Her Story
About Sylvia
I went to school for marketing back in 2000 and came out in 2005 when internet was just starting to boom. I was learning about TV billboards magazines and then had to turn back over and go back to school for supply chain. I went into that field and started to work as a buyer for e-commerce landing a job at Fanatics and my career just boomed from there. I worked for Fanatics for a couple of years then moved into working as a buyer for a major jewelry company here in Chicago and then moved into working for one of the largest startups in transportation called VHO. I've always had really interesting jobs and been able to really enjoy the people.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sylvia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I want to contribute my success to my family. I have two parents that were very well educated and went to college. My sister who also well educated went to Michigan State University and just having those people because I'm the baby in my family. Having those people to watch and watch their work ethic watch their careers bloom even as a child and even watching my sister that alone for me has been like the most inspirational thing.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't second guess your passion. It is okay to do what you want to do but understand what that means. Things change and I didn't really know that I loved to be in implementation and training until I actually got into my profession so it's okay to understand what you know and follow that passion that what really drives you to what you want to do because in the end you'll decide make the decision for your career based on what you love versus what dollar sign is because at the end of the day happiness is everything.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge working in a male dominant industry for transportation and supply chain. Being a woman not only that a Black woman. You do have to have that you do sometimes have people second guess how knowledgeable you are. Especially in construction and infrastructure which is a male dominated industry also on top of supply chain. You kind of have to be double prepared because you are a woman in a male dominating industry.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values in my personal life is 100% friendship. Friendship is just really important to me in my personal life and in my career it's collaboration. I'm a people person. I could walk in a room and talk to everybody. I love the engagement and the change management and getting people's perspective and being an influential figure in those moments.
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