Mabel Zavala is a Quality Solutions Partner for Oceaneering’s Manufactured Products and Functions in Houston, Texas.
The most rewarding aspect of her job is being able to lead and to facilitate change. Mabel has led KAIZENs (Continuous Improvement workshops) in our product services segments and facilitated Root Cause Analysis, all of which targeted the prevention of cost of poor quality (COPQ).
Mabel is a natural leader who is a fierce champion of Quality Assurance and Control within Oceaneering. She led a team of Quality Control, Quality Assurance and Document Control in Houston from 2016-2018 in the Services and Manufacturing Segments.
In 2018, she drove the creation of the company’s Quality Moments – quick snippets of information that help keep quality methods front of mind. In 2020, Mabel led the global coordination to introduce Oceaneering’s Quality Tenets – six critical behaviors to prevent quality escapes and reduce COPQ by changing the culture at the company.
Mabel holds a master’s degree in Quality and Productivity from Tecnológico de Monterrey and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez.
In the year 2000, Mabel founded a local chapter of AIESEC, a global platform for young people to develop their leadership potential through international internships and volunteer opportunities.
In 2017, Mabel participated as a speaker of the first TED Talk in her hometown. During the pandemic, she has supported virtual events as a speaker for Mechatronic and Industrial Engineering students at several universities in Mexico.
Before joining Oceaneering, she had the opportunity to start up manufacturing lines, run capabilities studies and gage repeatability and reproducibility, as well as learn Advanced Product Quality Planning. She had her first Product Part Approval Process (PPAP) book approved with Ford in 2006.
“One of my proudest moments was when I was promoted to Planning and Engineering Manager,” she said. “At that time, I was the only female in that managerial position within the company and the youngest. That was a rewarding challenge.”
Mabel noted that being the only woman on a team was one of the biggest challenges she faced as in the engineering field.
“Sometimes my career aspirations were not obvious, I had to use my voice and get results,” she said.
At Oceaneering, Mabel says that she has been given the opportunity to grow in her career path.
“I started as a Quality Specialist in Services and then I was promoted to Lead Manager and now Senior Manager working in Strategy with international exposure. I’m grateful for the opportunities and the new ones to come,” she added.
When she isn’t championing a culture of quality at Oceaneering, Mabel is also an active member of the Oceaneering Women’s Network (OWN), supporting some of the group’s initiatives including collecting books for the Girl Scouts in their underprivileged troops, supporting the University of Houston’s Society of Women Engineers in mock interviews, participating in OWN Talks, and coaching other Oceaneering employees.
In the last couple of years, Mabel has been working on a personal project called “Images of Empowered Women,” which focuses on the strength and essence of professional immigrant women who use their talents, skills, and abilities to support their communities and have a positive impact in society.
“Every photograph, every story shared is an example and an inspiration for any little girl or any woman who arrives to a different country,” she said.
For Oceaneering, she recently modified this initiative and photographed some of our company’s empowered women from different disciplines.
“This project shows another side of them from dancing, to skiing, hiking, sailing, writing, or supporting the community in volunteering activities; sharing what inspires them to do what they do,” she said.
Mabel encourages women who wish to pursue engineering as a career path to do so.
“For my entire career, I have always pushed for women to be in technical areas,” she said. “Establish a goal, prepare for it, and enjoy the ride.”
She also encourages women to speak up. “You drive your path. Help others; the world has space for everyone. Inspire.”
One piece of advice she says she wishes she had before she began her career are these four things:
“Stress less; trust in yourself more; it is OK to show vulnerability; and create your network.”
Interested in a new career path? Visit our Careers page to search our available job opportunities.