Fairygodboss Radio: Nolita Lewis - Material Behavior & Operations Leader at GE Aerospace

About the Episode

Meet Nolita Lewis, an executive leader with over 22 years of experience at GE. From being a first-generation college graduate with a fascination for planes to becoming a pioneer in the aerospace industry, she reflects on the challenges along the way and shares how her dedication and fearlessness have helped her break barriers and succeed in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Hear about Nolita's experience of being the only woman in the room and what has motivated her to stay at GE for more than two decades. She also provides practical advice on building a network and the importance of intentional self-care. Tune in to learn more about Nolita's remarkable story and gain insights into building a successful career in STEM.

Listen to the full conversation below. We also provide transcript of this exciting discussion in the following article.

Fairygodboss is proud to partner with GE Aerospace. Find a job there today!

^{[Recorded on November 9, 2023]}

About the Guest

Nolita Lewis is currently the executive leader of the Materials Behavior and Operations department in Engineering Material Systems at GE Aerospace. Her passion for Aerospace, engineering and math bought her to GE and has kept her here for 20+ years. She is a first-generation college study born in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been married for 16 years and has two children. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Science Engineering from Tuskegee University and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. She joined GE Aerospace in 2003 and has held roles in engineering design, repair, engine systems and engine test supporting multiple new product introductions and engine certifications.

In the office, she is a proud member of the African American Forum, GE Women’s Network and serves as an ally for the GLBTA Alliance & Veterans Network. She also devotes her time volunteering in the community. She leads the Holiday Hope Drive for GE Aerospace which strives to provide gifts to underprivileged children in the Cincinnati area during the holiday season. In addition to that, she also volunteers with the GE Next Engineers, Girl Scouts STEM & Lincoln Heights Elementary Tutoring program. All three of these programs focus on exposing local youth to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Outside of the office, Nolita previously served as a board member of the Twenty Cultured Pearls Foundation & still maintains board responsibilities for the Tuskegee University Accreditation for Engineering and Technology. Her and her family support the GE Community Service Fund, March of Dimes, and Matthew 25 Ministries. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, trying new recipes & volunteering in the community.

Episode Transcript

Gabi Carachilo: Welcome to Fairygodboss Radio. Today, I am joined by Nolita Lewis, Material Behavior and Operations Leader at GE Aerospace. Nolita, welcome to the show. We're so excited to have you here.

Nolita Lewis: Excited to be here. Thank you so much for having me.

Gabi Carachilo: We are excited about today's conversation. I'd love to jump right in and would love to start by hearing more about your career and how did you get to where you are today?

Nolita Lewis: Great question. I am what you hear called a first generation college student. So I am the first in my family to go to college. And grew up near the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. And had a thing for planes. Never was able to afford to fly on one prior to going to college but always, you know, had an interest in how they flew what was happening on the inside, where were they going. And so fast forward senior year in high school, applied to Tuskegee University that has one of the few Aerospace Engineering programs. And so did really well in undergrad and had a few summer internships here at GE Aerospace, trying to figure out, you know, what I wanted to do longer term here at the company. I knew that GE was where I wanted to be. I just didn't know what I wanted to do in particular at the moment. Very big company, a lot of options for engineers to really explore and learn a lot. And so graduated from Tuskegee and joined GE on the Edison Engineering Development Program full time. I got my Master's in Mechanical Engineering through that program. Also very exploratory. It's a rotational program, gives you the opportunity to try out a lot of different places within the company before landing in something a little bit more permanent after two years. You know, throughout that program and the internships that I had, had a lot of great mentors and coaches kind of guiding and directing me, showing me what's out there, being honest with me about my gaps and the things I really needed to work and develop. And then, you know, what landed me here eventually after 22 years with GE, it's the hard work, the people that came before me and then delivering and executing for the business.

Gabi Carachilo: 22 years at GE. That is incredible. And a tenure that we don't see all that often any longer. And it's a testament to you and the contributions that you've made, the success that you've had, but also the organization. for being able to provide you with with those opportunities for advancement where you felt comfortable continuing to grow with the company as you navigated those career transitions. What were some of the most crucial decisions you had to make along the way?

