Celebrating American Business Women's Day: Angie Wallace's Inspiring Journey

On this American Business Women's Day, we are thrilled to share the remarkable story of Angie Wallace, our very own Global Product Manager at Enerpac Tool Group. Angie's journey is a testament to dedication, perseverance, and the pursuit of excellence in the world of industrial tools.

Let's hear from Angie and her advice on ambition and dedication...

Background and Career Journey

Angie recognized the importance of effective communication and building meaningful relationships, skills that have been instrumental in her career growth.        

Early in my career, I worked in retail and continued to work at the same place while earning my undergraduate degree and eventually my Master of Business Administration degree.? Working full-time while going to school was challenging, but the experience I gained, coupled with my education, proved to be the best way to prepare me for the future.?

I was extremely fortunate to work for a company that taught me the foundational principles of business and marketing, while learning to navigate the challenges of changing market dynamics.? Through my early experiences, I also had a unique opportunity to lead and interact with many people – all with diverse backgrounds and experiences that helped me appreciate and recognize the importance of effective communication and building meaningful relationships.?

What Inspired Angie to Pursue Product Management?

Product Management wasn't Angie's initial career choice, but as she delved into it, she discovered a perfect fit.         

Product Management was not a career path I directly sought out but was a field that, as I learned more about it – discovered was a perfect role for me.? As a Global Product Manager, every day is different. I get to work with people in all different areas of the business, in multiple regions, all while having the opportunity to influence the strategic vision of the company and deliver the highest quality products to our customers.?

Product Management is a really unique role where I have the opportunity to go on customer sites and work directly with end-users, conduct market research, and analyse data. All of the work that is carried out, the information and insights gained, is directly applied towards improving our current solutions. We then look at identifying opportunities for innovation and developing a strategic roadmap that incorporates the needs of our end-users and anticipates their future needs. ??

Advice For Others

Angie has achieved numerous milestones during her tenure at Enerpac. Her dedication and leadership have been instrumental in driving the success of the organization.        

1. Always know your value
2. Continuously learn and actively seek opportunities to gain more knowledge.
3. Be willing to ask.
4. Never feel you have to compromise your personal or professional goals in exchange for the other.? You can be great at your job and grow in your career while being present for your family and friends – you should never have to choose one over the other.

Leadership and Mentorship

Angie  believes in assuming positive intentions of others, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.        

I've been very fortunate in my career to have worked with many people across several different industries. During that time, I have worked with a wide variety of leaders and feel that has really helped influence how I interact with people.?

I've endeavored to assimilate the positive attributes I've observed in others, integrating them into my personal style. Along my journey, I've been fortunate to have excellent mentors and have also gleaned valuable lessons from behaviors and practices I've chosen not to emulate, which has proven beneficial.

In addition to working with many servant leaders who have taught me about business and helped build my professional competencies, I have had a few key people teach me what I believe is just as important. This belief has helped me build meaningful relationships with people and understand what motivates them, always assuming the positive intentions of others.

Women of Enerpac Initiative

Angie plays a pivotal role in managing the Women of Enerpac initiative group.        

I joined Women of Enerpac because I thought it would be a great way to meet new people across the business and network with other professionals.? When the opportunity came to lead the group, I thought it would be a great way to help influence others and lead a team that I believe has the potential to provide a lot of value to each other, the business, and the communities we work in.?

Work-Life Balance

Balancing a demanding career with personal life is a challenge Angie embraces.         

I think it is important to have a healthy work-life balance and feel like I don’t ever have to sacrifice being a great mom, wife, friend, etc., to have a great career.? I LOVE what I do, and I think it's important that my two girls see me being able to enjoy working and being a professional while also being their mom and spending time together as a family.?

I also feel that it's essential to manage your time and be able to effectively prioritize and communicate.? It's ok to be busy, it's ok to say ‘no’ to something and it's ok to ask for help when you need it.?

I believe it is critical to surround yourself with others who support and encourage you to do your best, pursue your goals and seek opportunities. It’s important to lean on the people around you and to trust others.? If you are willing to ask and effectively communicate – you can do it all.

Advice for Aspiring Businesswomen

Find what you love doing, and go for it!? Whether it’s a role like Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, Finance or any other path – companies like Enerpac can be a great fit.?

Angie Wallace's journey exemplifies the spirit of American Business Women's Day, reminding us all that with ambition and dedication, anything is possible. Her story inspires us to reach for the stars and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.