Influential Woman · McKnight International

Thalia Andre Noel

Vice President Operations, McKnight International

Houston, TX

Her Story

About Thalia

My day looks like a circus juggler at the circus that rides the unicycle - I'm usually handling 4 or 5 different tasks at the same time. Not usually with grace, but they get done. One of my most notable professional achievements so far was revamping the contract, the branding and marketing structure for a company. I was very proud of that because prior to that I'd done it for my own business, but I'd never done it for someone else. So that was very rewarding in the sense that I saw what it did for the company in terms of client relations, revenue building, and profit margins. I just saw a huge difference once those things were cutting into place. What I love most about my industry is that you don't stop learning. We do a lot of infrastructure projects, and with each infrastructure project I am learning something new when it regards to engineering. I like to even say now that had I known engineering was a possibility when I was a kid, I probably would be an engineer today. I find that stuff fascinating - things being built, how they're being built, what makes them structurally sound and at the same time pretty and look at. I watch stuff like that on my downtime.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Thalia

01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best way I could put it? Closed mouths don't get fed. If you don't ask, then you will not receive, and that's literally how I got where I am. I asked for it. And then when it came time for a promotion, I asked for it again. That's the advice that has served me best in my career.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

You're more than just a pretty face. Be a sponge. Learn. It'll benefit you. What you learn stays with you, not with your employers. I've given that advice to young people going into the workforce, and I have given that same advice to women who are older as well.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

Opportunities are, I don't treat business development the way most business developers do it. It's not a sales job to me, it's more of a relationship job for me. I'm more about building relationships than I am about closing a deal. That's a huge opportunity for me, getting to know a person and figuring out how we can work together. The challenge is I am a woman, after all. I have to go forth into this world of business development and sales, as well as being a VP of operations, knowing that I'm walking into the room as a woman and being able to command that room. I don't want to have to change my persona and act like a guy, or be a guy, or dress like a guy, to get the same results. I want to be able to get the same results being who I am naturally.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Honesty and accountability. Those are the two most important ones. Obviously everyone's gonna mess up. I just need you to be honest about when you're about to mess up and take accountability for it, because I don't think you learn from your mistakes if you don't take accountability.

Keep Exploring