Nolita Lewis: Oh, a lot. So one was getting over the fear of being away from home, right? Getting over the fear of, can I do this? Can I move away from Atlanta to Cincinnati where I know no one? Go to corporate America, big company. Yeah, I had internships, but it is a little different when you're full time and this is permanent. So getting over that initial fear of, can I do this? But then coming to the point where you jump in and you try to do your absolute best. I had a mindset very early on that there are people that need me to do my job well, from our customers to the people that I work with on a regular basis. There were people that took a chance on me that made sacrifices to get me here, including my parents who put me through college. And so with that mindset, you know, it kind of projected me to want to do well in everything and give my absolute best. Big decision that I've, you know, had to make is just saying yes to something someone else saw in me that I didn't see in myself and making some sacrifices on how to come up to speed and learn very quickly. Because oftentimes when people say, Oh, you can do this job, right? And you have what you think are minimal abilities. You make some sacrifices and you have to figure out how you learn and how to do that job well. Going back to what I mentioned before about, Hey, someone took a chance. Someone's depending on me to do a good job. I think my biggest, biggest decision, at least the one that I found myself making several 22 year career was, again, saying yes to those little voices in your head that tell you can do something.

Gabi Carachilo: It's so powerful and it's so important. I think we all have experienced those moments, personally and professionally, where we're faced with an opportunity or a new challenge that scares us. And to your point, there's something to be said about embracing that fear, accepting the challenge, and then putting in the work for yourself, for those who've invested in you. And the results have seemed to pay off. Really well in your world, Nolita. So congratulations on all the success that you've had there and making those career transitions and growth throughout your time in the industry. I wanted to see if gender dynamics had any sort of influence on your career. Has gender played a role at all in your work experience, especially knowing that some of the industries you've worked in are traditionally more male dominated.

Nolita Lewis: Yes, yes, yes. I had this saying early in my career, it's lonely being the only. And so, you know, walking in, in reviews or meetings where you are the only, you're the only woman, you the only African American. And so having to prove myself. Right. That I deserve to be here, but I will tell you, some of my biggest advocates were male, like it, they, they did a great job at making me feel comfortable. Right. Yes. I had my challenges like any other industry, right. Where you're the only, but I will tell you, I work with a great group of people. I've had some great advocates. Probably the vast majority of them are male. I think the biggest challenge and hurdle I had to overcome from a gender standpoint, like I said, is just proving that I didn't get the job because I'm a woman or didn't get the job because I'm a black woman, right? It's because I deserve to be here just as anyone else. From the start of engineering school until, you know, 22 years later, still finding myself feeling like I need to prove that. Not necessarily because I'm made to feel that way today, but just because of, you know, the nature of things. And my own struggles with validation. I am proud to say though, in my current role, that I probably work with more female engineers than I ever have. And it is very refreshing, very, very refreshing. It's funny because, you know, if you talk to other women within GE, we always kind of wink or do an imaginary high five when we walk into a room and there is another woman in the room, right? Because that hasn't always been the case. So it's like a secret handshake that we have, or, you know, a look that we give each other, like, oh my God, I'm so glad to see you. We may not know each other, but just the sheer fact of another woman being in the room gives me a peace. And I think that's a really important piece of mind going into any discussion.

Gabi Carachilo: I love that. And we hear that time and time again from all of the women within our community, that there is that special bond, that shared experience, and we always aim to continue to foster and grow that. So in the spirit of fostering that sense of community, how do you go about mentoring or supporting other women, whether that's at GE or in other aspects of your life?

Nolita Lewis: So I have quite A bit of mentees here at GE. I also have a passion for giving back to the community through STEM in elementary schools. So I do a lot with those organizations as well. I have mentees. I am intentional about my regular touch points with them. I have a reminder on my calendar. This sounds crazy, but my calendar is crazy busy, but I have a reminder on my calendar. To reach out to my mentees, to check in every other week, see how things are going. I try to make myself available when they want to talk. I also try to celebrate and support them. Tough review coming up. You need me to help you think through, you know, an engineering problem or figure out how to respond in a tough situation. So I try to make sure that I'm available and I'm intentional about those. I'm also willing to give them the feedback that no one else will. Right, because I had someone do that for me, and it helped grow and develop me, and so I try to be in a very gentle and respectful way, give them the feedback that, you know, we sometimes need to hear that may be a little difficult coming from someone else.

Gabi Carachilo: You make a really good point. Feedback is so critical to that mentorship relationship, but it's not easy to do. It's not easy to do. There's somewhat of an art to it, but with practice, the value that can come from it is incredible. So kudos to you for spending so much time making such a strong commitment and giving back in so many aspects of your life. I'm sure throughout your journey, there have been so many lessons learned. Is there one that stands out? Is there an impactful lesson you've learned in the workplace that you'd like to share with our community?

