HAZARD GIRLS

As many of you may know, we were recently at the National Association of Women in Construction Annual Conference (NAWIC) in Charlotte, North Carolina. While we were there, we got to meet so many interesting women, working on all kinds of innovative and exciting things in construction, but one of our favorite presentations was the NAWIC PPE Fashion Show. That’s right; kick-ass women’s workwear brands on the catwalk! It was so powerful and, today, we are pleased to welcome one of the awesome leaders who modeled Juno Jones boots in that presentation. Her name is Allison Jencson, known as the Tradeswoman Tigress, and she is the President and CEO of Frontline Floor Coatings in the Greater Colorado Springs Area. She is also the founder of Girder Skirts, a community for tradeswomen to support and connect with one another, and a sought-after speaker, bringing her insight, experience, and rebellious spirit to the stage with a passion to inspire her audiences to step into their confidence and unleash the badass that she believes resides in all of us! In this episode, discuss some of the challenges Allison has faced as a female founder, how she overcame them, and how she acts as a catalyst for the change she wants to see. She also shares what the word rebel means to her, how she came to be known as the Tradeswoman Tigress, and some tips and tricks for celebrating your femininity in the male-dominated construction industry. You’ll hear all this and more in today’s episode of Hazard Girls, so make sure not to miss it!

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This week on Hazard Girls we continue our conversation on diversity and inclusion. Here to help us shed further light on the topic is Julia Hodum, Director of Inclusion and Diversity for the North American arm of the Schindler Group, a Swiss company and leading global mobility provider of escalators, elevators, and related services. In our conversation with Julia, we discuss her early interest in diverse cultures and languages and how that prompted her to pursue her degree in International studies. Julia shares what motivated her to obtain an MBA after her undergrad and how it complemented her existing knowledge and skill set. Julia expands on her work at Schindler and unpacks how she was able to launch their first Diversity and Inclusion program in the US. We delve into the overwhelming benefits of increased diversity and inclusion, how to implement executive accountability, and why systemic change is essential. Later we discuss how Julia and her team utilize quantitative and qualitative research to better implement and measure their work, as well as how to be an ally and an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Join us today as we continue our discussion on the importance of diversity and inclusion and how you can get involved!

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Today’s guest, Rebecca Francis, is a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist with IEA, Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives Inc. Tuning in, you’ll hear what her role entails and how she uses her background in education to teach employees on who to go to if they have a complaint, and Rebecca shares what she thinks about the goal of diversity to build a more sustainable workforce. Find out why it is so important to represent all races, genders, and sexualities, and why there is such a growing need for Diversity and Inclusion Specialists, as well as why inequity is at the root of every problem while diversity and inclusion are the fruit, which enables companies to find the best talent within every culture and ensure its success. Rebecca also shares her career trajectory with listeners and tells us how her studies and experience have enriched what she brings to her work today. We touch on some of Rebecca’s other business pursuits, including vending machines for high-quality hair products, and she shares her advice for women who want to advance in these areas: just go for it! We hope you join us to hear from this inspiring woman today!

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On this episode, we chat with Sarah Marie Liddle, a certified professional coach for small businesses and individuals seeking to live well and productively. She is based out of Canberra, Australia, where she offers positive psychology and wellness tools to help professionals bring more balance and productivity into their day. You’ll hear how Sarah Marie integrated the techniques of small scale happiness into her life in order to reach her goals, and what we all stand to lose if we focus on fixed goals. We also talk about the danger that being too focused on goals poses to your happiness and the importance of having pure intentions when we pursue them. Sarah Marie highlights some of the signs of burnout and offers some practical solutions for when they start to arise. Next, she tells us why she believes that a lot of the best things in life require maintenance, like your relationships and your body. She introduces us to two great tools to manage burnout: manage your schedule and be cautious about who and what you let into your life. We talk about the life-changing power of being well-rested and well-nourished and the decision-making technique that starts with imagining your best day ever and building from there. We hope you join us for an episode full of compassionate advice and practical tips today!

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Do you ever wonder how things are made? Paige Loew, a safety specialist at 3M, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, works with end-user customers across nearly every industry from healthcare and construction to manufacturing, and she gets to see it all! In today’s episode, you’ll hear about Paige’s journey to her current position, how she can determine what protective gear customers need, and what she loves most about her job: being a piece in the puzzle of helping workers stay safe. Paige shares her long-term goals to us, plus some powerful advice for women in male-dominated industries; to be unafraid to take a risk and try something new. We dive into how 3M customizes gear to give customers what they need and the tools that sales reps use to optimize this. Paige also tells us what she would like to see in women’s gear and what her favorite part of her job is: getting to see how things are made! We hope you join us for a memorable peek behind the scenes at 3M today!

