37 minute read
A PROFILE OF LEADERSHIP IN FEDERAL SERVICE
Prepared to Mitigate Risk
By Lango Deen
Monique Doute’ Ferrell is the quintessential 21st century-woman juggling a career with marriage and family. A woman for whom the glass was always half full, her optimism, dedication, and exceptional talents resulted in her appointment to the prestigious federal Senior Executive Service just shy of two years ago, joining the growing number of professionals transforming the government. Mrs. Ferrell is the first African American woman to be appointed to the Senior Executive Service in the United States Army Audit Agency’s 67 year history, and only the fourth female.
Leaders chosen to Senior Executive Service (SES) positions share a broad perspective of government and a commitment to the highest standards of public service. SES personnel serve in key positions just below top Presidential appointees, and as such, are the major link between these appointees and the rest of the federal workforce. They oversee nearly every government activity in approximately 75 federal agencies.
Monique Doute’ Ferrell
Deputy Auditor General for Manpower, Reserve Affairs and Training Audits, U.S. Army Audit Agency
“Federal agencies are facing tremendous fiscal pressure and have to find ways to accomplish missions within constrained resources.”- Monique Doute’ Ferrell, SES
“I am proud of this accomplishment not for myself, but for what it says for women, particularly young women of color,” Ferrell said. “I hail from the tiny and beautiful island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where I received my primary and secondary education,” she reflected. “I graduated from a small Catholic school in a class of 72 students. I must admit that as a child I don’t remember meeting executive-level, professional women. But my story clearly shows that no matter where you come from, no matter your social or economic background, nothing is impossible.” As deputy auditor general for Manpower, Reserve Affairs and Training Audits, Ferrell serves as principal advisor to the auditor general of the army for auditing human capital, force protection, force structure, and training. Her responsibilities also include directing army-wide audit coverage of high-risk areas that focus on Southwest Asia deployments and sustainment functions (logistics, transportation, equipment storage and disposal, and combat service support activities), along with contingency contracting and contractors on the battlefield. The U.S. Army Audit Agency (USAAA) helps senior leaders assess and mitigate risk, and by providing solutions through independent auditing services for the benefit of the American Soldier. USAAA’s vision is to be a world-class audit organization of professionals that anticipates change and exceeds client expectations. On December 13, 2012, the Partnership for Public Service announced USAAA as one of the Best Places to Work in the federal government rankings. It was the third consecutive year that the agency had placed in the top three. The agency’s headquarters is located on Fort Belvoir, Virginia and has 20 field offices in the U.S., Germany, and the Republic of Korea. The agency also has personnel deployed to Southwest Asia and Monique Ferrell has often been one of those. “Over an approximately 23-month period I led a team of 30–40 Army Audit Agency auditors deployed to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan,” she said. “We performed audits in a combat environment; functions vital to the success of the operations in the theater such as contracting, logistics, transportation, retrograde of equipment and supplies, and financial management.”
During this period, Ferrell deployed to Southwest Asia numerous times. “I lived and worked alongside brave men and women who protect our nation. It was rewarding to have senior Army leaders request the services of Army Audit because of the reputation my agency has earned for providing solutions to Army challenges,” Ferrell said. “My time in Southwest Asia was also a period of tremendous personal growth. My experiences caused me to recognize that I am stronger than I had thought; that I have what it takes to accomplish anything I put my mind to, and that I must trust my instinct, make a decision, and move out to execute. I am now a more confident and effective leader.”
An Army Civilian, Ferrell has served the U.S. Army for over 27 years all with the Army Audit Agency to support the defense of our nation. Some of her professional assignments include director of Strategic Planning and Special Studies Division, director of the Contract Audits Division, and prior to her current assignment, director of the Expeditionary Audits Division. Over the course of her career, Ferrell has seen the relationship between Army Auditors and their clients swing from an adversarial one, to a more collaborative relationship. The role of auditors in the Department of Defense, Department of Army, and across federal government is becoming more important, she observed. “Federal agencies are facing tremendous fiscal pressure and have to find ways to accomplish missions that are not going away or not being reduced within constrained resources,” she noted. “As auditors, we have the responsibility to help leaders and managers. We can recommend internal controls that could prevent or minimize the opportunities for fraud, waste and abuse. And because we have an independent eye, we can identify efficiencies and process improvements that help our organization accomplish its mission within a resource-constrained environment. Many Army leaders have recognized what their team of internal auditors brings to the table, and that we help them find solutions to the challenges they are facing.” As a young auditor, her goal, she said, was always to be the best.
