Her Story
About Traci
Traci Isbell serves as a regional sales manager in the security industry, where she has built a 31-year career. She began in various operational roles on the dealer integration side, including inside sales, warehouse operations, collections, and commercial integrations, before advancing to Director of Operations for the state of Texas. In that position, she turned around the operation by implementing sustainable policies and procedures that remain in use today. Traci holds two years of college education along with certifications in state licensing and notary public services, as well as Women in Security Industry certification levels focused on growth management and time management. She attributes her success to her drive to set a positive example for her son as a single mother, emphasizing integrity, dedication, and the importance of never giving up. Traci advises young women entering the male-dominated security field to trust their inner strength and unique perspectives to overcome barriers.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Traci
01What do you attribute your success to?
A lot of that, I'm gonna say, is just the drive to be a good example. I am a single mom, so I want to ensure that I have taught my son that you can do anything you want to do. You just have to keep going, you can't give up. And so that's the biggest part of what I do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never give up, because you don't know what tomorrow will bring you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them that no matter what they think they are capable of, or what anyone may lead them to believe they are capable of. Do not listen to it. Listen to your inner strength, make sure that you know what drives you, and use that above all else to get to the goals you want. And so many of them devalue what they can bring to the table. ... sometimes the fact that you are a female and you come in with a different perspective, you come at it from a different angle, it is exactly what you need to accomplish whatever the goal or the barrier is that is keeping that role from succeeding.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I am in a male-driven industry. Pretty much everything in security for every female that is in a management role, there are probably 25 men in the same type of role, so we work a little harder, we work a little stronger. We are smart and clever to get to the same roles. Often that I am the only female in the room.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I'm gonna say integrity and dedication. Those two, for me, are probably hand-in-hand. You can't have one without the other.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.