HER Story: MaryBeth Krupa
HER Story: MaryBeth Krupa
She’s not done yet! From Supply Chain Engineer to Membership Concierge.
This month our HERstory is dedicated to MaryBeth Krupa, The WIT Network’s very own Membership Concierge. There is not a member name or company of our 9,000 members that MaryBeth has not engaged with at some point. I enjoyed learning more about MaryBeth’s background and what led her to The WIT Network after a rewarding and demanding career as a Supply Chain Leader and Chemical Engineer. There are so many women who may be in their 4th quarter of their career but are not done yet. MaryBeth is that person who recently retired from her corporate career and was enticed to give back to our not-for-profit organization. As a 4th degree black belt in karate and a 32-year career, she is not done yet and has some great advice for our readers.
CS: MaryBeth, tell our readers a little bit about your background and what you wanted to be when you grew up?
MB: I grew up in a family of 5 siblings in New Jersey. We were and still are very close. Maybe there is a reason they say that family and friends give energy to our lives. That is truly the case in mine. Family is love. I wanted to be a pro-sports athlete. You name it, I was into it – soccer, softball, skiing, tennis, scuba diving, and I have my 4th degree black belt. Still to this day I am very active in my life.
I was always great at science and math which led me to going to school for engineering and specifically chemical engineering. I am one of those rare people today who worked for the same company, BP, for 23 years before retiring in 2021; something you don’t see any more in companies. I held 8 roles over those 23 years and was always up for taking on interesting assignments.
CS: Oil and gas, just like tech, is a very male dominated industry. Share with us what that experience was like and what you learned from it.
MB: What was most noticeable was the difference in styles and how decisions were made. I had a great career at BP as I navigated my way up through the management ranks. Within any organization that has mostly men at the top of the management chain, you observe the styles that are rewarded with promotions and accolades. Women tend to be doers and focus on getting the task done better, faster, and without the carnage of people around them. In a bro-culture, it is just like competitive sports. You had to battle for position, know your lane, and stop at nothing to get to the finish line. Maybe that is where my sports background helped me. That type of culture, while it breeds results orientation, means that the loudest and boldest get seen. For me, I focused on building my brand based on my get things done attitude. I was always willing to take on challenging projects, especially those involving crisis management. My team was at the heart of any project, so people trusted me to support mission-critical initiatives.
CS: What does The WIT Network mean to you? When you officially retired, why did you jump right back into a part-time role supporting this great organization?
MB: As the only woman in the room for most of my career, I was inspired by the work that The WIT Network is doing. I wish there were more networks like this when I was starting out in my career. How I got involved was through Christine Bongard (secret, she is my sister-in-law). She was telling me all the incredible things The WIT Network is doing to change women’s lives both personally and professionally. It was truly inspiring and contagious, and I felt left out if I wasn’t part of the team. I asked where I could help. I had spent my career managing complex projects, managing data, and working to ensure projects ran smoothly across multiple stakeholders. Now we are 21 months later, and I am proud to be the Membership Concierge at The WIT Network. I am inspired by the work we do and love that I can still leverage my years of experience while having a balanced lifestyle that retired people crave and deserve. I highly recommend it for anyone who is considering retirement or stepping back a little. Plan your retirement and give back. It is incredibly rewarding. I am able to do the things I love like my new found love of birding and continuing my passion for sports while being part of The WIT Network part time.
CS: What is some advice for other women on their career journey? We learn from each other, and I know our membership loves the sharing.
MB:
1. Make connections with people throughout your career because you never know when they will be important. If you want to move into a new role, it doesn’t happen just by applying. You need to establish your network around the roles you seek as part of your professional development plan. Find a sponsor well in advance (more than one actually) and make sure people know your career aspirations. If they don’t know, you don’t grow!
2. In certain industries, professional designations, education, and certifications are important. Keep current with those and always be looking at how you can continue to educate yourself. Even all of the workshops and leadership programs at The WIT Network enhance what you bring to the table. Just ensure you tell people about them or post them on LinkedIn.
3. Find ways to keep yourself in good health. You will not realize how stressed you are until you step back from it. That happened to me when I retired. So many women are running on adrenaline and say, I can do it all. Guess what ladies, your physical and mental health are so important. Focus on that now as no one else will do it for you.
I loved getting to know MaryBeth a little more during our interview. She is an avid hiker, reader, and birder. Her tenacity and strength shone through, and I was truly in awe of what she has accomplished and that she is not done yet!
Thank you, MaryBeth, for all that you do for The WIT Network.
Corinne Sharp Co-Founder and CMO, The WIT Network
HERstory is The WIT Network’s series where we share interesting and inspiring career journeys of women in our community. We welcome the opportunity to tell your story or someone you would like to nominate. Reach out to women@thewitnetwork.com if you have a great HERstory we should consider.