“I wanted supervisors to consider me the “go-to” person that was technically competent and could be relied on to get the job done,” she said. “As I came up in the ranks and assumed leadership positions, my focus became doing everything I could to take care of those I had the privilege to lead; make sure they were trained and resourced to perform their jobs.” Ferrell said it is important as a leader to work hard every minute of every day to be worthy of trust and confidence reposed in you. “I truly believe that if you concentrate on these things,
then ‘getting ahead’ will take care of itself,” she advised.” On lessons learned she said “the most important is you should always be prepared.” Just as important as being prepared, she added, is trust and integrity. “You can’t buy either, but they are both easily lost. So you must always do the right things, and make sure your actions match your words.” She has also found that written and oral communication skills are critical for success. “The more you do it, the better you get,” she advises. But she cautions against a risk-averse environment where employees won’t take chances because they’re afraid to make a mistake. “Everyone makes mistakes, the important thing is to acknowledge when you’ve made a mistake and immediately take action to correct it. I have yet to see a mistake that could not be corrected. In the middle of the storm, it may not seem that way, but trust me, everything is fixable.”
In her role as coach/teacher/mentor, Ferrell said she shares the following lessons she has gleaned from the exceptional civilian and military leaders she has worked with. » Commit yourself to life-long learning in your functional area. » Learn about yourself—what you do well and the areas where you have opportunities to develop and improve.
Because no matter how good you are, there’s always some room for improvement or growth, personally and professionally. » Make the best of every opportunity. Don’t be afraid to take on the hard jobs, because nothing earns you respect and provides more valuable experience than taking on difficult challenges and giving them your best shot.
Monique has been married to Major General Robert Ferrell for 29 years. Her husband currently serves as commanding general, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. The couple first met when they were both students at Hampton University, a historically black college located in Hampton, VA., where Monique majored in accounting. They have two adult children, Robert II, a graphic designer at Goucher College in Maryland, and Michael, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, assigned to the White House Communications Agency. Michael represents the third generation of his family to serve in the Signal Corps, which develops, tests, provides, and manages communications and information systems support for the command and control of combined arms forces.
“I am a living example that military spouses can have successful careers alongside their active duty service member, “Ferrell said. “ I’m not saying it’s easy. As a military spouse I have faced unique challenges including frequent moves to accompany my husband in his assignments. And as we both progressed, we’ve faced sacrifices and separations so that we could both take advantage of opportunities and meet our career goals. My husband inspires me, encourages me, and even picks me up when needed. He and our two amazing sons have been the mechanism that creates the necessary balance in my life,” she said. Ferrell also said she has had the privilege of seeing the opportunities that exist in the STEM field through association with Aberdeen Proving Ground, where her husband is senior commander.
“I believe the key to increasing female participation in STEM education is outreach. Corporate America as well as STEMrelated activities in the federal government should partner with elementary, middle and high schools to expose students to STEM. Women engineers, scientists and technology professionals should visit schools so that young, eager students can see successful women in these fields.”
The same is true for the finance field, Ferrell added. “Whether a young woman is interested in working as a financial executive in corporate America, or she desires to dedicate herself to public service like I have, there are plenty of opportunities out there. And I’m proud to say that the landscape looks very different than it did almost 30 years ago when I entered federal service. There are more women in these fields than ever, and they’re making it to the top! So I advise young women to follow their passion into whatever area of STEM or other professional field most excites them. Take advantage of every opportunity—whether it’s an internship, part-time employment or a full-time position- to gain experience.” Less than a year ago, Ferrell’s mother retired from a company where she worked for 42 years. “My Dad, at 71 years, is still serving the Government of the Virgin Islands. Both of my parents taught me the value of hard work and never settling for less than my best. And by watching them and how they progressed in their careers, I learned that the only real limits that exist are the ones I put on myself.” When it comes to her approach to living life fully, Ferrell said she must give credit to her deceased sister. “Renee’ was only 24 years old when she passed away twentyseven years ago. But her 24 years on earth were truly lived. Renee was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia when she was only 17 and she fought a courageous battle. She never asked ‘why me’ and was always positive, even in her most sickly and grueling days from chemotherapy. “From Renee’ I learned that:
» Tomorrow isn’t promised so live each day fully and with no regrets. » You don’t know how strong you really are until you have to be. » Love unconditionally. Give everything you have without expecting something in return, and laugh until your stomach hurts!”
