Women in Male-Dominated Industries: Claiming Your Seat at the Table

The path to leadership in male-dominated industries remains challenging for women, but many are successfully navigating these spaces while working to create more opportunities for others. Through conversations with women across finance, technology, construction, and other traditionally male-dominated fields, clear themes emerge about both the obstacles they've faced and the strategies they've developed to thrive.

The Reality of Being "The Only One"

Many women still find themselves as the sole female voice in the room. Sydney, a Senior Financial Analyst in commercial real estate, has a strategy to overcome this dynamic: "[I] look outside of my own direct team or maybe even direct company to be able to relate to and have people that are similar to me in doing similar things. Whether that's going to networking events or certain clubs within real estate, being able to connect with other women that are in their mid-twenties [is crucial]."

For Joselle, a Construction Manager leading an engineering team, the numbers tell the story: "We have 600 workers for my project, and we have 10 female workers... So it's very challenging... As a woman here, I really have to be assertive. I feel like I have to prove myself every day. I have to show them that I can be tough because the industry itself, the work itself, is very tough."

Overcoming Subtle Barriers

The challenges often manifest in subtle

ways. Lauren, Head of Employer Brand + Belonging at Qualtrics, recalls a pivotal moment: "I went to a big meeting on behalf of our CEO and it was all men sitting at the table—a 12-person table—and then all the women were sitting in the chairs surrounding the room, on the wall. And I walked in and I was one of the later people to arrive and there were two seats left at the table. My first inclination was this visual cue of 'Oh, I should go sit at the wall.' [But then I thought], 'What?... What am I doing?... Absolutely not. I'm here as a participant in the meeting.' And I went the long way around this big table to go get that empty chair because that's where I belonged."

Marisa, a Web Marketing Lead, emphasizes the importance of backing up your contributions with data: "Being able to answer any questions with hard, indisputable facts is really hard to argue against. It gives me the confidence to know what I'm talking about and be able to prove my points and prove my work with showing the results of it."

Finding Your Voice

For many women, learning to speak up effectively has been crucial. Kelly, a Salesforce Lead, shares: "The way that I communicate—especially asking for a promotion or a raise—the way that I'll approach it and the way my brother and boyfriend will do it are so different. My brother will ask for a raise and just kind of mute the call and sit there. And that terrifies me, but is something that I think all of us should be doing. You have to ask for what you want."

Shanna, a CEO, reflects on her journey: "I was very young when I progressed in my career. I was about 25 when I was managing teams of men who were 20 years older than me, and I had to prove that I was smart enough to be their leader. So I overcompensated a lot in not being approachable, in not being authentic."

Creating Change From Within

Many women are actively working to transform their industries. Zoe, a VP of ESG, explains her approach: "The way that I have approached my career is: how can I also inspire, encourage, and help bring other females into the industry? Because when I've seen it happen, it's created a more diverse workforce, not only in terms of gender, but in terms of diversity of thought."

Rachel, a VP at Compass Diversified, highlights how diversity can bring valuable perspectives: "You may really have a different perspective than your male colleagues... I spend a lot of time investing in consumer products. There are certain consumer products that are more oriented towards women... I think different experiences, different familiarity with certain types of businesses, can really add a differentiated lens to your investment team."

Building Support Networks

A common theme among successful women is the importance of finding mentors and building networks. Olivia, a Global PR Manager, emphasizes: "Something that was really beneficial at all of the different roles that I've had is I've managed to find female mentors, and they can really coach you up, give you advice, or give you a pep talk when you need it."

Looking Forward

While challenges remain, these women are proving that success in male-dominated industries is achievable. As Tessa, a Sr. Technical Project Manager, puts it: "I try to work harder and be better and lead better and just do all of those things and kind of just show people... I'm a Technical Project Manager, which is somewhat more male-dominated than other career choices. And I definitely gravitate more towards those just because I want to prove people wrong."

The message is clear: while the path may not be easy, women are increasingly claiming their seats at the table and working to ensure others can do the same. Through preparation, persistence, and mutual support, they're not just surviving in male-dominated industries—they're thriving and transforming them from within.

---

Want to learn more about how your specific background could translate into a career path? Visit us at Advize for more insights from successful, relatable professionals sharing real information to help.

If you ever want to reach out for help, advice or networking, shoot us an email at hello@advizehub.com or message us on Slack!

Wishing you success,

Emily McSherry

Founder & CEO