Soletta Brown is a Customer Support Specialist, she was hired by Fischer Connectors in July 2022. Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, she moved to Atlanta in 2021 with a focus on finding a job that provided a continuous learning environment, faster pace and better opportunities. When Soletta was first hired she started with material control in the company’s stock room but was soon promoted to Client Support Specialist in January 2023.

What is your background, and why did you decide to join Fischer Connectors?

Once I moved to Atlanta, I started job searching, I looked for work at a recruitment agency. Based on my background the agency thought I would be a great fit for Fischer Connectors. The process happened pretty fast: Monday Fischer Connectors called me to schedule the interview, Tuesday was the in-person interview, Wednesday I was offered the job and I swiftly accepted, and that same Friday was my first day of work with the company.

I wasn’t content with the work I was doing prior to joining Fischer Connectors. Warehousing was a safe space for me because I had worked in manufacturing companies my whole life but I wanted more for my future. There was a lot of potential with Fischer Connectors. Previously I had worked in presales for IG Design Group (a toy manufacturer), which I really liked, and it was very similar to my current position as a Customer Support Specialist. I could see all the possibilities Fischer had to offer.

What inspires you?

I have a drive to learn, I’m curious by nature so if I find someone who’s willing to teach me something, I’m eager to learn. I like being well informed about anything and everything, not just at work but in life as well. I enjoy learning how things function, asking questions, how all the different pieces and department work together.

What’s an interesting and/or important project you’ve worked on while at Fischer Connectors?

Xavier Fustagueras (Fischer Connectors US General Manager) is currently working on improving the processes of various departments, and everyone has a hand in the project. I think this is essential – while we have great products there’s always room for improvement and it’s good to know we’re always striving to do better. There are a lot of changes going on but he’s a great manager, very detail-oriented and patient. It’s great knowing Fischer Connectors isn’t settling for the status quo and there’s support from all levels throughout the company.

I enjoy all the aspects of my job and believe all my projects are important – talking to the customers, listening to their problems, resolving their issues, etc. I’ve learned so much throughout my time with the company, but there’s still a lot to learn and I’m happy to be challenged daily, which is one of the main reasons I decided to join the company.

What principles do you live by?

My mom always said, step out on faith and always help someone else. Many people overthink the simplest things in life, when sometimes you just don’t know how things will work out until you take that leap of faith. Don’t be scared, take the plunge, ask all the questions and try something new – just do it!

Tell us about your team.

I thoroughly enjoy my team members, they are very smart and knowledgeable, on days where they are busy or stressed they still manage to make time to teach me things and answer all my questions (thankfully I’m a fast learner). In return I try to be the light in their day whenever they need it.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year/near future within this position/company?

I want to be able to do my job better and more efficiently. I would also like to be a resource to my colleagues, on the same level they have been to me. In addition, I would like to work on being more technically proficient.

Tell us some interesting facts about you. What are some of your favorite hobbies and what causes are you passionate about?

I don’t do anything crazy as I mostly keep to myself, I’m not adventurous but an interesting fact about me is I only learned how to swim as an adult after applying to be a coast guard. Twice a day I took lessons with an instructor, I took good instruction so I picked up swimming quickly. I think I missed my calling in life but to be clear I’m not a fan of swimming in open water or competitively, I just enjoy a nice lap swimming because it relaxes me. Swimming is my all-time favorite hobby, I used to swim everyday but since I moved, I haven’t been able to find an aquatic center that I liked until recently, so I can’t wait to get back into my routine again.

Also I recently got into whiskey tastings which I enjoy, but most importantly I’m very passionate about myself, my goals, happiness, health and family. My grandma is my world, I’m always attentive to her and her needs. The other important person in my life is my dog Polo, a lab hound mix rescue; my friend and I adopted dogs at the same time, she named her dog Marco.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned from your education, career, life, family, etc.?

Don’t take anything personal or too serious.

How would you describe your career in five words or less?

Headed in the right direction. My career is finally getting where I want it to be, I’m happy it’s moving in the right path. Throughout my career it’s been a straight line of learning, and with every position I have learned something significant that I have been able to grow, take to the next role and build upon that. My colleagues are supportive, and I love this progression into customer service, there’s so much to learn – I can definitely see myself here for the long run.

If you could give your younger self or someone starting in this industry career advice, what would it be?

My advice to someone looking to pursue a career is be patient and if you have an idea of what you want to do then start working towards it as soon as possible, it only gets more complicated as time passes and the competition is more steep. If you don’t know what you want to do, then try turning your hobby into your job, if you already love doing whatever it is you do with your spare time, try a different approach and see if you can make a career out of it.

What makes you unique in your profession and what do you think is the key to professional success?

I remain calm in trying situations, I also don’t take things personally. My colleagues say I’m very understanding, ask a lot of questions and detail oriented. By nature, I’m a very curious person, if I ever stumble across something I don’t know I want to learn it immediately. I think the key to success is to always be open to learning. A good leader is also a good follower and a good listener.