Years ago, a young Monica Knight would look toward downtown Dallas from Oak Cliff, telling herself she would someday work in one of those tall, gleaming buildings.

For Monica, an Oncor Rotational Manager, it’s a dream realized. And she’s quick to recognize the help and inspiration of several people, including Dr. Martin Luther King and her mother.

“It’s the classic story of a single parent,” Monica said. “I watched my mother work three or four jobs at once just to keep a roof over our heads.”

Monica’s mother worked for 40 years at the Dallas Morning News during the day. At night, she would take her two daughters with her to clean office buildings.

“Some nights, I would help her clean, but most nights, I would sit in a conference room and study,” she said. “She told me, ‘You need to go and get an education. Without it, this is what you’re going to be doing.’ ”

Monica went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds an MBA from Baker University and a master’s degree in conflict resolution from SMU.

Monica said Black History Month reminds her of Dr. King. To her, he’s more than the father of the civil rights movement. “He was a peacemaker,” she said. “And that’s what I try to be.”

“Dr. King was able to see that we all matter. African Americans matter. LatinX people matter. Asian people matter. Caucasian people matter. And we can’t do it alone,” Monica said. “Dr. King believed that understanding the perspective of your fellow men and women was the only way to make this country be the country that was promised to us.

Monica works in Oncor’s Customer Operations Department. “I think I have the best job at the company, because I get to go out and build relationships with customers,” she said.

As a native Texan and business professional, Monica understands how important it is for employees at companies like Oncor to look like the people they serve. “Diversity helps us have a better understanding of the people we serve,” she said.

“Diversity and inclusion are the foundation for creativity and innovation,” she said. “Without a diverse workforce, it would be impossible to meet our goal of empowering the modern lives of the people and communities we serve.”