These Boots Were Made For Working
“I lead with unstoppable drive, rally with the strength of family, spark joy through humor, thrive on adaptability, and celebrate bold achievement. I don’t just move the needle—I energize the room and make the mission unforgettable.”
As an inventory analysis specialist, a young mom, and the chair of Siemens’ Women’s Impact Network, Kimberly Cardella wears many hats. Her unconventional path into manufacturing demonstrates the power of women’s support systems in the workplace—systems that propelled her into leadership roles in her field.
Cardella never imagined her life would revolve around warehouses, rail cars, and manufacturing lines. She attended college to become a medical assistant and spent years caring for patients, work that allowed her to form deep, personal bonds. When one of the women she cared for died, she was heartbroken. She began to question her chosen career path and inevitably she decided to search for quite different academic and professional pursuits.
After a short period of unemployment, while she was while living at home, Kimberly’s neighbor pointed her toward a job opening at Siemens, the international company that develops technology for many industries and applications. She started in material handling and was welcomed in an exciting yet intimidating way. Her very first week, a male coworker said to her, “We’ll see how long you last.” Yet Kimberly remained steadfast, determined to succeed. She took his words as a challenge, defying expectations and stereotypes in the male- dominated industry.
While most of her coworkers and higher-ups were male, Kimberly found great inspiration in female leadership. Her mentor and now manager, Veronica Hernandez, a 20-year Siemens veteran who had climbed her own way up through the ranks, motivated her. Kimberly recalls the announcement of a major light-rail project involving nearly 3,000 workers, yet only one employee was named: Hernandez. That moment, she says, was pivotal. She began to believe that she, too, could advance in this field. Today, Hernandez is her manager, and together they lead teams clearly and confidently.
Image Curtesy of Kimberly Cardella
That’s not to say it has been easy. Even with the support of her manager and a strong network of women, Kimberly felt pressure. She laughs, describing the day-to-day atmosphere at Siemens: “Everything is on fire, and everything is urgent.” But the chaos helped shape her leadership skills. After her first promotion, she began managing a team of men, many older than she was. She remembers thinking, “How am I going to come in at 22 years old and tell a grown man what to do?” Eventually, however, Kimberly earned the respect of her team.
Still, the gender inequities of the industrial field were impossible to ignore. One defining moment came when Kimberly earned her DOT certification to drive 25000 lb. trucks. The instructor told her she was the youngest woman at Siemens ever to pass the exam, and one of fewer than five women to do so in the company’s history. Kimberly was thrilled to obtain her new certificate, yet shocked at the low number of women given the opportunity to handle large vehicles.
Image Curtesy of Kimberly Cardella
Seeking community and change, she joined Siemens’ Women’s Impact Network, an employee resource group dedicated to supporting women across the company. She took on the role of events coordinator, organizing events with all northern Siemen’s facilities, finance and operations nationwide. Among her proudest moments was partnering with Xena Workwear to bring stylish, functional safety boots to women on the manufacturing floor. Through the network, she attends annual conferences that allow her to connect with and learn from other women in transportation and manufacturing.
Shortly after taking on this position, Kimberly welcomed a son and took maternity leave to care for her newborn. Her return to work, however, tested her in new ways. Balancing motherhood and a demanding job felt overwhelming, and she needed time to find herself at work again. But instead of letting the uncertainty hold her back, Kimberly let it fuel her. Driven by her desire to support and cement the strong community of women and mentors which had buoyed her up when she need it, Kimberly stepped into the position of chair for the Women’s Impact Network. Her leadership, marked by ambition, strength and curiosity, carries her in this role. In this new position, she hopes to be a voice for women who feel unseen in the company, and for the many more she hopes will enter the field.
Image Curtesy of Kimberly Cardella
For Kimberly, gender equity is about far more than equipment or wages. It is about representation that is visible, meaningful, and lasting. She remembers being the timid 22-year-old stepping onto the floor, surrounded by men who doubted her. Women, she believes, are still profoundly underestimated in manufacturing and transportation. And yet, she insists, their strength, capability, and compassion make them exactly the leaders this industry needs.
Through her work, her leadership, and her example, Kimberly Cardella is reshaping not only her own career, but the landscape for women who will follow.
Captured Fall 2025