Nolita Lewis: Yeah, I would say, and this is one thing that I absolutely struggle with. I'm being fully transparent here is networking and you hear people say it all the time, like, “Oh, you should network. There's power in networking. Network, network.” And I'm so uncomfortable in those situations. I've grown less and less uncomfortable with it as I've grown in my career. But I will say that there is truth to those words, right? You need a network. You need a network to get work done. So your internal work network, right? You got a deadline, you need a favor. If you got a network of people or a person that's in your network that you can call to help you out, they're more inclined to help you out if you're part of that network, if they know you. You need a network for advocacy, right? When you're not in those rooms, who's speaking for you? Who's standing up for you? Who's saying your name so that people know who you are? And then just for advice. You may have a big pitch coming up and you want to practice or you want to know, "Hey, what kind of questions am I going to get?" Maybe there's someone in that network that has gone through that and you can reach in and ask for some advice on those situations. All part of having a very strong network. So if there is one thing that I have learned to appreciate is the power of having a good network.

Gabi Carachilo: Well, I really appreciate your transparency. I am sure our audience will as well. And it's not the first that we've heard that, right? It's an uncomfortable thing to put yourself out there to make those strides to begin or build upon your existing network, both inside your workplace and outside of your workplace. For those who are listening in and resonate with this message and have yet to begin, have yet to really start to form their network, What would your advice be to them? How can they get started? What would be that first step?

Nolita Lewis: I would say, and this is cliche, but get comfortable being uncomfortable. Best advice I've ever received. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. So you sweat, whatever your uncomfortable behaviors are, get comfortable with those because essentially that's what you end up having to overcome to be able to meet new people. Especially when you're an introvert like I am. In order to be able to meet new people, you know, I have to give myself a pep talk. I give myself the pep talk, I know it's going to be an uncomfortable situation, but what I've found is if I better prepare, okay, well, what topics can I talk about? Go in the bathroom prior to that session and say to yourself in the mirror, you can do this. It's not as intense. These are people just like I am. And they have insecurities just like I do. And so, it's just a dialogue. And I'm gonna get a name, and I'm gonna remember. And maybe we have something in common. And take that commonality and try to use it to make yourself feel more comfortable. And what I've found is You know, after the first 20 minutes or so, I'm completely comfortable mingling in a group of people that I may or may not know.

Gabi Carachilo: That’s great advice. Thank you so much. I love the idea of a pep talk. I'm also a big fan of power poses. When you need to give yourself a little boost before entering into one of those uncomfortable scenarios.

Nolita Lewis: Absolutely.

Gabi Carachilo: It's great, great insight. As we talk about some of these challenges that you've overcome, I wanted to call attention to the fact that these past few years have been incredibly challenging in many ways for all of us. What are you doing differently as a result? Do you have any advice for our audience on how to persevere when they? experience these sorts of challenges and transitions that we've all seen play out in the workplace.

Nolita Lewis: What the challenges have taught me over the years, you know, through COVID and even before that is you have to be intentional about making time for yourself. and for your family. And not just saying you're gonna do it, but really being intentional about it. And so in my life, what that looks like is at 5 p.m. every day, I try to close my computer and I go home so that I can prepare a meal for my family. I can sit and have dinner. I can spend time with my husband. I can help with homework. And then if there's something I didn't finish, maybe I hop back on after I've done All of that stuff.

The second thing I'll say is having the courage, and I say courage, to boldly say no to things that I don't have the mental bandwidth to do. I was always that person with, you know, my weekends were jam packed. If there was a baby shower, or a wedding, or a 5K, or anything that came up, I was always like, yes, absolutely. I'll do it. Absolutely. After working a full week, having a family and everything that comes along with that, always saying yes. I found myself burnt out a lot and so now, you know, having the courage to boldly say, no, I appreciate the invite. Thank you for thinking of me, but I can't attend and being okay with that.

