Stephanie Chrystal, ANCA’s Female Machinist of the Year: She Won the Award—But It Was Her Team That Made History

Episode Summary

When Stephanie Chrystal walked into her first machine shop, she had no idea she’d one day be named ANCA’s Female Machinist of the Year. But according to her, the real story isn’t about the award—it’s about the team behind it.

In this episode of The Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer sits down with Stephanie, a geometric grinding specialist at Sandvik Coromant, whose leadership helped grow a small, post-COVID crew into a record-breaking, high-performing team. Together, they dig into how she landed in machining almost by accident, why she believes true leadership starts with empathy, and what it means to build a culture where everyone plays a role and no one is left behind.

From tinkering on cars to training new machinists, Stephanie’s story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need a title to lead—just a commitment to your people.

Top Takeaways

• Leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about action. Stephanie never asked to lead, she just stepped up when her team needed her most.
• Culture thrives when everyone has a role. Whether you’re an operator or upper management, shared success depends on teamwork.
• Work-life balance isn’t a buzzword—it’s how you build long-term productivity and morale.
• Asking questions is a leadership skill. Stephanie empowers her team by making curiosity safe.
• Recognition is great—but team success is greater. Stephanie may have won the award, but she insists the spotlight belongs to everyone.
• Manufacturing needs more leaders who care about people as much as performance.

Chapters

• 00:00 – A Precision Shop and a Powerful Leader
• 02:49 – Stephanie Chrystal: Culture Starts with the Team
• 06:14 – From Best Buy to Machining: An Unexpected Career Path
• 08:48 – Discovering Her Passion for Grinding and Problem-Solving
• 10:47 – COVID, Consolidation, and a Skeleton Crew
• 12:40 – Tripling the Team and Building Momentum
• 15:23 – Life Outside the Shop: Coaching, Disc Golf, and the Outdoors
• 17:00 – Winning the ANCA Female Machinist Award
• 18:34 – Why She Believes the Team Deserves the Credit
• 21:14 – Overcoming Bias and Proving Herself in the Shop
• 23:29 – Advice for Anyone Who Doesn’t Think They “Fit” in Manufacturing
• 24:58 – The Future of Manufacturing: Technology and Human Craft
• 27:46 – What Needs to Change in Manufacturing Culture
• 29:32 – Final Reflections and How to Connect with Stephanie