The love of sisterhood

Valentine’s Day is such a great time to talk about what we love about our work.? For me, it’s always been a combination of how cool the work is and the extraordinary people I encounter each day.

This may come as a surprise to some of you, but engineering and manufacturing isn’t particularly diverse.

In about 90% of my meetings, I’m the only woman.? More than one woman is exceedingly rare.? I remember a meeting with an engineering team last year with one man and four women.? I was ready to pop the champagne!!

As I become more of an elder in our industry, I feel a responsibility to honor the many women who came before me and try to make a difference for the women who’ve arrived after.? One such trailblazer was Sari Gerb Denham, an amazing mentor and friend.?

She was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island. She had the most delicious dialect I’ve ever heard.? She graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 1982 and had a very long career as an engineer and in sales. Her resume included Whitney Aircraft, Rockwell International, IBM and Dassault Systèmes. Not too shabby.? She loved the NY Mets, New Orleans Saints and all things nature, including a black bear who frequented her backyard.

She took her responsibility as a mentor seriously and guided countless women in her career, including me.? A brilliant storyteller, she would use her wit to maneuver through a man’s world. Her memory is absolutely a Blessing.

There is an unofficial sisterhood in our industry, an unspoken understanding that we need to support each other, lift each other up, and be a refuge during tough times.

We talk about dealing with workplaces and business practices stuck in the past.? I remember arriving for a meeting at a small manufacturer many years ago.? Shag carpeting and ash trays in the lobby with a sign that said, “no salesmen welcome”. I was really impressed with how forward thinking they were that they had a declared preference for women in sales!

We handle the mansplaining with a smile.? One of my more recent experiences was at a Work Truck expo where someone was kindly explaining how engineering worked but seemed a bit lost when I asked him about Computational Fluid Dynamics.? Most of us have been paid less than men in the same roles. In one company I worked at, a sales manager wasn’t comfortable working with women, and within a year, all the women on the sales team were ousted.? But we reapply the mascara and keep going.

In technology sales, the old bro culture is alive and well which is a detriment to sales and customers alike.? People still ask outdated questions in interviews such as: “Are you a Hunter or a Farmer?”. I’m happy to share that nearly all my customers are still alive and well today. I don’t know a single woman in tech sales who considers customers her prey. The women I know in tech sales have strong relationships with their customers, focused on solving their challenges and always acting in the customer’s best interest.?

In business, success hinges on constant change and to truly accomplish our goals, we need more women to challenge the status quo.? The women I see in industry today are the changemakers.? We are called Pollyanna, Rogue, out of our lane, and other wonderful compliments for our efforts. But we are undeterred because we have become immune to discouragement. We are so lucky to be a part of making Manufacturing in the US better, more competitive, more technologically advanced, and more innovative. I’m always excited for what comes next!

I have a coffee mug that I use as a reminder of my own capabilities, of the women who have come before me, and the accomplishments of all women.

It says, simply: “Actually, I can”. This mug is on my desk for days when I need reinforcements.

Because of the sisterhood in my corner, I know this to be true.

Happy Valentine’s Day!