Job description: As group manager of operational efficiency, Devina has created a systematic approach to continuous improvement, leveraging data-driven decision-making and sustainable innovation to ensure Norfolk Southern Railway remains competitive, adapts to change and delivers smart growth.

Why she's influential as an innovator: A 21-year veteran of NS, she joined the company as a management trainee. She has since served in various leadership roles overseeing the maintenance and inspection of freight cars and locomotives at the company's mechanical facilities. Then she transitioned to the Norfolk Operations Center (NOC), where she managed the mechanical operations desk. In this role, Devina was responsible for balancing power to repair facilities, ensuring locomotives were returned to service efficiently, and managing the status of bad-order locomotives. During her tenure at the NOC, she honed her skills in data mining and decision-making, which prepared her to work directly with senior management as a systems engineer. In this capacity, she delivered critical metrics that informed strategic decisions and spearheaded initiatives to better support NS's fleet, increase reliability, and improve locomotive availability. These experiences cemented her reputation as a problem-solver and innovator, always seeking out-of-the-box countermeasures to complex challenges.

Over the past six years, Devina has dedicated her career to working with teams across NS to define challenges and develop sustainable solutions. Finally, Devina's belief that those closest to the work often have the best insights has been a hallmark of her leadership style. She has consistently empowered her teams to identify problems and implement solutions, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.