CONGRATULATIONS
TO OUR TECHNOLOGY RISING STAR HONOREES
Bobbette Kelly Systems Engineer Xiaochun Fisher System Modeling Engineer
Jemma Pham Associate Principal Software Engineer
Exelis is proud to recognize Bobbette Kelly, Xiaochun Fisher and Jemma Pham as three of this year’s Technology Rising Stars, as selected by the Career Communications Group. These women do groundbreaking work to help advance our company’s vision to deliver affordable, mission-critical products and services for our global customers.
With signi cant engineering accomplishments in such areas as electronic warfare and information assurance, all three women are leaders in their elds. They are also dedicated to a lifetime of learning and innovation, as well as encouraging young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. At Exelis, we consider the diversity of our workforce to be critical to our customers’ — and our company’s — success, so we salute Bobbette, Xiaochun and Jemma for their leadership.
Join our team: www.exelisinc.com
Exelis is a registered trademark and “The Power of Ingenuity” is a trademark, both of Exelis Inc. Copyright © 2013 Exelis Inc. All rights reserved.
JOB HORIZON: Women in Energy
CAREER POTENTIAL IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY
Clean power is the future, for the world, USA, and job seekers. This is the opinion of the Advanced Energy Economy Institute, a non-profit business organization. The institute contracted Pike Research, Navigant Consulting’s global energy practice, to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the advanced energy, or alternative energy market’s potential.
In January 2013, Pike reported that two years ago, the global advanced energy market was worth $1.1 trillion and the U.S. share worth $132 billion with a projected growth rate of 19 percent in 2012. This is wonderful news for STEM job seekers in the energy sector.
But there’s more. In February 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Treasury unveiled a $150 million Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit Program that will aid DOE-vetted companies engaged, or proposing to engage, in domestic clean energy and energy efficiency manufacturing projects.
The previously-unused credits were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu said, “These new investments will continue that momentum, supporting the president’s commitment to American-made energy, increasing energy security, and creating jobs.”
A DOE fact sheet reports that the manufacturers eligible for the tax credits will potentially produce clean energy that will create jobs, reduce pollution, lower energy costs, and spur innovation. The following areas that should cheer energyinterested STEM students and professionals:
» Solar, wind, geothermal or other renewable energy equipment » Electric grids and storage for renewables » Fuel cells and micro turbines » Energy storage systems for electric or hybrid vehicles » Carbon dioxide capture and sequestration equipment » Equipment for refining or blending renewable fuels » Equipment for energy conservation, including lighting and smart grid technologies » Advanced energy property designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Does the greater education of STEM students equal higher salaries? The Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI), a CareerBuilder company that specializes in employment data and economic analysis, says “yes.”
Brent Rasmussen, president of CareerBuilder North America said in an article about the best-paying jobs in 2013 that “nearly one in five employers (18 percent) reported that their educational requirements for jobs in their organizations have increased over the last five years.”
There was one exception when EMSI listed the best-paying jobs requiring an associate’s degree. A nuclear technician with the right two-year degree could earn $68,037 annually for assisting in nuclear research and production.
The salaries escalate dramatically for individuals with three specific types of bachelor’s degrees in engineering. The potentially best-remunerated graduate in 2013 could be a man or woman with an undergraduate degree in petroleum engineering who may receive $122,242 for designing how to extract oil and natural gas, particularly that which is fracked, from underground.
Students that decide to go nuclear can do equally well. An engineer with knowledge of radiation and nuclear energy could get $99,715 a year, whereas a chemical engineer might earn $92,934 for being able to use skills in biology, chemistry and physics to produce fuel and related chemicals.
Coal, wind, water, oil, solar, thermal, natural gas and other emerging forms of alternative energy sectors will also require skilled personnel with degrees that will mesh with a multiplicity of disciplines.
These disciplines include software development, accounting, market research, computer system analysis, network and computer system administration, information security analysis, web development, computer network architecture, financial analysis, computer programming, mechanical and industrial engineering, database administration, cost estimation and logistics.
