Carlonda Reilly on career decisions
From What I've Learned from my STEM Career and Why I Would Do It All Again! - Carlonda Reilly, PhD · · American Chemical Society - Indiana Local Section
“I've had opportunities where a door opened automatically and I walked through it, but also times where I chose not to take an opportunity because it required moving to an area with racial tensions. As an African-American, I did not want to subject my family to that, so I made a personal decision not to move despite career advancement.”
On , Carlonda Reilly, Vice President & Chief Technology Officer at KENNAMETAL INC, spoke about career decisions during What I've Learned from my STEM Career and Why I Would Do It All Again! - Carlonda Reilly, PhD on American Chemical Society - Indiana Local Section.
About Carlonda Reilly
Carlonda Reilly, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Kennametal, has discussed her career philosophy and the company’s innovation strategy in several public appearances. In a 2022 keynote, she described three types of career opportunities—doors that open automatically, unlocked doors requiring effort, and locked doors—and advised being selective about which to pursue. She shared that she once declined a career advancement opportunity because it required moving to an area she considered unsafe for her family as an African-American. Reilly also emphasized the value of mentors and sponsors, and encouraged professionals to "toot your own horn without blowing it" by discussing contributions humbly. In 2021, Reilly outlined Kennametal’s approach to growth through three classes of innovation: improving existing products, extending products into adjacent markets, and developing new solutions. She noted that during the pandemic, the company grew its road milling business by identifying adjacent market spaces. Reilly also highlighted Kennametal’s work with NASA on a carbide grade for the Mars rover, the company’s investments in digitalization and plant modernization, and its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. During the COVID-19 crisis, she said the company prioritized employee safety, increased internal communication, and used tools like Microsoft Teams and HoloLens for remote collaboration.