Chavelle Patterson
Operations Department Leader
Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Co.
New Orleans, LA
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts
Washington University in St. Louis, BS, Biomedical Engineering
(Minors in Mechanical Engineering and Public Health)
RBC Young Professionals
United Way Charmaine Chapman Society
Washington University Community Research Fellows Training Program (CRFT) Cohort III
In short, what do you do?
As an Operations Department Leader at Procter & Gamble, I provide business and technical leadership necessary to ensure my department exceeds goals in production, quality, cost, delivery, safety, and morale metrics. I leverage High Performance Organization (HPO) principles to build capability in my teams. I also lead strategic projects that drive continuous improvement within my department.
Your role places emphasis on streamlining and efficiency—how do you balance that with need for safety and quality?
Safety and quality are at the foundation of the work that I do in my role and always the priority. If safety and quality are not stable in my organization, I focus on bringing those metrics back to target before working on projects that drive efficiency. As I look to streamline and make processes more efficient, I always verify that it will not have a negative impact on the safety and quality of the organization before making any decisions to move forward.
What advice can you give students who are interested in STEM related careers?
The ability to analyze data, master technology, or solve problems is as true of a talent as being able to paint a masterpiece. Embrace and develop whatever your STEM talents are until you discover what you are truly passionate about. Take advantage of opportunities to get real world exposure to different career paths that are available within STEM. The more you know about yourself and the opportunities that are out there, the better you can position yourself to have the most rewarding career.
Tell us about the mission and work of the organization you co-founded, BRAND of St. Louis.
The mission of BRAND of St. Louis is to bring accelerating solutions to communities in need. Our vision is to be a leader in innovative, collaborative strategies to solve urban economic problems, particularly those in African American communities. We publish monthly newsletters designed to increase access to local resources and events. We also provide low maintenance social media and email marketing solutions that drive community engagement and impact.
What are some key takeaways from your involvement in professional development organizations like RBC Young Professionals and the Community Research Fellows Training Program?
Through my involvement in professional development organizations, I have embraced learning as a lifelong commitment. Working with people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, I have learned how to achieve common objectives through collaboration and effective communication. Everyone has a unique set of skills and experiences that they bring to the table that we all can learn from. We can also leverage our collective strengths to have a more holistic impact on the community-at-large.
