Karla Trotman

Karla Trotman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Electro Soft, Incorporated (ESI), an electronics manufacturing and engineering firm in the United States. She holds a B.S. in Business Logistics from The Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from Drexel University. The breadth of her experience in business extends to supply chain logistics, purchasing, global scheduling, and e-commerce. Defying expectations is a common thread in the life of Karla. While working full-time, Karla became the mother of two sons. With two challenging pregnancies, Karla recognized the difficulties prenatal and postnatal mothers experience. Her tenacity for learning, assessing, and fulfilling the needs of local and international communities is evidenced through her establishing Belly Button Boutique while on maternity leave. Karla utilized the power of the Internet in combination with her logistics background to start a successful online business selling products for prenatal and postnatal women. Over the span of 8 years, her business expanded to celebrity and international clientele. She was featured on NBC 10 News, People Magazine’s Celebrity Baby Blog, CBSNews, Huffington Post Live, several radio shows, books, and countless blogs. The success of Belly Button Boutique was an indicator to Karla of her ability to expand her horizons and affect change across multiple industries. She saw her success in navigating both the online space of business and logistics as an opportunity to propel Electro Soft, Incorporated (ESI) forward. ESI, an electronics contract manufacturing firm, was established by Karla’s parents Jim and Sheila Wallace in 1986. Karla exited corporate America with her sights focused on ESI. Over the past fifteen years she served in the roles at ESI as Special Projects and Marketing Manager, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and currently as the Chief Executive Officer. Under her guidance, ESI was able to gain a competitive advantage by implementing both an online marketing and acquisition strategy, ultimately increasing what was once a flat revenue streak. Going against the grain, harnessing the power within, and bucking tradition is a common theme in Karla’s life. Her desire to create a family legacy is evident in her acquisition of ESI. Through her leadership at ESI, Karla was named an Enterprising Woman of the Year, Transformational Woman in Family Business, Top 25 Leader Transforming Manufacturing, and most recently Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Greater Philadelphia Award winner. As an influential voice in manufacturing, Karla cuts through the narrative of what is expected of a leader in her industry and sets a precedent for future leaders. Karla recognizes and understands the plight of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and how their power can be used to help close the ever-widening minority wealth gap. Leveraging her connections to funding, access, and networks, she assists in bridging success gaps for her fellow minority business owners. As a connector, educator, and advocate for MBEs, she passionately expresses to all who will listen how an investment of minority dollars in minority businesses helps minority families and minority communities. In her #1 Amazon Best Selling book, “Dark Dirty Dangerous – Building the Vibrant Future of Manufacturing,” she tells the difficult truths of building a manufacturing company while facing issues beyond her control. Within her own community, Karla dedicates time serving her community as a board member for the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, Museum of the American Revolution, African Women’s Entrepreneurship Collective, and Forum of Executive Women Foundation. She is Co-Chair of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturing Alliance (SEPMA) and a Member of both the Drexel University Board of Governors and Drexel’s President’s Council.