Amanda Graham is a project manager for Caterpillar Inc., leading a team of consultants and dealers to identify opportunities for business growth and managing a portfolio of key strategic projects. A Six Sigma Black Belt, she has been a strong presence at the company for 12 years, leading global projects across multiple business units to increase market share and sales, establish product line positioning and improve dealer capabilities.

A champion for women in the workplace, Graham served as president of the Caterpillar Women’s Initiatives Network, an employee resource group with 1,500 members worldwide. During her tenure, she helped boost membership growth by 70 percent, oversaw the formation of nine new satellite chapters, hosted the first “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” for middle-school girls and enhanced the group’s visibility through panel discussions and summits. She was also a key member of the Women in Leadership Conference planning team, a world-class event that hosted top professionals from around the world in Peoria.

Graham has a long history of community service, from fundraising for Easter Seals to volunteering for Junior Achievement of Central Illinois. She was a member of the Junior League of Peoria and sat on the Pi Beta Phi Alumni Advisory Board for the chapter at Bradley University. She is also an assistant coach for the Limestone Girls Softball Association.

Since Graham was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, she has shifted her efforts toward bringing awareness to the disease. She is currently on medical leave from Caterpillar, enduring aggressive treatment while striving to maintain connections with her friends, family, colleagues and the community. By sharing her story, she hopes to inspire hope and courage in this fight, while advocating for treatment trials across the country.

Described as “a unique blend of grit and grace,” Graham is an inspiration to all who know her. As she continues to craft her own legacy of leadership, her impact has already been felt in the community and at Caterpillar in countless ways. iBi