Colishia Dunbar is a rare combination: she possesses the skills of an engineer but the spirit of an extrovert.
The double-alumna is the North American transmission and distribution product and business development manager for Sicame North America, which supplies accessories and services that support the safe and reliable transmission of electrical energy. In this role, she guides everything from market analysis and business planning to product launches and portfolio growth. Previously, she held positions at Hubbell Power Systems, Hoffman Mechanical Solutions and Trane.
“I am able to chat with manufacturing folks and also visit customers and help sell the products we’re making,” says Dunbar, who earned her bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from USC in 2020 and her MBA from USC Aiken in 2023.
It’s not a career she imagined while growing up in rural Kingstree, South Carolina, a town of about 3,000 people. She loved to talk and jokes that she thought she would be a lawyer, having often been told growing up to “hush.”
But when she graduated from high school, she made a last-minute decision to attend a two-year program in computer drafting and design. “I had no idea what an engineer was,” she says. “And when I looked at engineering, I didn’t see a good representation of myself — female and African American.”
After years in the manufacturing industry, where she found it difficult to move ahead without a four-year college degree, she set out to change that dynamic. She started her engineering education at Midlands Tech, where she earned two associate degrees and two certificates before heading to USC.
“I’ve learned to overcome that challenge by standing firm in who I am and what I bring to the table. I don’t shrink my voice to fit the room; I use it to change the tone of the room.”
The USC degree was key to opening doors. “I took full advantage of the career fairs USC offered,” she says. “You never know who you’ll meet or how far networking can take you.”
For Dunbar, who lives with her husband, son and niece about 15 miles from Columbia in Gaston, South Carolina, the USC networking put her on the path to a thriving career in product training and market strategy after building a foundation in the HVAC and advanced manufacturing fields.
“I started my career on the technical side of manufacturing, so I understand the details, from the processes to the problem-solving that keeps production moving. But I’ve also learned how to connect that technical work to people and purpose.”
It hasn’t always been easy. She says the biggest challenge she has faced as a woman in manufacturing, particularly a Black woman, is being one of the only ones in the room.
“Early in my career, that was intimidating,” she says. “I constantly felt like I had to prove that I deserved to be there. Over time, I realized that my difference is not a disadvantage — it’s my strength. I’ve learned to overcome that challenge by standing firm in who I am and what I bring to the table. I don’t shrink my voice to fit the room; I use it to change the tone of the room.”
Along the way, she has offered a hand to others, working with first-generation students at USC’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing. She helps mentees with advice about career choices, participates in mock job interviews and works with students to help them best show off the skills they have acquired at USC. In 2024, she was presented the college’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
“I always tell students to start building relationships with their professors early,” she says. “You’d be surprised how far those connections can take you, from support in the classroom to recommendations for internships and jobs.”
She also founded COCO’s Trust, which stands for Challenging Obstacles, Creating Opportunities. Rolling out in 2026, the initiative empowers students, young adults and women to move past challenges and access greater opportunities. It aims to build scalable frameworks that advance career development and economic empowerment.
“It goes back to my experience growing up in a rural area without access to many opportunities or even knowing what was possible,” Dunbar says. “Those challenges still exist today. I want to give back to underrepresented communities and provide the resources and support they need.”
