Our team at NC3 has some impressive employees in our ranks and this Staff Spotlight series aims to highlight the incredibly talented individuals who work with us. We’ll be featuring a new interview in our monthly newsletters, here on our website, and on our social media pages each month.

This month’s Staff Spotlight features NC3 team member, Pauline Foks. Pauline is NC3’s Program Manager for Lincoln Electric.

In her role at NC3, Pauline supports our Lincoln Electric Educational Partner School (LEEPS) program, which she’s proud has certified over 1,200 students since 2019! She’s passionate about setting students up for success, which also made her the perfect team member to help finalize NC3’s recent launch of the new LEEPStart program, offering introductory certifications to students who want to work towards a successful career path and are new to the workforce!

Check out our Q&A session below to learn more about what originally drew her to NC3, her love of languages, where she’d like to go on a dream vacation – SPOILER ALERT… it includes penguins – and more!

What job(s) did you do before you started working with NC3?

I spent 10 years in financial, marketing, & management sectors for logistics, commerce, & automotive industries before my 5 years in education as an instructor & program manager while earning my MBA. My role at NC3 allows me to incorporate my backgrounds in business & education to provide opportunities for schools & communities to make a difference across the country with our powerful network.

In your opinion, what are What drew you to NC3 originally?

To have a flourishing economy, businesses need to do well. For businesses to do well, there must be employment opportunities. To fill those employment opportunities, we need a skilled workforce. To have a skilled workforce, schools must offer quality training. THAT’S where NC3 makes its impact, beginning with the student. NC3 shines a spotlight on schools and celebrates those who pursue career and technical training in incredibly important industries. I wanted to be part of their mission and make a difference in communities and young people’s lives.

What do you like most about your job?

For several years, I hosted a monthly storytelling event. I would choose a topic and people would share true stories about their lives. Every day I get to speak to people from all over the country, and hear about what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, and how they got there.  I gain the history, knowledge, and perspectives from people’s lives who I would otherwise never meet, and every day I learn something new from their stories.

What is your hidden talent? Or talents?

I’m a polyglot. I love learning languages and although it’s a “use it or lose it” skill, traveling is a wonderful way to brush up on them.

Where would you like to go on a dream vacation?

This may sound crazy, but bear in mind, I’ve been to 36 countries… I would love to go on an Antarctic expedition! I enjoy taking the road less traveled, and who doesn’t love penguins?!?!

What motivates you to wake up and go to work?

I remember being at a crossroads in life, that fork in the road when you’re finishing high school and trying to decide what’s next. I remember it being a scary time for me and wondering how I would ever reach my goals. I wake up every day knowing that there’s millions of students going through that same experience right now, and that NC3 can help set them up for success.

What are some fun elements of working with NC3 that you only learned about after you started working here?

By no means is this a dull, corporate work environment. Everyone on our team is extremely talented and has a sense of humor! I spend a lot of my workday laughing and I feel as though I’ve known some of my teammates for years!

What was the largest obstacle you faced during your NC3 onboarding? How did you overcome this challenge?

I joined NC3 during the COVID pandemic so all my encounters with the leadership team and my coworkers have been virtual. I was concerned about how this would affect my training and team building. After the first week, I quickly realized how supportive everyone is of each other and that they’re not shy about picking up the phone. Everyone is dedicated to our team and always willing to help in any way they can. I learned that being virtual or in-person isn’t what matters, it’s the people that make all the difference.

Want to learn more about NC3’s Lincoln Electric program and the plethora of industry-recognized student certifications offered through this world-class partnership? Email Pauline today.