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On today’s episode, we are visited by the Queen of Concrete, Lupita Vazquez, a leader in the male-dominated construction industry and an integral figure in the Hispanic construction community. Tune in to hear Lupe tell the story of how she entered the world of construction after being told it wasn’t for her, the elevator pitch that changed her career, and how the nickname ‘Reina Del Concreto’ helped Lupe realize her integral role as a powerful woman in construction. We discuss the power of referrals in the construction industry and Lupe reveals the responsibility she feels to help empower a new generation of women. Next, she tells us how she started Reina Diamond Blades and gives us all the details of Expo Contratista, the largest Hispanic, niche catered expo where everyone is welcome. Finally, Lupe explains that Reina Diamond Blades serve as a powerful symbol of cutting through and keeping on when you run into something hard, and why she believes that every woman in construction is a role model. We hope you join us!

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Excelling as a woman in a male-dominated industry is no easy feat but, looking at Michelle Seiler Tucker’s career, it is clear that with the right focus, tenacity, and ability, it is totally achievable. On today’s episode, Michelle tells us the story of how she came to build a hugely successful business, offers listeners expert advice and encouragement, and gives us some key insights into the world of mergers and acquisitions. She offers listeners a valuable piece of advice: ask yourself why you entered your industry, before emphasizing the importance of doing due diligence before starting a business. Next, Michelle introduces us to the idea of buying an existing business rather than starting a new one in order to reduce risk, and tells us why the worst time to sell a business is during a catastrophe and the best is when it is thriving. We touch on Michelle’s book, Exit Rich, and the importance of building a business as an asset that you can sell. Michelle expands on this idea, highlighting the value of changing your mindset around entrepreneurship to create a machine that can run without you. She also outlines a core lesson in her book, known as the 'Six P’ method: people, product, process, proprietary, patrons, and profit. Tuning in, you’ll hear about the life cycle of a business, with Toys R Us as an illustrative case study, we dive into some of the main reasons businesses fail and, lastly, Michelle tells us why the failure rate for startups has decreased so drastically: innovation. We hope you join us for an inspiring peek into the world of business from an unstoppable force in the field!

 

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Our guest today is Dr. Nicole Tschierske, founder of Into Action Coaching, is a scientist who has turned herself into a career coach, specifically to help women in science and technology get noticed in their companies and grow in their careers. Dr. Tschierske studied food chemistry and holds a Ph.D. in chemistry. When she felt stuck in her career, she hired a career coach. After a few sessions, the results were so amazing that she decided to make it her life's work to do the same for other women in STEM. She became certified as a positive psychology coach and now helps women become influential at work, unlock opportunities for themselves in their careers, and find a renewed love for their work. In today’s episode, she explains the different types of career coaches available, what positive psychology is, and what you can expect in a typical coaching session. You’ll hear Dr. Tschierske’s recommendations for women who feel underappreciated in their jobs, the importance of acknowledging your small wins, and why you should treat your professional development as a series of little experiments. For some helpful tips for anyone wanting to grow in their career, tune in today!

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Jill Morley is an award-winning screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. Her feature documentary, Fight Like a Girl, is about women using boxing to fight their demons and empower themselves. In addition to her many award-winning screenplays and films, she is a contributing writer to periodicals like The Village Voice, Bust Magazine, and The New York Press, she is also a producer for radio documentaries, like NPR’s This American Life and The World. Her short stories and monologues are published in several anthologies and, aside from her prolific wiring and screen career, Jill started boxing at the age of 40 and is now a retired boxing champion. Yup! In 2015, she won the Masters Division of the National Golden Gloves as a light flyweight. In today’s episode, Jill shares the healing power of boxing and the importance of fighting for your place in the world, as well as some of the challenges she encountered in making Fight Like a Girl and how she is now empowering other women as a boxing coach. All this and more in this fascinating conversation, so make sure to tune in today!

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In today's episode of Hazard Girls, we are visited by two impressive guests from the National Association of Women in Construction, Anne Pfleger and Kristey Stewart. We open today's episode with a conversation about how Kristey and Anne entered the world of construction and the ‘aha moments’ that sparked their passion for empowering women in the field. Next, we dive into a bit about the work that NAWIC does across the globe and which careers NAWIC is able to provide support for. We talk about two ventures that NAWIC has rolled out, Punchzee and Block Kids, and Anne unpacks why she uses the term ‘male populated’ rather than ‘male dominated’ to describe the construction industry. Kristey tells us how she works with students to help them learn about the diverse opportunities available in construction. As our episode draws to a close, we talk about the effect of the pandemic on women in construction and Anne and Kristey tell us how they are working together to advance a culture of inclusion within NAWIC and why it is a great time to be a woman in construction. Tune in for a hefty dose of hope for the future of women in construction from two people at the forefront of creating opportunity and empowerment for women in the field!

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