Women in Water: Ilse Gallegos, Franklin Electric

About the author:

Bob Crossen is the senior managing editor for Water & Wastes Digest. Crossen can be reached at [email protected].

Compiled by Bob Crosen

Why Water?

Boosting our life processes in various markets, from residential to macro-scale projects that benefit entire communities, my favorite aspect of the water industry is its beauty of being dynamic and highly diverse. With so many layers, it's only natural that this industry is filled with talented minds making water happen in every corner of the world.

What about your current position excites you?

Working in the industry has taught me that - above product solutions - people and relationships are a huge part of what we do. As a Marketing Strategist, contributing to honoring and strengthening these solid relationships in infinite and innovative ways is one of the most significant aspects of this role. As a plus, it excites me to know that our organization has a global footprint that allows us to expand these connections through our partners worldwide - the synergy possibilities are limitless.

What is your moonshot idea for solving what you consider to be the most important water industry problem today?

I believe in the power of increasing our sense of connection with water conservation and efficiency efforts. Aiming towards engagement and a true call to action, I'd envision creating a global, diverse task force that adequately markets solutions that target homeowners and political and industrial stakeholders - both private and public entities should contribute to a more significant impact.

What role has mentorship played in your career to date?

First, my career to date is forged by the experience gained from those who learned the trade in the field - Sales, Field Service Engineers, and customers alike. The water industry, specifically the pumping industry, teaches you to leave academics aside and humbly open your ears to the masters of the craft. Second, mentorship played an advocacy and springboard role in my professional development, which took me from serving a developing region to contributing to our primary global market.

What piece of media (books, TV shows, movies, games, podcasts, etc.) has had the greatest impact on you in the past 12 months? 

The multimedia project (originally a podcast, eventually a book) "They're Giving Away Doubts" has impacted me the most over the past two years. Two Hispanic young ladies take on the task of consciously questioning our thought processes and opening up nurturing dialogues with experts. As a fun fact, my answer to the question "What makes you feel alive or inspired?" was hand-picked among 160,000 follower responses and featured in their first international book release.

What does it mean to you to be a woman who works in the water industry?

Given our small representation, being a woman in the industry means bringing a unique perspective to the table with each conversation - often, that offers a genuine sense of empathy when anticipating customers' needs. In addition, it means building a pathway to future female leaders in favor of a more diverse industry.