Lift Up: Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Space

Recently, Sophie Packer sat down with Christy Mazzarisi, MSRAQA .

Christy’s journey hasn’t been an easy one. Early in her career, she struggled with being listened to and taken seriously. She’s overcome these issues over the course of her career, and has shared her experiences so we as a community can benefit.

Here are the top insights that Christy shared with us:

• Make sure you’re heard
• Speak the Language you’re talking to
• Learn from your Male Mentors

Make Sure You’re Heard

It’s easy to feel like you’re not supposed to speak up just because someone with a higher title says something, but you need to make sure you’re heard. This doesn’t mean shouting or being physically louder, but instead speaking up more often.

Looking back on her early career, Christy states, “If I could change some of the things I did when I was younger and in those tough positions, I probably would’ve spoken up more.”

You have to speak up and have your voice heard, but come in with reasons why. It’s much harder to get your higher-ups to invest in your idea, if you don’t have the passion and reasoning for why your plan will work.

Speak Their Language

People have different ways of speaking and understanding; you can make yourself more easily understood by talking to them in their ‘language’. For instance, most men prefer being given clear, direct answers.

It’s also worth remembering that there isn’t only one way to solve a problem. Giving two or three options is better than just giving one, since it allows the decision-makers to choose their preferred choice. Suggesting multiple options also shows your flexibility and strengthens your credibility.

Bear in mind, we’re not telling you to act or behave like a man. Women don’t have to act ‘like a man’ to be successful. It’s essential to find your own voice, which can be difficult if you’re working in a male-dominated area.

Talking to people in a way they better respond to can help you develop stronger connections, and accelerate your career.

Learn From Your Male Mentors

To be successful, we have to learn from all available sources of knowledge —including male counterparts and mentors. Men and women have different viewpoints and lived experiences, and understanding all viewpoints is essential to building a well-rounded approach to continuing your career path.

When building your circle, it’s important to have both male and female advisors. Christy found, “without both of them, I wouldn’t have such a well-rounded set of advice coming at me”.

Ultimately, finding people that fit within your set of values is essential.

Of course, this is just one of the points covered in Episode 5 of the Lift Up Pod. Christy has many more insights and experiences that she shares during the podcast.

So what are you waiting for?

Listen to the full session on Spotify now.?