Sonepar Asks – International Women’s Day Spotlight: Stacey Corley
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the successes and strides that women have achieved in the workplace. We are highlighting our female associates in honor of their accomplishments and celebrating International Women’s Day. We have asked each associate about their career journeys and the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives with Sonepar.
What position did you have when you started with the company and how did you progress into the position you have now?
I joined Sonepar in 2005, working in Accounts Receivable and since then have held 12 different career positions. In February of this year, I was promoted to Director of Business Development, responsible for our OpCo BlueWay, our Digital adoption in Ontario and our Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging portfolio. I have always been keen to learn new things and made that an ongoing developmental career goal. Sonepar is a company that believes the best candidates come from within and my career journey is proof of that.
What is the most important piece of advice you have been given that supported your career journey?
The most important piece of advice that I’ve had along the way is to be open and embrace change. Change is inevitable, and looking back on my entire career, it was built off adapting to change and, at times, bringing change to our business. I wholeheartedly respect the fundamentals of the electrical industry however being open to new things and new business ventures is where we can find growth and have some unique opportunities.
Is there anyone who inspires
Even though my father passed away just before my 21st birthday he continues to be my inspiration. My Dad owned a major metals signage company and although he had a sales team and installation team I remember hearing him talk about joining meetings for pitches to clients and would sometimes see him leave home in his jeans and t-shirt heading to help his team on installation day. I grew up watching somebody who put in hard work and went beyond his title due to his genuine care for his people and the business.
Why do you think diversity in the workplace is so important?
Diversity in the workplace is important because it’s how you get different perspectives. A strong company culture exists when you have a variety of ideas, experiences, and expertise.
What is the most important message you want to share with our female associates that are new hires and or also those in the company who have been thinking about growing their careers?
Speak up and if you want something….GO FOR IT! Sonepar is there to support, and you will never be turned down for being ambitious and career driven. However, you must be willing to take that leap, to jump in and put in the work to grow your career. Honestly, that message applies to anyone in our business, not just the females.
About Sonepar Canada:
Member of the Sonepar Group, we are Canada’s largest privately-held B-to-B electrical products distributor and supplier of safety, facilities maintenance and MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) products and related services. In Canada, we are represented in nine provinces by Dixon Electric, Gescan, Lumen, MGM Electric, Sesco, Texcan and Vallen. Sonepar Canada has over 2000 employees working out of 114 offices between our distinctive brands.
This post is also available in: French