TIers do amazing things every day at work and when they are out of the office. In our ongoing series, ‘Out of Office,’ we showcase the unique and fascinating hobbies, talents and interests of TIers all over the world.
TIer Chalonda Goodman is fast. Really fast.
It is probably safe to say out of the more than 32,000 employees in 35 countries across the globe, Chalonda is the fastest person at TI. She runs the 100-meter sprint in just over 11 seconds and the 200 meter sprint in under 23 seconds. And when she’s not working for TI as a marketing and communications associate, she’s busy training for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Her passion for running started at the age of seven when she discovered the sport of track & field.
“I was watching [4-time Olympic gold medalist] Michael Johnson run in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and I remember telling my dad, ‘I want to do this,’” said Chalonda. “And I’ve been running ever since.”
Chalonda was the No. 1 U.S. track & field recruit coming out of high school and chose the University of Texas at Austin. While she breezed past the competition in high school, her college years didn’t come quite as easy. During the first semester of her freshman year, she tore two ligaments in her ankle and had to have surgery. She recovered and competed in last part of the indoor season. During the following outdoor season, she tore a muscle junction between her Achilles and calf, leaving her immobilized for five months. Two years into Chalonda’s college career, she had barely had a chance to compete.
But she fought through the injuries, pushing through endless hours of rehab and training. She eventually returned to the track, becoming a 3-time All-American and a semifinalist in the U.S. Olympic trials in 2012.
“Even though I am faced with different challenges, there is always a way to overcome them. No challenge is too difficult to overcome. No problem is too big to be solved,” said Chalonda.
Chalonda uses that mindset in her job at TI, supporting different power management product lines in their communications efforts. Whether creating marketing collateral, leading meetings or collaborating with media relations and Internet marketing teams, Chalonda shows the same determination and resolve she has during competition.
Then there is her schedule. Chalonda goes to work at the TI South Campus in Dallas every morning, works until 5:30 p.m. and then heads to the TI Texins Activity Center for three hours of training. She goes home, makes dinner and heads off to bed, preparing herself for another day of work and working out.
“I have been doing this for years. In college being a student-athlete, it was basically a job. It started at 6 a.m. with weights, followed by class, practice and finally study hall. Sometimes it even required three hours of studying until midnight or 1 a.m. Then you start all over again. So time management has always been my best friend,” said Chalonda.