Empowering Women at Schumacher Electric: Stories of Growth and Mentorship – In Celebration of Mentoring Monday
on February 24, 2025
In celebration of Mentoring Monday where Schumacher Electric’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kim Kemper, will serve as a featured mentor, Schumacher is proud to share the inspiring stories of our female employees and partners at Schumacher Electric. These powerful narratives of growth, mentorship, and unwavering support highlight the remarkable journeys of women who have navigated their […]
In celebration of Mentoring Monday where Schumacher Electric’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kim Kemper, will serve as a featured mentor, Schumacher is proud to share the inspiring stories of our female employees and partners at Schumacher Electric. These powerful narratives of growth, mentorship, and unwavering support highlight the remarkable journeys of women who have navigated their unique career paths with the guidance of mentors who have left indelible marks on their professional lives. These mentors, whether formally assigned or organically discovered, have played crucial roles in shaping their journeys, offering wisdom, encouragement, and the occasional nudge in the right direction.
Mentorship has not only been a cornerstone in their development but also a passion they now wish to pass forward. When asked what advice they would give to young women they mentor, these employees emphasized the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and the courage to seize opportunities. They also shared invaluable lessons learned from their experiences, aiming to inspire and empower the next generation of female leaders.
Kemper credited her own mentor with shaping how she approaches and analyzes challenges. “My mentor helped me understand the importance of perspective,” she said. “How to look at a problem I was trying to solve or a situation I was working on to analyze it through multiple lenses. And more importantly, [my mentor taught me] how to actively seek and integrate perspective.”
Schumacher Electric has been instrumental in supporting all its employees’ career advancement, providing a nurturing environment where talent is recognized and cultivated. Through various initiatives, training programs, and a culture of inclusion, the company has fostered an atmosphere where female employees can thrive and excel. Their stories are testimonies to how a supportive workplace and effective mentorship can propel careers to new heights.
Cristy Lee
Entrepreneur, Automotive Journalist, Social Media and Television Personality, and Schumacher Brand Ambassador
Years Partnered with Schumacher Electric: 2 years
Cristy Lee has had an exceptional career as an entrepreneur, automotive journalist, and social media and television personality. But none of it would have come to pass without the mentors in her life. Luckily for Lee, she didn’t have to go searching for her first mentors. Her father helped her develop her automotive skills and introduced her to entrepreneurship while her mother introduced her to teaching others. “My father introduced me to the automotive world at very young age, enticing my interest in the industry and creating a lifelong love of everything cars,” said Lee. “My mother changed her career and went back to school to get her teaching degree in her 40s, which has been a strong foundation for me to continue to grow, improve and aspire for more professionally no matter what.”
Now that she is a notable professional at the apex of her career, Lee has the chance to slip into the role of mentor herself. Lee said, “As a public figure, I have become a mentor to many, and especially young women in both the automotive and tv/entertainment industries. I honestly never thought anyone would consider me a mentor, or someone to look up to, or to model their goals after, but I fully embrace it! If I can impact even one person positively in any way, whether it be professionally or personally, that is a tremendous honor.”
Mentorship has taught Lee a number of valuable lessons, including how vital teamwork is to reach a greater goal and how mentor and mentee relationship positive effects both parties. “Creating that relationship between mentor and mentee has the potential to completely change both perspectives in a workplace,” said Lee.
Faye Hadley
Automotive Technician, Social Media Educator, Television Personality, and Schumacher Brand Ambassador
Years Partnered with Schumacher Electric: 2 years
Faye Hadley has found success as an automotive technician and television and social media personality. However, her life would look very different today without the mentor who introduced her to the automotive industry. “Without the guidance and encouragement from my first mentor (and I should add that I have been blessed with several highly influential mentors throughout my career, and I’m honored to have taken on that mentor role myself) I wouldn’t have started in the automotive industry when I did,” said Hadley. “My family wasn’t supportive of me working in the trades, and I was reluctantly pursuing another career path to fit a prescribed mold. When I found my first mentor at my local Volkswagen shop and began working with him, he encouraged me to pursue a career and further education in the automotive industry, despite the pushback from my parents. He served as such an inspiring example for what an automotive career trajectory could look like. He made a true pathway from hobbyist tinker to mechanic feel tangible and within reach, and he started teaching me the basics through a hands-on “try it first, ask for help second” approach that really worked for me.”
Now that she’s established in her career, Hadley has embraced the role of mentor. She said, “I’ve had the opportunity to take several mentees under my wing, the first being over a decade ago. I think there is something truly satisfying about sharing your knowledge with others.”
Hadley added, “Being able to share tips and tricks and pass on knowledge to the next generation of technicians–or even to your peers in the trade–is extremely fulfilling and makes you feel like your legacy will live on long beyond the time that you’re able to work a physical job.”
For Hadley, mentoring is also a two-way street. “Being mentored and mentoring has taught me that knowledge-sharing doesn’t have to follow a hierarchy or a chain of command,” she said. “Everyone has something to learn, and everyone has something to teach. That philosophy inevitably leads to collaboration, respect, and strong team dynamics. And, I think that having a mentorship mindset and valuing teaching, learning, and growing over penalizing and criticizing is what makes a great leader.”
Carolyn Matthews
Demand Planner
Location: Dallas/Fort Worth Corporate Headquarters
Years at Schumacher Electric: 4 years
Carolyn Matthews fondly recalls the guidance of a supervisor and how it helped her accelerate her personal and professional development. Matthews said, “With her wealth of experience and an innate ability to identify potential in others she took a genuine interest in my professional development, providing guidance and constructive feedback that was both insightful and encouraging to both my professional and personal life.”