Sequestration Blues
The tricky part in this post-sequestration era is predicting how various sectors will be affected as the spending cuts begin. The Scientific American website reports that the federal government is the main funder of basic scientific research.
The Congressional Research Service prepared a study Sequestration: A Review of Estimates of Potential Job Losses. A salient paragraph in the document said, “The industries estimated to experience the greatest direct and indirect job losses also differed considerably. Federal government employees could face much larger direct and indirect job losses as a result of cuts to non-defense budgets (268,000 jobs) than to the defense budget (56,000 jobs).
In the private sector, employees at professional and business services firms could face the largest direct and indirect job losses (180,000) due to non-defense budget cuts and manufacturing employees might incur the largest job losses (223,000) due to DOD budget cuts.”
The report doesn’t go granular in describing the sequestration’s impact. The battle will occur at research universities. Wealthy universities have a cushion with various sources of funding. The middle-sized and small universities, virtually all Historically Black Colleges and Universities, have small rainy day funds.
In a Scientific American guest blog, MIT professor of science writing Tom Levenson said, “sequester cuts will strike bluntly across the scientific community. The illustrious can move a bit of money around, but even in large labs, a predictable result will be a reduction in the number of graduate student and postdoc slots available—and as those junior and early-stage researchers do a whole lot of the at-the-bench level research, such cuts will have an immediate effect on research productivity.
The longer term risk is obvious too:fewer students and postdocs means an ongoing drop from baseline in the amount of work to be done year over year, and given that industry has reduced its demand for research-trained Ph.Ds., a plausible consequence is that some, many perhaps, of those with capacity to do leading-edge science will simply never enter the pipeline, shifting instead to some other career that does not demand six years and more of poorly paid training to find that there are no jobs.”
by Frank McCoy, fmccoy@ccgmag.com
At the event, he spoke about the many ways his administration and U.S. organizations are exploring to lessen fossil fuel dependence and create jobs for STEM specialists like you.
The president said, “We can support scientists who are designing new engines that are more energy efficient; support scientists that are developing cheaper batteries that can go farther on a single charge; support scientists and engineers that are devising new ways to fuel our cars and trucks with new sources of clean energy—like advanced biofuels and natural gas—so drivers can one day go coast to coast without using a drop of oil.”
In concert with President Obama’s declaration, 2013 public, nonprofit and private organizations have made predictions about their industries that bode well for STEM students in energy and energy-related majors and graduate programs. Electric Vehicles: The Future is Now reported that GE Capital Americas, which makes commercial loans, reports the automotive and supplier industries will benefit from more corporations purchasing “a mix of traditional, alternative fuel and electric cars and trucks. Experts will be required to design, create new technologies, build, and test those vehicles and all their energysaving component parts, and to measure and lower their impact on greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption.
The oil and gas industry underpins many businesses that produce plastics—overwhelmingly refined from petroleum—coatings and chemicals.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) said in its Shale Gas and New Petrochemicals Investment: Benefits for the Economy, Jobs and U.S. Manufacturing report that the 100-year natural gas supply from shale deposits “would generate $132 billion in U.S. economic output and $4.4 billion in new annual tax revenues.”
RECRUITING TRENDS
ENERGY: THAT’S WHERE THE JOBS ARE
On March 15, 2013, President Barack Obama visited the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois to unveil a $2 billion plan to bolster battery and transportation research and development.
Another ACC finding projects the job bounty that could result as the natural gas industry expands. Hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs may be created in the following industries: chemicals, 619,000; plastics/rubber products, 346,000; fabricated metal, 74,000; iron/steel, 59,000; paper, 46,000; glass, 9,000; and foundries, 9,000.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook 2013 spotlights factors that may affect U.S. energy markets through 2040.
The Manufacturing Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) sees the nation’s economic activity glass half-full in 2013 and slightly more so next year. All economic activity relies upon energy in some way.
“MAPI forecasts that manufacturing production will increase 2.2 percent in 2013 and 3.6 percent in 2014. High-tech production is forecast to increase 4.3 percent in 2013 and 9.0 percent in 2014. Non-high-tech or traditional manufacturing, which accounts for 90 percent of value added in manufacturing, will grow 1.8 percent in 2013 and 3.8 percent in 2014. Manufacturing will grow at a faster speed than the general economy, but not by much. The key growth themes are a housing rebound, strong growth in transportation equipment and the expansion of medical care (robust medical equipment demand). MAPI forecasts that manufacturing production will increase 2.2 percent in 2013 and 3.6 percent in 2014.”
