmas. I will keep doing this until there's nothing left.