“Mentorship influenced my approach to leadership and teamwork by emphasizing the importance of empathy, listening, and empowering others,” she added. “Through my experiences with mentors, I have learned to value diverse perspectives and foster an environment where team members feel heard and respected. This collaborative approach not only enhances team cohesion but also drives innovation and productivity.”
Lindsay Coffey
Director, E-Commerce Marketplaces
Location: Remote
Years at Schumacher Electric: Started Feb. 3, 2025
For Lindsay Coffey, mentorship is a tool for building a more inclusive workplace where everyone is given the opportunity to build skills. She said, “Mentorship plays a crucial role in fostering a more inclusive workplace by empowering underrepresented groups and building a supportive network. Mentors help mentees build confidence, develop essential skills, and navigate biases, ensuring everyone has access to growth opportunities. This empowerment creates a sense of belonging and encourages diverse perspectives, enriching the workplace with innovative ideas.”
Coffey added, “Additionally, mentorship promotes inclusive leadership by instilling values of empathy, respect, and collaboration. By fostering continuous learning and addressing inequities, mentors help create a dynamic and equitable environment where all employees can thrive.”
Speaking of her own experience with a mentor, Coffey said, “Mentorship has profoundly shaped my approach to leadership and teamwork. Through the guidance and support of my mentors, I’ve learned the importance of empathy, active listening, and fostering a collaborative environment. These experiences have taught me that effective leadership is not just about directing others but about empowering them to reach their full potential.”
“Mentorship has also highlighted the value of building strong, trusting relationships within a team,” said Coffey. “By creating an atmosphere where team members feel valued and supported, I can encourage open communication and mutual respect. This approach not only enhances team cohesion but also drives collective success.”
Ninfa Ortiz
Global Sourcing Manager
Location: Matamoros, Mexico
Years at Schumacher Electric: 1 year, 3 months
Ninfa Ortiz has experienced mentorship from both sides, as a mentor and as a mentee. She has seen firsthand how mentorship can help people advance in their careers and in their personal lives. She shared her experience mentoring a young employee with the potential to be a supervisor. She said, “I encouraged him to study engineering and gave him the facilities so that he could finish his degree without any setbacks at work. My motivation was to give him back a little of what I had learned throughout my career and give him the opportunity to develop his skills.”
She also believes mentorship is a positive for the employer and everyone in the workplace. “It helps you establish an environment of respect, communication, and trust,” said Ortiz. “It helps foster a diversity of perspectives and opinions that allow for better decision-making.”
Isabelle Pagano
HR Manager
Location: Harzé, Belgium
Years at Schumacher Electric: 9.5 years
Isabelle Pagano started with Schumacher Electric as an executive assistant nearly a decade ago. Since then, she has risen to the position of Human Resources Manager and along the way numerous Schumacher employees have provide her with support and helped her develop knowledge that would help her on the next step of her career. “A mentor’s role is to encourage his or her mentee’s professional and personal development by sharing knowledge, know-how, expertise and experience,” said Pagano. “The mentoring relationship is based on mutual trust, sincere respect and transparent communication.”
“Certain people spontaneously and generously had an impact on my career,” said Pagano. “When I say ‘generous,’ it’s not a word chosen at random. Mentors willingly share their knowledge, without regard for their personal interests. I’m grateful to all those people, who throughout my career, have shared their knowledge with me without expecting anything in return, which enabled me to pick up what I needed to keep moving forward.”
Linda Shen
Project Manager
Location: SuZhou, China
Years at Schumacher Electric: 15 years
In her 15 years with Schumacher Electric, Linda Shen has held multiple positions and is currently a Project Manager helping develop new products and overseeing improvements to existing products. She fondly recalls a supervisor who helped her grow and learn new skills. Shen said, “My boss was like a teacher. He arranged training for young people, took us to visit the operation line, and use the products. It helped the younger workers learn a lot of things and progress together.”
That experience with a supportive supervisor influences Shen and how she views the importance of mentoring. “Positive mentoring relationships make teams confident, cohesive, and successful.
Yolanda Yazzie
Engineering Documentation Manager
Location: Dallas/Fort Worth Corporate Headquarters
Years at Schumacher Electric: 30 years, 4 months
One of Schumacher Electric’s longest tenured employees, Yolanda Yazzie, started on the assembly line and made it her mission to learn how to do as many jobs in the factory as possible. This lead to her being the trainer for all new hires in the factory. In the years to come she progressed in her career and went back to school several times as she needed to add education and skills. After stints in Quality Control, the Engineering Lab, Drafting, and other departments she was promoted to her current position as Engineering Documentation Manager.
Along the way she was lucky enough to have numerous mentors at Schumacher. Yazzie said, “Going into any new position at Schumacher gave me a lot of amazing mentors. I can truthfully say that I can’t give credit to one more than another as every position came with a great mentor to help me move forward.”
She continues the generosity she experienced from her mentors helping the next generations of Schumacher employees. “Anything I know I will teach to anyone that wants to learn,” Yazzie said. “I think it’s important to share knowledge in everything you do. Especially in our jobs.”
She’s grateful that Schumacher encourages its employees to grow in their careers. “In the past, Schumacher has always allowed me to grow,” she said. “Even with no experience, they let me try to do different jobs and show them I was capable. They didn’t just tell me I did not have the right degrees and experience to move to that position.”