Does that ring true? To find out, let’s visit the home page of the Association of Energy Engineers and see what employment opportunities may be in store for STEM energy-interested majors and graduates. In a box labeled “Energy Vortex Top Jobs,” a variety of energy-related jobs were listed.
To show their value, look below to see where the job are located, the prospective employer, and the average salaries found at simplyhired.com for each job description but not for a specific organization.
The jobs: » Power Resource Manager, City of Port Angeles, Washington ($53,000) » Energy Manager, Los Angeles, CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm ($62,000) » Senior Energy Engineer, Opinion Dynamics Corporation,
Massachusetts or California, a market research firm covering energy/utility ($75,000) » Maintenance Coordinator, Alcoa Global Primary Metals,
North America’s largest integrated producer of primary aluminum ($42,000) » Building System Automation Engineer, Fairfax County (Virginia) Facilities Management Department ($62,000) » Senior Facilities Coordinator, Energy and LEED-EBOM/
Engineering Bill of Materials, Roche, a global healthcare company (No salary data) » Program Manager, Commercial Demand Side Management, ICF Marbek, a Canadian fully integrated energy, climate, and environmental consultancy ($52,000) » Project Energy Engineer, Iconergy, a performance contracting and energy engineering firm ($69,000).
President Barack Obama speaks at the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois about his energy policies and new opportunities for engineers in the industry.
Dionna Moses, director, Infrastructure and Operations, Walmart Global Technology Services India
Walmart’s Dionna Alexander-Moses: Empowering Women in STEM
DDionna Moses has always understood the importance of women obtaining careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. As the Director of Infrastructure and Operations in Walmart Global
Technology Services India, it has been her mission to motivate and mentor women who share her desire to excel in these fields.
by Imani Carter icarter@ccgmag.com
Born in Kansas City, Mo., and raised in St. Louis, Moses graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2002. Before attending college, however, she participated in the school’s Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) program, created to address the low numbers of minority students pursuing advanced technical degrees. MITES was a springboard for Moses’s involvement in enhancement programs for minorities in STEM, as she would later devote much of her time to similar programs.
After earning her degree, she reluctantly applied for a job at Walmart on her grandfather’s advice.
“When I got the call from the recruiter, I basically said, ‘I’m not interested.’ But they convinced me to listen to what they had to say. My interest was piqued by the size and complexity of the systems and the breadth of exposure and responsibility that I would have very early in my career, so I decided to join Walmart,” she says.
Despite her initial reservations, she soon discovered that Walmart is a great place to work, grow a career and make a difference both individually and globally. For example, as part of Walmart’s East Data Center project, Moses coordinated and managed 13 infrastructure areas, 123 application teams and more than 40 IT associates.
In 2005, Moses was awarded the Women of Color Rising Star award for her achievements in her career. A few years later, Moses was asked to make a presentation at the Girls of Promise Conference, which she says has introduced thousands of eighth grade girls across Arkansas to information about careers related to math, science, and technology, while giving them the opportunity to meet with women professionals for a greater understanding of their own potential and power.
“These events encourage girls to pursue academic excellence during their high school and college years. Attendees get to meet other girls like themselves and realize that it’s okay to be a bright, motivated girl with big dreams.”
Moses also had big dreams. By her freshman year in college, she landed an internship with Boeing, and interned with Goldman Sachs during her final undergraduate years. She explained that she wanted her early career to be an inspiration to young girls with an interest in STEM.
Moses believes that when attempting to land a career in STEM disciplines, not only should young people be able to communicate effectively but they should also have a “strong foundation of technical experience and knowledge.”
In February 2012, Moses formed her first mentoring group, Information Security and Compliance Women’s Mentoring Circle, while part of the Information Security department, before leaving to begin her new position as Walmart’s e-commerce Director of Infrastructure and Operations in Bangalore, India.
The Circle, which Moses refers to as one of her proudest accomplishments, consists of a group of 16 women who have made their way to leadership positions in information security.
Moses says it’s important for women to show that they are just as qualified for leadership positions as men, adding that there are two key points to get ahead which women should take heed: Know your business and show a capacity to take on more.
