Women in Operations: Meet Alexa Marquis
Connecting the customer to the manufacturing floor
Joining Ahlstrom 10 months ago, Alexa brings seven years of experience in the fiber optic and laser industry across R&D and test engineering. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical and electrical engineering and a master’s in optics and photonics engineering – managing to complete the master’s while working full time.
Day to day, Alexa reviews open customer complaints, corrective actions, and material flagged for quality review – digging into production records, lab results, and traceability data to get to the bottom of an issue. In her own words, she “acts as a connection between the customer and the manufacturing floor.”
Solving problems with tangible results
What drew Alexa to operations was watching how all the tiny pieces of the puzzle came together to shape a final product. “I began my career working directly in production, which gave me an appreciation for the people, equipment, and decisions involved in manufacturing,” she explains. “Operations combines technical problem solving, teamwork, and continuous learning, which are all things I value in my career.”
For Alexa, the real satisfaction is being able to stay with a problem, from first complaint to final fix. “It is rewarding to see an improvement implemented on the floor and know that it can help prevent the same issue from happening again.”
Turning doubt into confidence
Alexa has often been one of only a few women in a technical or production setting. This could feel intimidating earlier in her career – but it’s since taught her to speak up and trust her technical judgement when it matters most. She recalls the pivotal moment a manager told her she wouldn’t get into the master’s program she was applying to: “I almost let him convince me until I called admissions and asked if it’d be worth it for me to apply,” she says. “They immediately responded that I was more than qualified and it would be very wise to apply. That was the day my confidence skyrocketed.”
She sent her manager a copy of her diploma once she graduated. “It felt incredible to be a woman that day and see my insecurities dissipate.” Reflecting on this formative stage of her journey, Alexa identifies three women as her biggest sources of motivation: her mother, her grandmother, and a former plant manager, with each influencing how she leads today in their own unique ways.
A place where every path is possible
Alexa sees Ahlstrom’s global presence and diverse culture as an asset, “allowing employees to work with people who bring different experiences and perspectives to the table.” It’s precisely this reason she thinks ideas like the Women in Operations series are so important. “Initiatives such as this one increase visibility, encourage important conversations, and help women recognize that there are many possible paths for growth within the company."
Her advice to young women considering the field comes without any reservations: “Trust yourself. Don’t doubt yourself. If it’s something you see yourself being a part of, do it! Don’t be afraid to enter an industry that is male dominated, because there is always a place for you.”
Looking back, Alexa is perhaps the proudest about being the first in her family to earn a graduate degree – following the trail her mother blazed as the first woman in the family to attend college.
Her message to her colleagues: “Stay curious, ask questions, and do not underestimate the value of your own perspective.”
