Why We Boldly Go: Thriving in a Career and Paying it Forward

Eager to learn and grow—and it shows

Yolanda took her growth and development seriously as she advanced in her career, learned different aspects of the business, and even served as plant chief steward for the union while also working on the shop floor.

Today Yolanda is unit manager in our Tyler facility, with 12 direct reports—a mix of production supervisor and engineer direct reports, and hundreds of people under her. She is one of two unit managers on the floor serving first shift assembly operations, so she effectively oversees a great portion of the facility. She says her eagerness to learn and grow, along with mentorship from senior employees, helped her get where she is today—and now she’s paying it forward.

“Just like they say it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to grow and develop at work,” she said. “Having that village of support was huge for me in my career, and now a big part of my role is to help others with their growth and career development, not only in the workplace but, in their personal lives as well. I’m making sure they have clear goals and targets that are achievable, measurable and help them understand how they correlate to the business.”

The hardest part

Yolanda says the greatest challenge of her career, including her time as a business owner, is simply being a Black woman in a role typically held by white men.

“I’m the only female at my level on the shop floor, and obviously the only Black woman,” she said. “It can be a struggle to build a network around you and have a voice in the room. It requires holding onto your confidence, knowing your purpose and making sure you have a good support system.”

She’s breaking the bias—at work and in her family, where her two adult daughters are successful in their own right—by paving the way for other women and leading by example.

“Paving the way for women, regardless of color or culture, is huge for me,” Yolanda said. “I’m proud to walk through the plant every day as a woman in a historically male-dominated industry. I carry myself in a way that others may notice so leading by example comes easy. I’m modeling for other women that it’s possible to grow in your career and achieve the role you want. My aim is to uplift and pique the interest of women outside the jobs they normally do and break down barriers.”

Over the years, Yolanda watched and participated in the culture shift as more and more women joined the ranks in our Tyler plant, from assemblers and operators to supervisors and other demanding roles.

Advice for the next generation of women

“My advice is to build a network around you, look for sponsors and mentors, and get out of the scope of your work—and choose someone to bring along,” Yolanda said.

To people who want to work for Trane Technologies. She says, do it.

“It’s fast paced. There’s plenty of opportunity to grow and develop. Whatever you can ask for is here—benefits, retirement, a future. You’re truly able to make a difference here. If I had to go back in time 27 years and start again, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d do it the exact same way.”