Molita Sloan is an impassioned leader with a background in electrical engineering who champions organizational efficacy by eliminating obstacles to customer satisfaction and employee happiness. As a project leader and coach, she cultivates resilience, adaptability, and balance within teams and individuals by developing strategies that advance their progress. Sloan has devoted a considerable part of her career to the engineering and technology sectors, concentrating on project management, product supervision, and team effectiveness. She possesses an enthusiasm for assisting others in discovering their authentic selves in both career and life.
JL: How did your upbringing and early education influence your professional endeavors?
Sloan: I was raised in a small, predominantly segregated town under the guidance of my grandmother. From an early age, I recognized my affinity for science and math, which aligned well with my family's professional history, including several uncles who were engineers. I enjoyed fixing things and observed that engineering and science fields were largely dominated by men. In fact, I was the only girl in my High School electronics class, which further fueled my motivation.
As I pursued my professional education, I soon discovered that the computer-heavy electrical engineering field did not play to my strengths. While I loved math and science, I also enjoyed interacting with people and inspiring them to reach their full potential. Consequently, I returned to college two years into my electrical engineering career to obtain an MBA, aiming for a more people-centered profession. This shift significantly influenced my trajectory and played a crucial role in shaping my aspirations for life, leadership, and coaching.
JL: How have you combined your affinity for STEM and desire to uplift others outside of your professional career?
Sloan: As a Black leader in a role typically occupied by people who don’t look like me, and with family members who influenced my career pursuits, I quickly grasped the importance of networking in developing a professional career. I had to learn to communicate effectively with diverse audiences who might not yet comprehend the challenges Black women in STEM face. I started by connecting students still in education to female role models and leaders at my workplace, Schneider Electric. Several of my female engineer co-workers coached these young students, equipping them with networking and STEM skills for a guided path toward a successful career. The objective was for businesses at the forefront of sustainability to advise students on ways they could make future workplaces more sustainable and understand the critical role sustainability plays in supporting a bright future for all.
I also hold a seat on the Nashville Mayor’s Sustainability Action Sub-Committee in Nashville. As a leader at Schneider Electric, I possess expertise on practical sustainability efforts that could be implemented by businesses and governments.
Moreover, I assisted in coordinating the Adventure Science Center's annual conference Twister, an acronym for Tennessee Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. I facilitated Schneider's sponsorship of the event, selected the keynote speaker, and supported women engineering workshops.
JL: How do you utilize your extensive experience uplifting voices in STEM to assist those who may not know how to begin or where to go in their professional endeavors?
Sloan: Representation matters, but only if it is visible. That was my objective when I entered the life coaching space. In addition to my leadership role at Schneider Electric, I am a certified life coach, working one on one with clients and leading a 12-group coaching program for Women in STEM. The significance of this is multifaceted, as it aims to hold young professionals accountable, support their career goals and, most importantly, provide guidance for women who may lack role models. Currently, apart from these ventures, I serve as a role model to my twin daughters. I could not accomplish this without the support of my incredible husband, who has contributed significantly to many of my advisory and volunteer roles. He keeps me motivated, as does traveling!
Molita Sloan's story exemplifies the power of perseverance and the importance of promoting diversity within STEM fields. Through her professional accomplishments, community engagement, and mentoring, Molita has shown that elevating underrepresented voices is not only crucial for a more inclusive and sustainable future but also beneficial for inspiring the next generation of innovators.
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