Welcome back to our Electrifier series. Every edition, we swivel a spotlight onto a member of the Electrifier program. This program recognizes employees who show outstanding expertise and leadership. It integrates them into Schneider’s innovation engine, where they can directly improve our business while expanding their careers.
Today, we have Abigale, process and data solution architect. Over her 18 years at Schneider, including four as a Senior Electrifier, she has forged a unique role and perspective. Abigale reveals how the program goes beyond knowledge transfer and expertise building; it threads collaboration across the entire company.
Abigale, hello! Tell us a little about yourself and how you got here.
Hi there! I’m from Pennsylvania, where I still live with my partner, two teenagers, and three dogs. Outside of work, I enjoy walking, solving logic problems, and playing tennis with my family.
Honestly, I initially joined Schneider for the full-time benefits — and because the project analyst role sounded much better than my call center job at the time. What kept me here was finding a team that felt like family. As colleagues left and changes occurred, I fell in love with Schneider’s mission. It’s been something of a journey. Things just keep getting better, with new doors always opening, even two decades later.
We hear only great things about you. What’s your secret?
Probably that I don’t let my role and responsibilities define me. I bridge the gap between digital and business, keeping one foot in each world. Also, I tackle any barriers that might hinder normal operations. When working on a project, I always consider: “If I were the person living with the results of what we’re deploying, would I be happy?”
Often, we might focus on metrics, but end up creating workarounds and leaving gaps. By learning the technical details and processes, I can fill these gaps and traverse silos effectively. This trait of mine is something that the Electrifier program both recognized and still actively develops.
After being in the program for a while, what would you say makes a good Electrifier?
Well, it’s important to be a well-rounded individual who isn’t afraid to step out of their comfort zone, take responsibility, and lead in areas where nothing has existed before.
I know we talk a lot about expertise, and it’s valuable, of course. But it’s important not to get stuck in a narrow focus. For me, what makes an Electrifier is the willingness to bridge gaps and collaborate with others. This is especially important as Schneider continually optimizes its systems, processes, and organization.
We all have areas for improvement. Electrifiers also need to be adaptable, and willing to build competence in project management, communication, and presentation. This variety — essentially a blend of soft and technical skills — is vital for success in the program.
Regarding communication, how has being an Electrifier helped you?
It’s not a platitude; effective communication is essential. I’ve seen good projects fail due to poor communication with end users, customers, or other stakeholders. As they say: change is inevitable, adoption is not.
I tend to express myself technically. But leaders are busy. They often don’t have the time to read lengthy, detailed explanations. Electrifier taught me concision: how to sculpt my message to resonate with leadership. Of course, I occasionally slip back into overly technical language, but that’s okay — progress isn’t always linear.
Do you have any personal highlights from the program?
Sure! As you know, I’m keen on mutual learning and preventing siloed deployments. This saw me lead an Electrifier project on the minimum requirements of warehouse control systems. Over 18 months, my team created a guide of best practices.
This project combined Electrifiers from around the world – like Europe, North America, and China. It let us apply fresh knowledge from exclusive trainings like “Pitching for Impact”, which teaches storytelling to improve pitch success. We’re now moving to close this project, which I’m excited about!
The world is changing fast. How does Schneider equip you for the future of your field?
In short: by leaping into new transformations and capturing new opportunities to grow. We’re already running programs to standardize our processes, data, and IT systems. Technology has endless potential. It lets us continuously reduce complexity and streamline the digital ecosystem, improving the experience of our customers and employees alike.
The Electrifier community is vital for supporting this. I would love to see even more Electrifiers being plugged into all our projects. Schneider has a wealth of experts across various domains, be it logistics or automation or global supply chain. By kindling collaboration, we can liberate this expertise and drive the whole company forward.
What about you personally — do you have an idea where you might be in five years?
That’s hard to say. Even if I stay in a role for a while, I know I won’t be doing the same tasks five years later. My 23-year-old self, who arrived solely for the benefits and paycheck, would be amazed at how far I’ve come.
Everything I’ve achieved is a result of challenging myself. I plan to continue this approach, letting life unfold organically and taking advantage of opportunities as they come. That’s my version of success.
I hope that’s not too vague! I can tell you about the short term though: I’m about to make good use of Recharge. It’s a company program here in North America that lets employees accumulate paid time off every year, and I now have ten weeks saved up. Initially, I thought about using it to write, or going on vacation to London. But I ultimately decided to be with my family here. The break starts when my kids finish school. I can’t wait to spend this summer with them, riding roller coasters, playing tennis, and just enjoying quality time before my son enters his senior year.
A lot of companies talk about inclusion and work-life balance. The fact that Schneider has employee resources like Recharge shows they practice what they preach.
That’s lovely to hear. Any final thoughts for those thinking about applying to us?
You don’t have to pigeonhole yourself. Once at Schneider, you can go anywhere within the company. We have the tools, training, and opportunities to bend your career in any direction. I know because I’ve used them! There’s also a culture of open growth here — leadership and HR will often converge to help you succeed.
I’ve seen colleagues move along traditional career trajectories. But there have been just as many who hop laterally into new fields and business units. It’s that free movement that defines Schneider as a workplace.
Do you have Mastery and Curiosity at the heart of everything you do?
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