User:TK497/sandbox

Erika Jefferson
Erika Jefferson is the President and Founder of Black Women in Science and Engineering (BWISE), an organization focused on bridging the leadership gap for Black women in STEM and Mid-Term Coordinator of Refining Supply and Optimization at BP. She received her MBA from Georgia Tech and her BS in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University.

Biography
Growing up in Chicago, Erika Jefferson had a profound interest in Chemistry and she was fortunate enough to b

e part of one of organizations and got an opportunity to talk to someone who was actually a chemical engineer at that time. During the conversation, he mentioned chemistry is fine but the application of chemistry such as chemical engineering may give you longer way and more opportunity for career at the higher pay. It started her interest and she majored in chemical engineering in college and started her career as a young engineer. She learned as much as she could and spend a lot of time which she took throughout her career as an understanding of chemical engineering.

Erika Jefferson is a results-driven and highly accomplished Product Management and Business Development professional with solid qualifications in managing multiple large accounts and successfully developing strong client relationships. Proven ability in building strategic networks of both suppliers and direct customers, resulting in a significant increase in territory market share. Additional experience in Lean Six Sigma, manufacturing operations and supply chain management. Areas of demonstrated value include: Strategic Business Development​, Account development / territory management, Sales/Revenue Growth​, Sales prospecting and lead generation, Product Management​, Sales data analysis and forecasting, Contract Negotiation​, and Process improvement and optimization.

Career
Erika Jefferson worked in a variety of leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies. She has worked for top companies such as Amoco (now BP), Chevron Corp., and Praxair in a myriad of leadership and executive roles ranging from sales/business development to supply chain and operations excellence. Her more than two decades of experience led her across the nation to Greenville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Houston and eventually back home to Chicago. Now based in Houston, she has held roles in sales/business development, Lean Six Sigma and Operational Excellence. She received MBA from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA and a BS chemical engineering from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. Erika has a passion for advancing diversity and inclusion in STEM and fostering the success of women and girls in these fields, through training, networking and mentorship. She has grown the organization, BWISE, to over 1,200 members and six chapters (Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, D.C., Houston and San Diego) around the country.