Female Executives Share How to Excel in Skilled Trades

What does it take to break into — and find success in traditionally male-dominated industry? Mediaplanet assembled a panel of women, from students to executives, to weigh in.

How did you become involved in your industry?

My high school chemistry class inspired me to study chemistry in college, and my dad encouraged me to get a chemical engineering degree so I would have more options. It was the best advice I ever got. An internship at Dow Chemical introduced me to manufacturing and its limitless careers and opportunities. What drove me then is what continues to drive me now — new challenges and continuous learning. In the chemical industry, where I worked for 15 years, I could regularly learn about new product lines, functions or technologies. It’s the same in oil and gas, where I am in my 12th year.

What advice would you give to women on breaking in to the industry? 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions to anyone in the organization. If you show admiration and respect for people and a desire to learn, they will make time and help you. This is true whether you are talking to a night shift operator, a mechanic in the field or the operations manager. When you follow the process from start to finish and have an appreciation for all the complexities in bringing a product to market, it builds a foundation that will serve you well as you advance.

What does your day to day work routine look like? 

My current role is in Chevron’s Products Supply and Trading business. I work in a high-rise in downtown Houston on a fast-paced trading floor with 400 other people. I manage a team of analysts that supports our trading group. First thing, I check on overnight developments from around the world. Throughout the day, I may meet with traders or representatives from finance, risk control, refining, shipping, operations or information technology to ensure everything continues to flow smoothly and to identify improvement projects. The conversations are lively and changes in the marketplace must be acted on quickly.

What skills do you utilize every day, be they technical or otherwise? 

I lead a team that relies on analytics, but I see analytics becoming a major component throughout the value chain. Basic analytical skills can be a value regardless of role or function. Communication skills also are important. Early in my career, that meant effective written and verbal skills, but today I also need to consider the effectiveness of the delivery method. I must be strategic to get my messages seen and processed quickly using data visualization tools and infographics to communicate key points to a broader audience. With change happening faster than ever, negotiation and change management skills also are imperative.

How have you navigated the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry, and what recommendations would you give to women looking to ascend the industry ladder? 

Be confident. Oftentimes women are just as knowledgeable or skilled as men, but we hurt ourselves and limit our opportunities with self-doubt. Don’t be afraid to take on new challenges. There’s a frequently repeated statistic that men apply for jobs when they meet 60 percent of the qualifications, but women apply only if they meet 100 percent. Apply for that job; ask to be on that next project. Never stop learning. Your degree is only the beginning. You need to sharpen your skills by taking classes, earning certifications and otherwise demonstrating that you are keeping up with the ever-changing market place.

How did you become involved in your industry? 

I come from a long line of farmers, military personal (including myself), and medical and industry technicians. Growing up, I was told if I wanted something, I had to work hard for it. When it came to choosing a career, I wanted to do something that would be rewarding to others as well as myself. With a family of technicians, my choice was clear. I started the Lake Area Tech Robotics program this past fall and was a recipient of the full-ride Build Dakota Scholarship. I have a business partner that contributes to half of the full-ride in exchange for an employment commitment when I graduate.

What advice would you give to women on breaking in to the industry? 

If you want it, act like you want it. NEVER let the excuse “she’s a girl” keep you from an opportunity, and never use it as an excuse to get out of doing a job. If you want to be in this field, you will have to play by the same rules as everyone else. Believe me, it’s hard, but it’s worth it.

What does your day to day work routine look like? 

My school routine is pretty basic. I attend class, work on lab assignments and do homework until the end of the day. I also have an internship with my business partner, Redfield Ethanol. Upon arrival, I head out to various pre-maintenance checks to make sure the equipment is fully functional and complete work orders. After my first day interning, I was so excited the company allowed me to work as an actual maintenance technician. It’s opened my eyes as to the skills I need to improve and things in which I excel. It’s awesome to get hands-on experience in the trade I chose.

What skills do you utilize every day, be they technical or otherwise? 

Besides organizational and communication skills, trouble-shooting is a skill I use every day. In many of my classes, if something doesn’t work right or doesn’t work at all, the instructor will ask “Did you try troubleshooting it?” As a maintenance tech, I need to be able to find the source of the problem and fix it as safely and effectively as I can. This is a critical skill. If a plant is down, it is not producing and making money. It is my responsibility to fix the problem as fast as possible.

How have you navigated the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry, and what recommendations would you give to women looking to ascend the industry ladder? 

