EmpowerHER: Breaking Through Gender Barriers

Amidst the celebrations of Women's History Month, we reflect on the challenges many women face in professional work settings. From the boardroom to the office floor, gender barriers persist. Despite the challenges, women continue to push forward and reshape industries.

Their support and guidance gave me confidence in my role and career path.

Kate Giebler joined Hexagon US Federal as Director of Contracts in 2023, part of the Corporate Services team which provides strategic guidance, expertise, and collaborative support to enable customer success and growth across the organization. Additionally, Kate serves as a member of the Leadership Team.

In this interview, Kate, shares her experiences on how she navigates gender barrier challenges and how mentorship was fundamental to shaping the leader she is today.

Q: What are some challenges you have faced from gender barriers?

Earlier in my career, I observed a discrepancy in how my male colleagues and I were perceived in professional settings. While my male counterparts were often given the benefit of the doubt and assumed competent until proven otherwise, I found myself in a position where I needed to consistently demonstrate my capabilities before my perspectives and opinions were readily accepted.

Q: What role did women leaders or mentors play in your academic or professional development?

I have been very fortunate to work with and for several truly outstanding women. Their support and guidance gave me confidence in my role and career path.

Thank you Kate Giebler for participating in the EmpowerHER article series! Be sure to check out more of our EmpowerHER series.

Kate Giebler is the Director of Contracts at Hexagon US Federal, headquartered in Chantilly, VA.