We’ve all experienced the need to fill downtime. Especially during the pandemic; be it a hobby, an exercise program, binging television shows or crafting artistic works of art, activities can help alleviate the guilt of inactivity, as Yogi Berra might’ve said.
Take Patricia Watts, for example. It wasn’t COVID-19 that triggered her need to be productive, but rather a hurricane interrupting normal life activities in South Florida. Relegated to the indoors, she spent free time devising a client-facing project dashboard that she hoped would be useful. While others worked on puzzles, read books or caught up on sleep, Watts created a solution applicable for her job. That was a watershed moment that went beyond the value of a mere work efficiency. She loved her job, and this was proof positive.
“I genuinely enjoy solving problems, creating structure, and helping people succeed,” said Watts, a 2026 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “When you find yourself doing work for fun, you’re probably in the right place.”
Watts has grown her professional profile extensively, having risen through the ranks at Toshiba Business Solutions, beginning from her time as a receptionist while still working toward her marketing degree at Florida International University. She segued smoothly into sales, initially as a major account exec for government and non-profit clients in The Sunshine State. Watts later become a business development manager, followed by an MPS and professional services implementation and operations manager. For the last year, she’s served as a sales programs director, focused on driving pipeline, streamlining processes and empowering sales teams.
Helping Hands
Having served in many areas of the business while amassing an impressive knowledge font, Watts has capitalized on the opportunity to help team members. Whether it’s answering a question, putting people in contact with the desired source or helping people overcome roadblocks, she’s found her tenure at Toshiba to be extremely rewarding.
Watts credits her first sales manager with seeing her potential even before she did. He encouraged her to reach beyond her comfort zone and think bigger. That resonated with Watts and helped inform the way she leads and develops other team members.
The first time she qualified for a president’s club trip was a defining moment in Watts’ career. She’d always been motivated to build relationships, aid clients and develop creative solutions as opposed to garnering recognitions. Still, the trip validated all that she sought to achieve.
“The recognition from my peers and leaders showed me that meaningful work and strong results can go hand in hand,” Watts noted. “Since then, I’ve always tried to align my work with my values, which makes every day feel rewarding.”
Continuously Striving
The members of an effective team tend to push each other to excel, and that was the case when she managed solutions implementation and operations, coordinating with the engineering and technical teams. Watts tackled the role armed with solid organizational and relationship skills, but her technical expertise was limited. That wasn’t the case for long.
“They pushed me to learn, ask better questions and become more resourceful,” she noted. “That experience expanded both my confidence and my perspective.”
Moving forward, Watts hopes to enhance her ability to map out and connect ideas across various aspects of the business. She refers to it as “mind mapping,” a concept that dovetails with a phrase she recently heard, “thinking in constellations,” that struck a chord with her. Watts hopes to augment her ability to connect concepts, spot patterns and execute with a longer-term vision in mind.
On the home front, Watts and her husband, Moses, have been married 18 years and have a son, Corin, who will be attending high school in the fall. The couple travels tirelessly, having visited 30-plus states and a litany of countries. She counts Japan, South Korea and Costa Rica as her favorites.
“My colleagues see the professional side of me, but my family and friends see the person behind the title,” she remarked. “To them, I’m a wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Those roles are the most important ones I have, and they remind me that success is ultimately about the impact you have on people.”
The high school version of me wanted to be a: Lawyer. I loved solving problems, building a case, and persuading people. Looking back, I still use those skills every day.
Interesting fact about you: I was my elementary school’s valedictorian. It’s become a running joke in our house that my husband and son have some pretty high academic standards to live up to.
Celebrities you have met: None worth name-dropping…yet.
Favorite book or movie: I gravitate toward historical fiction and stories centered around resilient women. “The Nightingale” is one of my favorites.
Favorite food: Mussels and French fries. Simple, classic, and even better if I’m near the water.
Person you’d most like to meet: Michelle Obama
Dream vacation destination: Southeast Asia. Every trip I’ve taken there has left me wanting to explore more.
Any special talents: Organization. The second I walk into a room, my brain automatically starts categorizing, optimizing, and finding a better layout.
Guilty pleasure: Planning trips I haven’t booked yet. Half the fun is building the itinerary.
Most prized possession: The little family my husband and I have built with our son. Nothing else comes close.
