As the world marks International Women’s Day this week, Projectified® spoke with two women project leaders making their mark in traditionally male-dominated sectors: cybersecurity and mining. Guests are:  

Kat Megas, PMP, cybersecurity for Internet of Things program manager, National Institute of Standards and Technology, McLean, Virginia, USA: Megas discusses leading projects in cybersecurity, how women communicate differently—but no less decisively—than men and her hope that different leadership styles are recognized rather than females having to fit an existing mold.  

Sevi Rich, senior portfolio manager, project development, BHP, Perth, Australia: Rich discusses the ways companies can improve gender equity and how she’s helping BHP recruit and retain women in mining. She also discusses solutions for working women, such as seeking out both male and female mentors, and companies offering more flexible work schedules.
 

Key themes 

[01:14] COVID-19’s toll on working women

[03:47] Male versus female communication styles

[06:48] Supporting future women leaders in cybersecurity

[10:51] Recruiting and retaining women leaders in mining

[13:28] The value of having male and female mentors