5 days Ago
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save This article is brought to you by ExxonMobil. If you’ve visited the ExxonMobil facilities in the Baton Rouge area recently, you may have noticed that more women than ever are in leadership positions. These women have had meaningful careers at ExxonMobil, advancing through the ranks thanks to their talent, ambition, and the mentorship they have received from both male and female leaders.
We spoke to these women to learn about their motivations, their passion for their work, and the advice that has guided them along the way. Patrice Aron, Mid-Atlantic/Southeast Area Manager, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company Aron graduated from Istrouma High School and earned a degree in secondary education mathematics from Southern University. She taught in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for several years prior to joining ExxonMobil.
“In 2001, I was in a conversation with a colleague who was interested in changing careers and mentioned ExxonMobil was hiring in Operations. She mentioned she heard the math portion of the test was hard, and suggested I take the test so I could tutor her, since I was a math teacher,” Aron said. “I took the test, passed it, was hired, and 23 years later I am here with no regrets.
” Throughout her professional journey, Aron has often relied on the advice of her grandfather, who always encouraged her to be the best she could be and help others along the way. “When I started working as a math teacher, I strived for excellence, not for myself but for my students. I carried that same mindset with me when I started with the company in 2002,” she said.
“Therefore, I attribute my success to believing in God, taking my grandfather’s advice and helping others.” Aron said her work at ExxonMobil is especially meaningful, since she grew up about 12 miles from the refinery. “When I am at events, I see lots of familiar faces, from council members and community leaders to teachers and judges,” she said.
“Knowing that I work for a company that truly cares about the community and the environment is amazing.” Ashleigh Celedonia, Port Allen Lubricants Plant Manager From a young age, math was a passion for Celedonia. A high school teacher recognized that strength and pushed her to take more advanced math classes.
That rigorous academic background influenced Celedonia’s college and major choices, ultimately leading her to become a dual major in actuarial mathematics and management engineering. Now at ExxonMobil for 15 years, Celedonia has worked in numerous departments, including sales, planning, logistics, supply chain and operations. “ The variety of experiences I’ve had during my career has helped with my individual growth and development and allowed me to continue challenging myself,” she said.
“We spend an incredible amount of time at ExxonMobil in developing people, and as an individual exhibits strengths, new opportunities present themselves.” Celedonia said her mentors at ExxonMobil have also helped her find the balance between home life and her professional goals. “It’s perfectly fine to strive for something in your career and also create space to celebrate those important milestones with your children,” she said.
“I also remember when I was planning my maternity leave and wanted to take about five months, my boss asked me if that was enough. It was wonderful to have that encouragement and know that I could step back into my career when the time was right.” Regina Davis, Baton Rouge Complex Refinery Manager Davis’ trajectory started in her early years with encouragement from her mother, “a wise, God-fearing woman,” Davis said.
Recognizing that education would help her children break the cycle of generational poverty, she made sure they attended a summer program each year. It was during one of those programs in her middle school years, that Davis met a female engineer. That encounter was the spark for what was to come.
“It just resonated with me,” she said. “I was fortunate to have my mom’s foresight to make sure that we were exposed to the possibilities, and that exposure piqued my curiosity.” Davis carries this experience forward in her own passion for volunteering and mentoring other young ladies to get them excited about careers in STEM fields.
Davis ended up majoring in chemical engineering and staying an additional semester at Louisiana Tech, choosing to take on an internship to gain more real-world experience. She graduated in the early days of a recession, but stood out to potential employers with her smarts and skills. Since being named the first Black woman to lead the Baton Rouge refinery, Davis said she has reflected often on her experiences and how she can use those to “pay it forward” to help develop the next generation of leaders.
She credits her faith, hard work, and having a team of supporters including family, friends and amazing mentors as keys to her success today. While Davis is proud of being an example to other young women, she also feels that she has a responsibility to help shift the narrative. “I do wear with pride the fact that I have been the first in many arenas.
My diverse perspectives, the skills I have developed over my career and my commitment to excellence have enabled me to deliver results and continue paving the way for others,” said Davis. Laura Eiklor, Baton Rouge Plastics and Resin Plant Manager Growing up in Pennsylvania, Eiklor had her eye on pursuing music professionally. But, two high school teachers recognized her talents in math and science and urged her to consider a career as an engineer.
“My parents both have biology backgrounds, and they encouraged me to find my way,” she said. “I entered Penn State as a music major, but I changed to chemical engineering by the end of my first semester.” At ExxonMobil, Eiklor said she is gratified to be a part of team that solves problems in real time that impact the products that millions of people use each day.
She added that she continues to be inspired by her colleagues’ passion, dedication to quality and commitment to unlocking one another’s potential. “Some of the best advice I’ve received at ExxonMobil is to lift where you stand. If you can do your best in your current job, people will help you get to the next level,” she said.
“The other one is to dream big. When I had been with the company three or four years, someone asked me about my career goals, and my answer was small. They encouraged me to dream bigger and picture myself going further.
That changed my mindset and made me willing to try more new things.” Kate Lightfoot, Chemical Plant Manager, Baton Rouge Complex Lightfoot made history in 2018 as the first female site manager at the Chemical Plant in Baytown, Texas. “I felt blessed to have an opportunity to be an example to other women that they can be wives, moms and leaders while still taking care of their physical, mental and emotional health,” she recalled.
In addition to her work, Lightfoot and her husband have three children, and she is often active in local civic organizations and professional associations. It’s quite the balancing act, but one that Lightfoot says is possible thanks to “lots and lots of planning.” “I think ahead, I make a plan, and even when I don’t feel like it, I execute my plan.
My plan includes testing that balance of these roles over the course of weeks and months. I don’t stress too much if a given day or week feels weighted one way or another,” she said. No matter what each day might bring, Lightfoot starts each morning the same way – by naming three blessings for which she is grateful, deciding her intention for the day and determining what she will accept each day.
She also makes time for self-care, planning out how she will fuel and move her body, plus get enough rest, to be the best version of herself. Lightfoot said she is heartened to see more girls and young women interested in STEM careers. Her advice is simple – go for it! “Get in there and learn and develop to your greatest potential, and then follow the path that God provides for you to serve your purpose in this world,” she said.
These women leaders are not only breaking barriers in the energy sector but are also giving back to their communities through mentorship and support. Their commitment to nurturing the next generation of female engineers is evident in their involvement with initiatives like ExxonMobil’s "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day." By sharing their experiences and providing guidance, these leaders are paving the way for a more innovative future in the energy industry.
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