“We can’t just show that we can handle what’s on our plate, but we must show that we have the capacity to move forward and take on more. We should always think ‘What else can I do?’” Moses stresses.
Following her own advice, Moses continues to motivate women in the STEM field, and will serve as the 2013-2014 co-chair for Women’s Resource Committee within the Walmart Global Technology Services in India. As one important pillar in this committee is ‘Invest in Women Globally,’ this program will focus on activities that encourage women to pursue STEM careers worldwide.
Moses has had many accomplishments and has helped a number of people on her way. However, in spite of all of her success, she says she is happiest when she witnesses those she has helped, or a person whose life she has touched, achieve a huge accomplishment in their career.
Throughout her journey, Moses has learned many lessons, but says the greatest learning has been to always practice humility. She says when she creates mentoring groups and contributes to STEM and professional programs or projects, she thinks about the people she is helping.
“It’s not about me,” she says. “I’m not one to boast or to be prideful. Often times we try to show that we can do everything, but that’s not possible because we aren’t naturally good at everything. There are certain things that I know that I do well and excel at, and there are certain things that I’m not good at. I’m very well aware of my strengths and my weaknesses.” Clearly, one of Dionna Moses’ strengths is helping other women in their journey to success in STEM careers.
—Dionna Alexander-Moses
The Science
of Beauty
SCIENCE IS AT THE HEART OF L’OREAL’S SUCCESS
by Gale Horton Gay ghorton@ccgmag.com
AA perfectly made up face may appear to be just the artful application of foundation, mascara and lipstick, but beauty industry experts know there’s a complex amount of science behind every pretty face.
That’s what three leading beauty industry experts from L’Oreal shared in a discussion about “Shaping a Brighter Future: The Beauty of Science and the Science of Beauty.”
Science is at the heart of this multi-million global corporation where scientists across a broad spectrum of fields (chemists, behavioral scientists, etc.) create, test and analyze new concepts and products and determine how consumers will react to them.
L’Oreal, which cites itself as the world’s leading beauty company, was founded in 1908 by a chemist. Today L’Oreal USA is the development, production and marketing base for 13 American brands including Maybelline New York, Soft-Sheen Carson, Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Essie Cosmetics, Mizani, Pureology, Dermablend and Urban Decay. L’Oreal employees 68,000 people worldwide, files more than 600 patents annually and its products are available in 130 countries, according to a company video.
According to Jerome Laday, L’Oreal’s director of talent recruitment, 69 percent of the researchers working in the company’s labs are female and the role of scientists are critical in an industry, which must meet Food and Drug Administration requirement for many of its products.
Laday said research and development team members totally throw themselves into their work, and it’s not uncommon to see researchers in the lab with hair spiked or dyed with indevelopment products or noticing chemists (men and women) applying test mascara around their eyes to determine how well it can be applied.
Harold Bryant, Ph.D., vice president of research and innovation at L’Oreal, said he previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry, which was extremely structured and regimented.
“Our industry is more fun,” said Bryant. “We create things that make people feel good, look good.”
Equally important as the development and testing of new products is how the public uses these products and whether they will perceive these products as valuable. The firm employs behavioral scientists, psychologists and sociologists to study consumer tastes, motivations and reasoning. In their research, they’ve determined that men and women use products differently. For example, men use less hair and skin products and are generally are looking for quick fixes such as three-in-one personal care products. Women are more sophisticated in their selection and use of products, they say.
“It all boils down to understanding the consumer,” said one of L’Oreal’s experts. “What’s driving their habits? What gets them to use the product the way they are using them?”
The process of developing new products at L’Oreal includes advance research, applied research, formulation, sensory evaluation and clinical studies and can take six to 18 months to complete.
One of the leaders shared that one of the company’s biggest challenges is beating its competition to the market.
And timing is also critical in the beauty industry.
It is not uncommon for L’Oreal to bring a new product to market in America and then discover there’s a similar product covered by patents in other countries. A decision has to be made if it makes good business sense to pour full effort into the development and marketing of a product that can only be introduced in the United States with limited global reach.
Another challenge for L’Oreal is that formulas developed here in the United States also must be compliant with regulations in other countries such as India, Brazil, China and South Africa.
Crystal Porter, Ph.D., manager of L’Oreal’s Institute for Ethnic Hair and Skin Research, said that one of the challenges in her lab is trying to mimic consumer perceptions to various nuances achieved under controlled conditions in the lab.