The best advice I can give any female thinking about going into this field is to be resilient. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get help. It takes a confident, strong individual to admit you don’t know everything and that you need to step back once in a while and learn new skills to help with your job. Also, have fun with your career. I’ve met some amazing people since starting college and my internship. I love their enthusiasm and their eagerness to continue learning. Being a woman in this field isn’t scary, it’s empowering.

How did you become involved in your industry? 

After working several years in Washington, D.C., I joined the Marshall University family. This allowed me the opportunity to come home. It also allowed me to continue to work to promote economic activity in a state and region I love. It seemed a natural fit to take the reins of an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center, where we truly have the opportunity to affect changes and impact jobs.

What advice would you give to women on breaking in to the industry? 

There’s tremendous opportunity for women in today’s modern manufacturing. With large numbers of baby boomers retiring and manufacturers adopting emerging technologies that require new skills, companies realize they need women to help fill an estimated 3.5 million openings over the next decade. Believe in yourself. Believe in your ability to learn things that may be a little outside the box. During World War II it was women who kept our industrial complex humming, and if we’re to bridge today’s growing skills gap in manufacturing, it will require more women choosing careers in this sector.

What does your day to day work routine look like? 

My work day is as varied as the mission of RCBI. I’m constantly interacting with my team of nearly 50 professionals to ensure that we’re working together to meet our clients’ needs as a one-stop technology resource for manufacturers and entrepreneurs. I meet face to face with industry professionals across the nation to keep abreast of the latest technologies, industry trends and workforce needs.

What skills do you utilize every day, be they technical or otherwise? 

The gift of gab and the gift of listening are two of the most important skills anyone can bring to his or her profession. Internal and external communications are vital to the success and growth of an organization or industry. Teamwork and team building are also important skills. And, to make it all work, you have to understand that the key is responding to client needs by motivating teams of people to work together to implement innovative opportunities and solutions.  

How have you navigated the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry, and what recommendations would you give to women looking to ascend the industry ladder? 

Women have come a long way, baby. I am very fortunate that even though I work in a technical field, I have not experienced the much-discussed challenges from male colleagues. Women might have to work harder to prove they understand technology, how things are made and why things are made, but that only serves to make us stronger and better in our chosen fields. My advice is to be prepared, know your capabilities, know your team, know your market and always know your audience.

How did you become involved in your industry? 

I joined Rheem four years ago, coming from the home appliance industry. The Water Heating and HVAC industry was interesting to me because the products are critical to everyday life comfort, and it’s rewarding to be part of that. But I also liked how the industry is on the cusp of transformation, as the products become more innovative and more connected with customers. We’re moving from a manufacturing-centered mindset to a customer-centric mindset in the industry, and the change is exciting.

What advice would you give to women on breaking in to the industry? 

My biggest piece of advice is to spend some time with customers and learn about the biggest challenges they have. It’s amazing how much you can learn about an industry by simply listening to your customers. If you listen closely enough, you will find that you can learn much more than studying from a book or looking at engineering drawings. And don’t be afraid to ask questions or challenge the status-quo. That’s how we progress, and that’s how you make your mark.

What does your day to day work routine look like? 

What I love about my position is that there is no day-to-day work routine. Every day is different. In any given day, I can find myself presenting future business strategies, evaluating technologies with the engineering team, meeting with trade customers, approving advertising campaigns, identifying best practices to embed in the company or reading through government regulations. I consistently spend much of my days coaching and working with teams to deliver best-in-class products. The success of any product launch depends on the cross-functional team working effectively together; and I consider it a significant part of my responsibility to support the teams so they can be successful.

What skills do you utilize every day, be they technical or otherwise? 

I do use my technical skills to understand technical challenges and to translate technical benefits into customer language. More often, I employ business skills to make smart decisions, such as business case and marketing analysis. But the people skills are really the most important. Working with people is such a critical part of being successful. So I try to focus on being a better teammate, a better leader, a better manager and a better employee. I find that as I do that, I’m able to produce better results with the support of those around me.

How have you navigated the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry, and what recommendations would you give to women looking to ascend the industry ladder? 

I have always worked in male-dominated industries. Over time, it has become easier, although I certainly have had some frustrating moments that my male colleagues have not likely experienced. In the face of such events, I continue to move forward and remain focused on my goals. I have two main recommendations for women climbing the ladder. First, remember that you deserve a seat at the table as much as anyone else in the room. Surround yourself professionally and personally with those who will remind you of that, too. Second, find male mentors and champions. Female mentors are important, but don’t limit the feedback and support you get. As long as the industry is male-dominated, you need to make sure male leaders are supporting you as well.