Welcome to our International Women's Day Special Edition!

This year’s celebration is inspired by the theme #AccelerateAction and Barfield’s 80th anniversary celebration. To mark this occasion, we asked some of our incredible team members to share their experiences and insights. We posed the question: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them?

The responses we received were nothing short of inspiring. These women, representing diverse roles from Customer Service Manager to Technician and Accounting Manager, have shown remarkable resilience. They have grown stronger, developed confidence, and become trailblazers in their fields.

On this International Women's Day, we honor their journeys, celebrate their achievements, and recognize their unwavering dedication. Join us as we highlight their stories and the powerful impact they have made at Barfield. Let's celebrate these extraordinary women who are truly a force to be reckoned with!

Githzel Rodriguez, Customer Service Manager

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them?

One of the most significant challenges I've encountered in my career as a woman is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Despite the progress we've made, we still navigate a male-dominated society where women often shoulder more responsibilities. Balancing everything can be overwhelming.

What has truly helped me is setting clear boundaries and trusting others to manage their responsibilities. I’m also grateful for the flexibility I have at Barfield to work from home a few days a week. It's not always easy, but it has been crucial in preventing burnout and creating space for both my personal and professional life.

I hope to see more women openly discussing their journeys, sharing their challenges and triumphs. Especially women in leadership roles, as they are the ones who will inspire and mentor future generations.

Cynthia Morales, Lead Technician

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them?

As a woman in a lead position, one of the biggest challenges I've faced is ensuring my voice is heard. To overcome this, I focus on leading by example, which earns respect, and building strong relationships to create a collaborative environment.

Quiana Garner, Buyer Level 1

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them??

Aviation is a predominantly male-dominated field, and throughout my 10+ years in the profession, there have been times when I've had to work twice as hard as my male counterparts just to be considered adequate for a job.

Salena Martin, Customer Service Assistant Level 2

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them??

Throughout my career, I have encountered numerous challenges, many of which stemmed from being a woman. I have often been underestimated and had to work harder to prove my abilities. Despite my experience and qualifications, I was frequently offered positions with lower pay, forcing me to work for years to achieve fair compensation.

Additionally, I faced struggles such as minimal representation, limited access to mentors, and appearance-based discrimination. These hurdles have been significant, but they have also shaped my resilience and determination.

Stephanie Escobar-Avila, QC Inspector Level I

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them??

Aviation has long been a male-dominated field, and throughout my 10+ years in the profession, I've often had to work twice as hard as my male counterparts to be considered adequate for a job. Despite this, there is a noticeable increase in the number of women entering the industry.

Over the past decade, I've observed and experienced firsthand the challenges faced by women in aviation. One significant challenge is the need to exert substantially more effort to achieve the same recognition and respect as male colleagues. Additionally, despite this increased effort, there remains a disparity in pay, with women often earning less than their male counterparts for equivalent roles and responsibilities.

I continue to navigate and overcome these challenges, striving for equality and recognition in this evolving industry.

Felicia Shorter, Quality Assurance Manager

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career at Barfield and how have you overcome them?

Excelling beyond my male counterparts and proving my worth in a male-dominated field has been both challenging and rewarding. By staying true to myself and demonstrating my abilities through hard work and a commitment to excellence, I've shown that I belong and can thrive in this field.

The challenges I've faced include working with colleagues who may underestimate my abilities and question my qualifications. I address these challenges with hard work and confidence in my value to the company.

Charlotte Saylor, Lead Logistics Coordinator

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them?

Personally, I have no challenges working for Barfield. As the only woman here in Louisville, I can confidently say that the guys I work with are wonderful. We truly are a team!

Ada Valdes, Manager – Traffic

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them??

I've been proud to be part of the Barfield family for 38 years, facing many personal and professional challenges. As a woman, mother, and daughter, here are three examples:

When I started at Barfield, my youngest son was still in diapers. Balancing work and family was tough, but Barfield supported me.

Both my sons joined the military, with my oldest serving in Iraq. During this difficult time, Barfield was there for me.

I cared for my 103-year-old mother before her passing, thanks to Barfield's flexibility.

Setting boundaries and trusting others has helped prevent burnout and make space for my personal and professional life.?

Lourdes Casanova, Manager – Billing

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them??

Balancing work and family responsibilities has been challenging. I've learned the importance of setting priorities, establishing boundaries, and making time for family thanks to Barfield’s hybrid work schedule.

I set clear limits on my work hours, determine what is most important and what can wait, and ensure I make time for self-care.

Jaquay Henderson, Customer Service Manager

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career at Barfield and how have you overcome them?

Happy to celebrate Barfield's 80th year! One challenge I've faced as a woman is gaining the confidence to be a leader, especially without support from male peers. I overcame this by building confidence, applying myself, and demonstrating my leadership abilities through experience and training.

As an African American woman, the biggest challenge has been the lack of diversity and inclusion in leadership roles. A mentorship program would greatly enrich Barfield's culture.

Pamela Cash, Inventory Supervisor

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them??

The biggest challenge I've faced in my career is internal. As I age, I'm not as strong as I once was, and I have to find more workarounds. My mind says one thing, but my body says something entirely different!

Roberts Ara, AP Accounting Manager

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your career and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I've faced as a woman in my career is ageism during job searches. To overcome this, I improved my skill set and removed graduation dates from all resumes and online job boards.

Another significant challenge was having supervisors dismiss my ideas and concerns. I handled this by doing my job and keeping my head down until I could assert myself and make the right decisions for me.

For the second year, we celebrated International Women's Day with a round table session featuring our CEO, Gilles Mercier , and some of our team members. They discussed work-life balance, career advancement, and inclusivity, aiming to dismantle barriers and inspire the next generation of women leaders.

As we celebrate our 80th year, Barfield remains committed to fostering an inclusive and empowering environment that promotes growth and innovation.

For more information, please visit our website.