June 23, 2022 | By Penny Cotner, Infinite Electronics President & Chief Executive Officer
Today, women account for nearly half of the U.S. workforce. However, there are still a number of industries, like science, engineering, construction and technology, that are predominantly male. In engineering fields alone, women comprise less than one fifth the engineering labor force.
As an electrical engineer myself, and now CEO of a global supplier of electrical components, I’m passionate about encouraging other women to pursue careers in STEM. Here are three tips I’ve learned through the years that can help your voice be heard and your value recognized as you grow in your career.
- Don’t Over-Apologize – Women are far more likely than men to minimize or cushion our actions with an apology. This becomes habit, as you know if you’ve ever caught yourself saying “sorry” for something that doesn’t warrant an apology. Trying to get your point across in a meeting? “I’m sorry, this might sound silly but….,” Sending a follow-up email or knocking on your co-worker’s door to ask a question? “Sorry to bother you….,” Someone talked over you in a meeting? Even then, we say “Sorry!” In her TEDx Talk on the topic, Dr. Maja Jovanovic calls these kind of apologies confidence killers. Phrases and questions like “I’m no expert but…,” can have similar confidence-destroying consequences. You don’t need to be rude, of course, just start replacing “sorry” with “thank you” or “excuse me.” Over-apologizing is now so commonplace that there’s even a plug-in for Gmail and Outlook called Just Not Sorry that alerts you of words and phrases that may undermine your message, so you can adjust accordingly before hitting send. So, watch the apologies where they don’t make sense – if you have confidence in your ideas and actions, others will too.
- Cultivate Mentors – Working in a male-dominated field can not only feel lonely, but can limit your access to natural mentors. Men are more likely to organically develop mentoring relationships, simply because opportunities to connect are more available, may feel more natural, and are more readily accepted. Finding a strong mentor in your industry – male or female – can give you a sense of belonging and help you navigate through rough waters. While all good mentors are invaluable, women in particular who have been exactly where you are will understand at a deeper level the challenges you will face. In my experience, most executives or senior leaders won’t say no to someone who’s looking for advice and is willing to learn. All you have to do is ask for some time, and then allow the relationship to grow from there. A good mentor will be with you throughout your career, and will help you in ways you can’t imagine.
- Become a Lifelong Learner – Did you know the concept for Priceline, an extremely successful travel website, started after the founder, Jeff Hoffman, read an article about bananas? He conducts a daily practice that he calls “info sponging” where he spends 10-15 minutes learning about something he knows nothing about. He then analyzes the insights to see how he can utilize them in his business. During one of these sessions, he read an article about the price of bananas going down the older they get. He decided to apply the same concept to open seats on airplanes and developed a website that allows customers to bid on last-minute seats, reducing costs for customers and increasing profits for the airlines.
You never know when or where your next genius idea will come from. Staying up-to-date on industry trends, product releases and other industry news allows you to provide timely and insightful suggestions and updates where needed, but don’t stop there. By also focusing on subjects that have nothing to do with your career, you can unlock your brain and expand your way of thinking, for example by taking up a musical instrument, a different language, or a sport. You’ll be surprised what new insights might come to you, and how you might look at things in ways you would not have otherwise considered.
These are just a few ideas that can help you as you develop a well-rounded, successful career. As in any underrepresented population, you may sometimes feel like a fish out of water, and may encounter situations that are unfamiliar to your counterparts. Don’t let the demographics and potential differences dissuade you. Your unique perspective can be a real strength, not a weakness.
PS: Infinite Electronics is hiring! If you’re looking to start or grow your career with a company that advocates for and supports the development of women and other underrepresented individuals, I encourage you to apply.
Penny Cotner is president, CEO and a board member of Infinite Electronics a leading global supplier of electronics components serving the urgent needs of engineers through a family of highly recognized brands.