Porter said she routinely volunteers to test hair care products under development on her own hair.
“We know that hair is not created equal,” noted Porter. “Recently someone asked me ‘Why would you do that?’ It’s really special to immerse yourself before we even do testing.”
And another L’Oreal insider added that input from various segments of the market is one of the reasons that diversity in the workforce is so important to the company. Porter describes herself as a polymer chemist who went to engineering school because she “didn’t want to be a lab chemist. That set me up very well to do what I am doing now.”
Antoinette Hamilton, L’Oreal’s assistant vice president of diversity and inclusion at L’Oreal USA, said the company has a program to stimulate girls’ interest in science.
“ForGirlsInScience.org isn’t just a website, it’s where budding scientists can learn about science in a fun and interactive way: hypothesize, experiment and draw exciting conclusions,” state the website’s “About” page. “They can connect with other girls who love science and share their ideas and dreams. They can be inspired by women who have dreamed, created and invented before them, discover the wide range of fields that fall under “science,” and find the tools and motivation needed to become scientists themselves.”
“We know we really need to keep the community engaged, especially girls,” said Hamilton.
Laday said that STEM majors are very much in demand in the beauty industry and suggests that those interested in entering the industry do their homework.
“Find out what’s important,” said the recruiter. Look at what the company is all about. It’s really about find your passion. What is it that you really want to do with the rest of your life.”
Another beauty industry expert said problem solving is key.
“You have to be able to solve problems with the tools available to you,” he said.
Laday added that to be successful at L’Oreal requires specific traits.
“You have to be open-minded, constantly innovating,” said Laday. “Every day there’s a new challenge and every day we try to find a solution.”
Pioneering Spirits Wanted:
LOWE’S SEEKS INNOVATORS
by Rachel Hawksworth Director of talent acquisition, Lowe’s
HHave you ever thought about revolutionizing home improvement? Well, Lowe’s has. The company is looking for “Pioneering Spirits” to lead the way along its journey to provide customers with a truly differentiated experience. While having a pioneering spirit is not generally associated with today’s retail business, Lowe’s is moving to change all that.
Lowe’s, with more than 1,700 home improvement stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico has launched a campaign to attract and retain talent that display a strong sense of vision and drive. The company is actively searching for innovative and creative people eager to take on new challenges and ready to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Lowe’s outreach represents a real growth opportunity for people who can offer big ideas and bold solutions as part of a highly motivated team.
The pioneering spirit and innovation
Individuals most likely to find a home with Lowe’s are people with strong interpersonal and leadership skills who want big responsibilities. Lowe’s offers a career path for self-starters determined to make a difference but who also recognize the importance of collaboration and teamwork. That’s why there’s a high priority on openness and adaptability. The concept of the pioneering spirit comes from the ability to develop entrepreneurial ideas that can be brought to fruition within an established structure. Pioneering spirits are motivated and driven and, at the same time, appreciate an environment in which their contributions are valued and encouraged. Lowe’s welcomes those who view themselves as potential leaders, willing to offer innovative ideas and new directions that help the company and employees grow.
Candidates will discover a number of opportunities by visiting Lowes.com/Careers. At the college level, there are internships to give students a hands-on understanding of the multifaceted world of retail. Prospective graduates can also check out opportunities at corporate headquarters, Lowe’s stores and distribution centers.
A welcoming culture
Underlying the inclusive environment at Lowe’s are four principles behind its dynamic work environment:
Connect: The essence of the team environment—inspiring, assisting and cheering each other on.
Contribute: Seeking out, listening and valuing other viewpoints.
Thrive: A key component to employee fulfillment—having the freedom and support to explore and realize each person’s greatest potential.
Celebrate: Taking time to appreciate large and small victories and accomplishments.
Lowe’s embraces the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. The company is a leader in recruiting and developing talent in the Latino and African-American communities. One example comes from Patricia Cuero Nielsen, who holds a degree in nuclear science engineering from the University of Florida and an M.B.A. in information technology from the University of Phoenix. She said Lowe’s offers a realm of possibilities. “A career at Lowe’s is not limited to one’s area of expertise (and) people with technical skills don’t have to limit themselves to IT,” Patricia said. “For those of us who seek to become general managers or lead teams, Lowe’s presents those opportunities (and) there is room for those who make the effort to excel with the company.”
