Pursing a Dream and Embracing Diversity

This month’s spotlight shines on Titi Sule, director of global integration with Precision Science and Technologies (PST) with 13 years of experience in the manufacturing business sector. Titi has been with Ingersoll Rand since 2010. She holds a B.S. from Texas Southern University and an M.S. from the University of Maryland, both in Electrical Engineering, and an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

 

Titi is the chair of IR’s Black Employee Network (BEN) Inclusion Group. Additionally, Titi is a successful children's book author. Her books teach children about different countries and cultures.

 

Below we learn more about Titi’s career at Ingersoll Rand and her passions in and out of the office.

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What attracted you to Ingersoll Rand and how long have you been with the company?

I have been with Ingersoll Rand for about 11 years. From the beginning, I have had the opportunity to serve in multiple capacities in different businesses. I currently lead mergers and acquisitions integration for Precision and Science Technologies (PST). I love showing up to my job each day because of the people. IR’s culture drives progress, and we respectfully challenge each other to do that, daily. The company truly cares about the safety and health of its employees, and the communities in which we work and live.


What do you enjoy most about your role?

There are three pillars that I find the most interesting in any role, including my current one. The first is strategy development. I love to research, identify trends, and form the path that I believe our customers and the market will lean towards. The second is being the lead to own and deliver on the strategy. These play to my strengths for love of learning, focus, and execution. The last is to build a team that is motivated and driven for success, and to support or lead that team to achieve their goals.


Tell us about your career path to this point.

My career has taken a few unexpected turns. In the beginning I envisioned myself solely as an engineer. Therefore, I studied Electronics Engineering Technology in college, and went on to get a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. I started out as a controls engineer working on locomotives. My first assignment was to help a customer in the field that was having problems and I absolutely loved it. When I joined Ingersoll Rand three years later, I knew I wanted to interact with customers and learn more about the application of our products. With that goal in mind, I looked into product management as my next path.

I first took an application engineer role with Industrial Technologies and Services (ITS) working on centrifugal compressor requests and applied for my first product management role, which I did not get. At the same time, I was enrolled in and completed the Ingersoll Rand MBA program. I received constructive feedback after the first interview and continued to express my interest and found an opportunity with Trane Technologies as a controls aftermarket product manager. I was later assigned an expanded role in HVAC Installation Parts. The expanded installation program was planned to launch across the country in just three short months. Leaning on my team and support from suppliers, we successfully launched on time. I began to miss working on new technology, so when the opportunity at Compression Technologies and Services (CTS) opened for a controls product manager I was excited to lead strategy and development of our next generation controls platforms.


How has your time at Ingersoll Rand helped you grow?

I have participated in development coaching and programs that have helped me build confidence in my ability to lead others and stretch myself continuously. More specifically, I have learned to work with people from diverse backgrounds, listen critically, communicate more effectively, and accept opinions that are different from my own. Doing this has benefitted me professionally and personally.


As a woman in manufacturing—an industry with a wide gender gap—what challenges did you face?

I have been fortunate, having worked for Ingersoll Rand for 11 years, to be a part of a culture that does not present significant difficulties tied to gender differences.

An area that some women or minorities can struggle with in general is building strong professional relationships with people who have different backgrounds. It can be hard to learn how to approach people and engage with them to find a way to connect. I have always found if you dig deep enough, you will find something that is a common bond. I encourage people to start a conversation and ask questions in an effort to learn about other people and their journeys.


Is there anything else you feel is important that we share with others that would help us build a more inclusive culture?

Remembering to take the opportunity to learn about others and “walk a mile in their shoes.” Learn about their background, their story, their culture.

We must work to maintain an environment that allows people to open up so they can be their best self. To bring out the best in people, we have to be understanding and empathetic and be willing to assist if and when we sense something is wrong.

Other things about me:

My passion is to travel and explore the world, and to write. I have written several books and animation content for children ages 3-8 years. The title of the series is Zaki & Zoltan Adventures. The books, sold on Amazon, teach basic information about countries and cultures around the world. You can also find the animation on YouTube.

Thank you, Titi!

 

At Ingersoll Rand, we are thankful for Titi’s hard work to drive results in complex technology and business strategy. We are proud of our employees, like Titi, who choose to open their minds to discover every day.

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