In Her Heels with Domonique Townsend

Domonique Townsend is the Founder of We Optimize Work. We have selected her as a Heels Hero this week for many reasons. Join us as we interviewed her to learn more about her journey.

How did you enter into your industry?
I started my career in 2007 as a Junior Engineer in a manufacturing plant. I had the chance to lead continuous improvement projects on the plant floor, getting my hands dirty and improving product workflows. I enjoyed being challenged there! I remember working as a frontline employee at another plant years prior and being told how to do my job by a manager I rarely saw. I told myself that anytime I got the chance, I would make sure frontline employees were heard and felt valued in the decision-making for performance innovations. The Junior Engineer role helped me to further realize what career path I wanted to take. In my junior year of college, I switched my major from Architectural Engineering to Industrial Engineering, completed the matriculation requirements in 2 years, and accepted a leadership role across the country at one of the largest commercial food distributors in the nation. I relocated with my husband and our oldest who was only 8 months old at the time.

Did you always know you wanted to have this career?
Yes!! I’ve always wanted to be an Engineer and Consultant! Since I was a child, I would always try to connect the dots to help people solve problems and overcome a challenges they faced even when I was not asked. Ha! If there wasn’t a solution, I would figure out how to create a way. Seeing the transformation of emotions and the impact others would have when their experience was better always intrigued me. Combining that with my love for math and science, Engineering made the most sense! Being the CEO of a consulting firm that helps companies solve their biggest challenges was stapled in my vision early on in my career after noticing common gaps in the workplace.

If you could tell yourself one thing when you first started your career, what would it be?
I would tell myself to both qualify and quantify the companies I consider to pursue a position at. Often companies have messaging that is engaging, perks communicated in the job description that lead you to apply for a position. The interview process shares the wonderful benefits of what their company has to offer including how you will be developed for growth opportunities. Those are great qualifiers, but the key is being clear on the quantifiers. Ask questions to help you quantify how their actions align with the beautiful messaging. Accepting a role based on the potential of what they communicate vs. their current efforts can lead to a less than stellar work experience long-term.

How do you manage imposter syndrome?
To be honest, I don't manage imposter syndrome. I’ve always had confidence in my abilities, talents and capabilities to drive transformation. My challenges that I experienced was feeling comfortable to fully be me. I was faced with many people who judged my ability to succeed based on how I looked, my personality and their overall limited perception of what my capabilities were based on looks. I was impacted by “the limited box syndrome” where I attempted to shift and hide parts of myself in hopes of being accepted and understood by the standards of others. To best manage that, I believe what people say and their actions that follow at face value. I used to overstay my time with certain people and environments in attempts to convince them to accept me or to change their minds. I’ve learned that if experiences with people make you feel the need to dim your light or explain the core that makes you unique that’s it’s ok to move on and forward.

If you could go back and tell your teenage self advice what would it be?
The advice I would give my teenage self is that believing you is enough, loving you is enough, trusting you is enough. All additional belief, love and trust expressed by others does not have to hold a higher weight to determine what you feel about you. It’s safe to own your light. There are way more people who appreciate your presence than you realize.

Where are we likely to find you on the weekends or when you aren't working?
You will likely find me attending a child’s basketball game when in season or chaperoning for extracurricular activities, going on a date night, having a solo trip to the park, dancing to music, writing, spending time with my family or watching a documentary. I plan to start painting again, so I will add that to the weekend flow!

Name 3 things you cannot live without.
Since we are talking about things and not people, the three things I can't live without are post-it notes, guacamole and music! If you ask me why, I will be happy to share the deets.

What are you currently listening to? Podcast? Favorite song that motivates you?
Current podcasts that I like listening to are How I Built This, Brown Ambition by Mani Woodruff and Tiffany Aliche and a new one I like is Break The Cycle with Dr. Mariel. My favorite song that motivates me is “Extraordinary being” by Emli Sande. She opens with “You are what God imagined”, just that reminder alone leads me to dance carefree with a smile as bright as the sun!!

How do you get yourself out of a funk when you are having an off day?
The way I get myself out of a funk when I'm having an off day is not running away from feeling the emotion. I allow the emotion to teach me whatever it is trying to teach me. I ask myself, What led to this emotion? How can I support myself best right now? What do I fear as the worst that could happen? How/Who can I seek help to grow from this experience? What has worked in the past to help me get out of this funk? I also have a small trusted tribe that I greatly appreciate in being safe to navigate these answers out loud if needed.

What would surprise us about yourself?
I like to compose songs. I sing the lyrics and sound out arrangements and pretend that I’m practicing for an upcoming concert. That would be fun to do!

What is the best advice you have received?
You don’t have to be right all of the time, focus on being effective. You and your work will always shine true.

What are some career highlights and biggest career accomplishments?
My work and expertise as an Engineer and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt in leading continuous improvement initiatives helped save companies over $10 million before transitioning full-time as a CEO of my company, We Optimize Work. But the biggest career highlights came from the experiences that my peers would share in my intention to ensure their skills were appreciated and utilized for projects that got the recognition of executives. Their smiles and sense of belonging mattered the most to me. I was the face of the challenges that my peers experienced; I was able to make these accomplishments as an employee who sat in the struggle of leaders who were not equipped with the tools to best engage with us.

What is something you are excited to be working on?
I am excited to release my upcoming book, Inspired to Innovate. Inspired to Innovate helps leaders empower employees to solve problems for continuous improvement and achieve impact in their experience at work. The model also helps employees in non-leadership roles who are trying to figure out a way to drive change and get buy-in from their leaders. It shares success story highlights and the framework that I use with clients.
( You can pre-order here.)

Contact information: Where can members connect with you?
Connect with me on LinkedIn at Domonique Townsend, LSSMBB - linkedin.com/in/domoniqueatownsend or follow me on Instagram at @domoniquetownsend Pre-order my book at: https://www.weoptimizework.com/inspiredtoinnovate or https://www.inspiredtoinnovate.com