Never Giving up on my dream.
MEET EVELIA CARMONA, MANAGER – TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
As a Mexican American woman, Evelia always dreamed of starting her career at SCE even before she finished college. After doing her research, she knew right away that SCE’s values and commitment to the community aligned with hers. Through her passion and determination, she applied 52 times before she landed her first interview and eventually started in the Transportation Services Department as a Business Analyst. Thirteen years later, Evelia is now Manager for the Transmission Construction & Technical Support Project Management team where she leads a group of Project Managers. She shares, “I am passionate about my role because there is something new to learn everyday.” On one day, she can be dealing with transmission relocations issues and on another, she is motivating her team, giving tips to help bring out the best in them.
As a teen mom, challenges and adversity are not new to Evelia but she is always up for the task. Through hard work and perseverance, she quickly ascended to her role in a field that is predominantly male.
Leveraging mentors and resources, such as T&D Women’s Group and Women’s Roundtable, has empowered her to address challenges from the perception of not coming from a traditional engineering background and being a woman in the field.
Currently, Evelia is the Director of Advancement for the Women’s Roundtable and helps employees get access to career and professional development resources. She shares, “I’m here to help our members achieve their career goals, give them knowledge to be the best version of themselves, and at the same time, influence our culture of inclusivity.”
In her personal life, Evelia looks to give back to the Hispanic community and be a role model to young Latinas. She encourages her daughter, who recently graduated as an engineer, to be an example and mentor to other aspiring Hispanic young women. As a first-generation college graduate and someone who didn’t have a role model growing up, she wants to help her community and encourages others to pursue a career that gives them the opportunity to contribute to a better world. “For those of us that have been blessed with a college education and good job, we have to give back to the community and inspire them.”
Share with us your experience and involvement with Edison’s Women’s Roundtable?
This is one my favorite things in life. The members who are part of Women’s Roundtable are phenomenal! We have an amazing executive sponsor, Maria Rigatti, who is the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Our members are passionate about making a change in people’s personal and professional lives. As a board member and the Director of Advancement, I volunteer a lot of time outside of my regular work hours to help give our members the support they need and empower them to advance through their careers. We also have several male allies that are involved in our membership meetings and events. Women’s Roundtable is there to serve everyone!
What does Hispanic Heritage month mean to you?
I am very proud of my heritage. I grew up in a very traditional Mexican household where everyone spoke Spanish and the expectation was that as a beautiful woman you needed to attract and marry someone to live the “American dream.” As a young girl, I didn’t have the perfect corporate role model to look up to, so I had to figure it out on my own. Now, I want to be that role model for other young Hispanic girls and inspire them to dream about the career they wish to have. I feel I have a responsibility to motivate others to change the world for the better.
What’s your #1 piece of advice for candidates who are looking for jobs right now?
Don’t give up! You are the captain of your life and you oversee your destiny. There are things we cannot control, but you still must give it your all. If you are not being selected for interviews, then change your resume and ask for help; keep changing it until you start getting results. Same thing with interviews, keep changing it and ask for feedback until you develop a formula that works for you.