Lowe’s leaders emphasize that their outreach represents a major change to traditional retail—a change top talent will find very attractive. It’s a career lifecycle in which new talent wanting to be more than “a cog in a wheel” can grow and contribute in an encouraging and welcoming environment that is enthusiastic about innovation and collaboration. “Never stop improving” is not just an advertising slogan at Lowe’s. It’s a lifestyle for customers and our employees.
DECK OUT YOUR DORM ROOM WITH LOWE’S
by Imani Carter icarter@ccgmag.com
Your dorm room might be your first room you will live in away from home. The best way to decorate your dorm room on a budget is to give it some familiarity to your home atmosphere. Bring along pictures of family members and pets. These can help decorate your dorm room and also remind you of home, where your heart is.
Lowe’s offers a variety of beautiful picture frames that will accent your walls and make your room unique and homey.
Remember you will also be sharing your room with another person, so you will want to compromise once getting there to keep your room in keeping with your roommate’s wishes also. You should begin cooperating with your roommate to create a pleasant and peaceful atmosphere.
Dorm rooms are many times not the largest spaces; however, Lowe’s provides merchandise such as wall and door hooks, bed risers and shelves that assist in maximizing your space.
Having to share a small space with another person can be a challenge, especially since your room at home is currently full of knick knacks and other personal belongings. If your closet is a disaster and the thought of fitting all your stuff into a dorm concerns you, consider investing in Lowe’s closet organizers which provide you with storage for shoes, towels, wash cloths etc.
While sharing your room, it is important to keep your side tidy. It’s very easy for papers to overtake your desk space when you start bringing back homework from class, notes and syllabuses. Try getting folders for each class and store them in a drawer or file.
Trunk: CONTICO 23-Gallon Storage Locker $29.98
Lowe’s office organizers and desk lamps (comes equipped with built in organizers) will make your information much easier to find, which comes in handy when you need to study a certain subject or complete an assignment.
Intended for those who have no idea where to start, and even for the students who have planned how they’ll design their dorm room the entire summer, Lowe’s is the perfect place to buy all of the essential tools you’ll need to deck out your new dorm room.
DECK OUT YOUR DORM ROOM WITH LOWE’S
Trash can : 1.5-Gallon Indoor Garbage Can, $4.48
Floor lamp: Style Selections 68-in 3-Way 5-Light Silver Floor Lamp, $19.97
Mirror: MCS Industries 15.5-in x 51.5-in Bronze Rectangular Framed Mirror, $19.98 Closet organizer set: Style Selections Set of 5 13-1/2-in W x 14-in H x 5-in D Black Organizers, $15.18
Door mat: Mohawk Home 27-in x 18-in Multicolor Rectangular Door Mat, $4.98
Ottoman: Linon Pink Square Ottoman, $12.90 Desk lamp: Style Selections 15-in Adjustable Blue Swivel Desk Lamp, $10.97
Mini fridge: Haier 1.7 cu ft Compact Refrigerator (Black), $89.99
Pull out chair: Mac at Home Steel Folding Chair, $44.98
imagine the po ibilities . . .
is the second oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. Offering baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 41 master’s degrees and four doctoral programs, the University has an established reputation for producing thousands of engineers, nurses, educators and corporate leaders. Since 1876, PVAMU has been dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research and service.
The Roy G. Perry College of Engineering (COE) has distinguished itself as a premier program at Prairie View A&M University, maintaining a reputation for integrating theoretical knowledge with advanced hands-on industry experience. Many of its graduates are employed throughout the business and technological communities through Fortune 500 companies and as successful entrepreneurs. Overall, the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering produces graduates who are equipped to exercise a competitive advantage in today’s critical engineering disciplines.
COE Degree Programs
Chemical Engineering........BSCHE*, MSENGR Civil and Environmental Engineering ........................BSCE*, MSENGR Computer Science..............BS*, MSCS Computer Information Systems...............................MSCIS Computer Engineering.......BSCPEG* Electrical Engineering........BSEE*, MSEE, PhD Mechanical Engineering....BSME*, MSENGR Computer Engineering Technology..........................BSCET* Electrical Engineering Technology..........................BSEET*
*All Undergraduate Programs Are Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Certified
Roy G. Perry College of Engineering
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