And then the last thing I'll say is, and this is going to sound silly, but being okay, having a lazy day, I am very much the person that, okay, if there's downtime, I should be doing something. I absolutely should be doing something, right? Whether it's catching up on email or wiping the walls down or cleaning the baseboards or cleaning out the, there is always something. And it was very hard for me to sit in that lazy day and yes, there are things to be done, but guess what? I am going to sit on the couch. I'm going to read a book or listen to some jazz and that's going to be what I'm going to do today. And I need to do that for my mental health and for my mental well being so that I'm my best person here at work and also at home. It's having those lazy days often and being okay with that.

Gabi Carachilo: I love it. I love it. Everything that you said resonates so closely to me and I'm still figuring it out as a working mom of young children. I see those commitments starting to pile up. The invitations start coming more frequently. And there's something to be said about finding that balance and using some courage to say no from time to time so that I can be the best coworker, the best leader, the best mother, so on and so forth. Right. And there's some benefit to that. So thank you. I took notes. I'll reflect on that, and I think it will resonate with a lot of the folks within our community as well who are experiencing and navigating certain challenges when it comes to finding that balance, juggling those variety of responsibilities that we all have inside and outside of work. I'm sure there'll be many people who are tuning in that are very interested in learning more about the career opportunities at GE Aerospace. Do you have any advice for those who are interested in learning more?

Nolita Lewis: Absolutely. So we have a lot of jobs out on LinkedIn. So if you're on LinkedIn, you can check out any person, any hiring manager. We even have some talent acquisition partners out in LinkedIn actively recruiting. So if you are interested in GE aerospace, I would send any one of those individuals that you find out there a note to see if they can direct you to the open positions. I would also recommend that you check out GE careers. jobs.gecareers.com to be exact, to apply to any open roles that we have. We definitely have some out there, especially in engineering. I say if you're interested, absolutely get out there and have a look at what we offer.

Gabi Carachilo: Wonderful. I'll also make a plug for GE Aerospace their Fairygodboss profile. Lots of great information there as well as job opportunities. Fantastic. Well, I'd love to transition to a fun section of our conversation, which we have coined our Fast Five Questions. My first question is, what is your go to karaoke song?

Nolita Lewis: I Want to Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston.

Gabi Carachilo: Yes, such a great one. Who cannot not dance when that one comes on? The next question is, what book would you recommend?

Nolita Lewis: So, the one that I read that stuck out to me most here recent, past couple years, is Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.

Gabi Carachilo: I will write that one down.

Nolita Lewis: Very good book.

Gabi Carachilo: Great. Who is one celebrity that you would like to have dinner with?

Nolita Lewis: Okay, so my answer to this question is probably not going to be one that you would expect, but none. I'm not really starstruck. I work with some really smart, cool people every day. that are rocket scientists, believe it or not, and it's hard to top that. So I, you know, I get my jollies and I really appreciate working with the smart people here at GE Aerospace. And I consider that a privilege. So much so I don't plan on leaving GE Aerospace. I'm going to retire from here. So hopefully they don't kick me out. But this is the coolest place. These are the coolest people. The stars that I desire to hang out with and learn from every day.

Gabi Carachilo: You cannot beat that answer. That is amazing. All right. At Fairygodboss, we have a tradition where we see that sometimes women are not great at bragging about themselves or talking about their own achievements. And we believe that we can only get better if we practice. I'll ask, can you please share a brag with us right now?

Nolita Lewis: So this year I was the 2023 Women in STEM inductee for GE Aerospace.

Gabi Carachilo: Wow, that's a big one.

Nolita Lewis: Very uncomfortable for me, I have to tell you. So you are definitely right when you say we don't like to brag on ourselves. That is very true.

Gabi Carachilo: Listen, I was ready to pull from our conversation. I had a series of things, Nolita, that I was ready to brag on you about, stemming from first generation college graduates, to all the mentorship work you do in turtling within the community. We could be here for a while talking about all of your accomplishments. So thank you for bragging for us. We've reached the end of our conversation, which I've really enjoyed. It's been a ton of fun. I have one final question, which is what is the number one piece of advice you want to leave our audience with?

Nolita Lewis: One piece of advice I'd like to leave the audience with is try. How do you know you can't do it if you don't try it? It's okay to fail, fail fast, but it's okay to fail as long as you try.

Gabi Carachilo: I love that. Here's to all of us taking that into consideration and just giving it a try. Right? What do we have to lose? Thank you. Thank you so much for your time, for your advice, and for sharing your stories with us, Nolita. It's been such a pleasure, and I hope you're back on the Fairygodboss Radio Podcast soon.

Nolita Lewis: Thank you for having me.

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