Manufacturing | Mexico
Izza Rodriguez
Business Unit Manager and Plant Manager
We don’t always think about where things come from when we pick them up in a store. Sometimes they just arrive on our doorsteps through the mail. But everything comes from somewhere, whether it’s a farmer’s field or a factory. Manufacturing is an important part of STEM²D. Without manufacturing, we wouldn’t have cars, computers, cell phones, stoves, washing machines, or any number of everyday items that we don’t even think about—like medical devices, such as blood sugar meters for diabetic people or heart monitors for hospitals, and so much more.
Of course, manufacturing plants don’t run on their own. They need people to help run them, from the individuals assembling products to managers overseeing operations. That’s where Izza Rodriguez comes in. As a Business Unit Manager for a Johnson & Johnson plant in Juarez, Mexico, Izza ensures the manufacturing plant is running properly and smoothly.
Meet Izza, your STEMspiration for manufacturing.
“Look at every challenging project as an opportunity to learn something new or try something different.”
The Johnson and Johnson plant in Juarez, Mexico, will make three million medical devices this year alone, and the 1,800 people who work at the plant will help manufacture each of those devices. And they’re managed by one Business Unit Manager and Plant Manager: Izza Rodriguez.
As a little girl, assisted by a calculator and a toy cash machine, Izza loved to play accountant with a friend. This love of math evolved into a love of engineering and manufacturing, spurred largely by her father, who worked as a plant manager and later a vice president of operations for a manufacturing plant. He was Izza’s hero, showing her tricks to make calculations faster and develop a greater interest in both math and engineering. In later years, he became her professional mentor. As she advanced in school, Izza saw female friends opting out of STEM courses, but she didn’t let that discourage her.
Instead, Izza pushed forward, earning her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. From there, she worked for an automotive company before ultimately landing at Johnson & Johnson. And her education didn’t stop with her bachelor’s degree. Izza is an ASQ-Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Quality Auditor, and Certified Quality Manager, among other certifications and accomplishments. (Did you know you can become a black belt in project management? Find out more.)
As a Business Unit Manager, Izza loves working with people, motivating them to reach bigger and more complex goals, and helping them with personal and professional development. She believes that patience is a process, and that looking at every challenge as an opportunity is essential.
Izza’s STEMspiration: Stephen Hawking
Izza’s inspiration is Stephen Hawking (1942–2018), a British scientist, professor, and author. While he performed groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology, his widely popular books helped make science accessible to everyone. Learn more about Stephen.
“Forget what the rest of the kids say or do when deciding your future. Look around and explore all possibilities; hear your internal voice of what brings your best. And when you decide, don’t look back.”
What’s On Izza’s Desk?
Want a sneak peek into Izza’s day-to-day worklife? Taking a look at her desk gives you clues as to how she works and what she does! Here’s how she describes her workspace:
Laptop with three monitors for multitasking
Notes, since I’m old-school and still need to write everything down!
Calculator for quick estimates
Calendar for accurate planning
Conferencing speaker, which I prefer over headphones
Cellphone for any emergency
Bamboo, a Chinese symbol of harmony
An “oki” Japanese doll, a symbol of resilience
“Chancla,” which, in Mexican culture is used by moms to scold someone; they call me “mom” at work!
Reminder gift: the “heart” I always say that we need to put on everything we do
Music speaker, which I use either to wake me up or to relax, depending on what part of the day I’m in