Schneider Electric : Her Heart, My Voice

My Journey as a Woman of Impact nominee for the American Heart Association

Runner. Disney fanatic. HR professional. Wife. Heart Mom.

Our Story

In May 2019, I reached out of my professional comfort zone and wrote a blog for Schneider Electric about finding meaningful purpose at work through supporting an organization near and dear to my family, the American Heart Association.

In summary, my daughter Adelyn (age 6) is a Heart Warrior. Adelyn was unexpectedly born with a mix of congenital heart defects (CHD) requiring 3 open-heart surgeries when she was 5 days old, 6 months, and age 3. Thanks to modern medicine and an amazing medical team, Adelyn is a thriving first grader who enjoys singing, dancing, cheerleading, and participating in Girl Scouts.

There is no cure for CHDs, only treatment and procedures, and children born with CHDs will be monitored through life by cardiologists. Awareness is the key for hope and survival, and as a Heart Mom, I want to use my voice to raise awareness of heart health and create a future that provides the best medical support possible for my daughter.

Woman of Impact Nomination

I am thrilled to have been nominated as a Woman of Impact by the American Heart Association. Beginning February 5 (Wear Red & Giving Day) through April 9, I will be on a mission to raise funds and drive awareness of heart health on behalf of my daughter Adelyn and Schneider Electric in conjunction with the Go Red for Women campaign. My goal is to earn the most points and raise the most funds to be formally named the Dallas Woman of Impact, potentially elevating to the national level.

It's not just about wearing red. It's not just about sharing heart health facts. It's about all of us making a commitment to stand together with Go Red for Women in the fight for heart-health equality. When we stand and work together, real change is possible. I cannot achieve this goal alone, but together, we can make an impact.

Schneider Electric's Connection

In addition to the corporate partnership many of our local offices and employees have with AHA, this campaign further drives Schneider Electric's focus on health education, gender, and diversity initiatives. Schneider Electric is proud to be one of the organizations that have been recognized by the American Heart Association for their implementation of quality workplace health programs and culture of health best practices.

The Schneider Electric Dallas office partners with AHA in a number of events such as Go Red for Women, the Heart Walk, CycleNation, and STEM activities. We've raised over $25,000 from employees locally since 2018 towards these events. I am so proud of Schneider Electric for supporting organizations and causes that are important to its employees, and I feel fortunate to be able to share our story with colleagues and executive leaders to gain their support and raise awareness.

Go Red for Women Campaign

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, but 80% of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action. Younger generations of women (Gen Z and Millennials) are less likely to be ware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of heart attack and stroke. Additionally, it literally took an act of congress to mandate inclusion of women in clinical trials, yet only 38% of cardiovascular research participants are women and even lower when looking into maternal health and communities of color. The mission of the Go Red for Women campaign is to:

• Accelerate Science
• Advance Public Health Policy
• Close Gender & Ethnicity Gaps in Research and STEM fields, including healthcare
• Raise Awareness in All Women
• Walk Hand-in-Hand with Women as Their Trusted Health Partner

Additional Resources

Thank you for following our journey as we work to improve cardiovascular health for all families! We want to educate and empower others to know the risks and signs of cardiovascular disease and to be confident navigating and advocating. To learn more about other children like Adelyn living with congenital heart defects, click HERE. If you'd like to learn about how you can help fight for heart health, visit HERE to read about the You're the Cure advocacy network and let me know if you sign up! Please consider reading more about cardiovascular disease and stroke in women by visiting the Go Red For Women website HERE.

To watch a 90-second video on Hands-Free CPR and to help me earn points in the Woman of Impact campaign, click HERE.

About the Author

Jessica Staggs began with Schneider Electric in 2011 and has held several HR positions, most recently as a Talent Management Specialist for North America Operations. She resides in Celina, TX with her husband, 2 daughters, and 2 dogs. Jessica is an advocate for well-being and enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with family.

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