Meet Karla Trotman

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karla Trotman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Karla, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

I’m in the electronics manufacturing industry. The tables at which I sit tend to be homogenous. Initially, I spent much of my time listening to the many shared experiences and agreements among members. I realized that sitting there and saying nothing was not enhancing the conversation or expanding the thought processes. Eventually, I learned that my lived experience allowed the energy to shift and mindsets to grow. My perspective caused folks to lean in and dig deeper into issues. It became a tremendous value add.

For all of us first one/only one beings, getting over the initial hurdle of speaking up creates a runway for success.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the Gen2 owner of an electronics contract manufacturing firm started by my parents in 1986. Like most children, I never wanted to take over the business, so the beginning part of my career was spent working at large corporations in supply chain logistics. Electro Soft, Incorporated is currently part of the manufacturing renaissance. Being a Black woman in hardware technology is extremely rare. Manufacturing is an industry with high barriers to entry. Family businesses often fail. People of color don’t often have access to capital. It’s definitely a unique space in which I operate. I published a book titled, “Dark, Dirty, Dangerous – Building the Vibrant Future of Manufacturing,” in an effort to leave breadcrumbs for others to follow. I believe entrepreneurship is the key to generational wealth and to assist in closing the ever-widening Black wealth gap.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Humility – being willing to admit what you don’t know and having the courage to seek answers.

Lifelong learning – I went back to school and created an advisory board to help guide my future and the future of the business.

A Fractional CFO—Often, we use financial statements such as a balance sheet and P&L to help make decisions, but these are trailing indicators. My fractional CFO, Veronica, is someone I could never afford as a full-time employee but who gives me the tools and leading indicators to help me steer the ship.

How would you describe your ideal client?

I am looking for industrial or defense companies that need to outsource their electronics manufacturing—printed circuit boards, cables, wire harnesses, panels, and box-build assemblies. These companies have drawings, bills of materials, and schematics. Still, they lack manufacturing facilities or are looking for an outsourced partner who can build to their specifications so that they can focus on innovation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.electrosoftinc.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElectroSoftInc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/electro-soft-incorporated/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/electrosoftinc