Men and women alike need to perceive what successful women in construction look like and see what we bring to the business. I try to do my part by acting as an ambassador for the Hilti brand and for our industry overall.
So, how do we get women into the many roles available in the industry? Unfortunately, most companies have not sufficiently adjusted their recruitment practices to reach a female audience. But this is only part of the battle, as once recruited, keeping a diverse workforce requires a focus on inclusion to take full advantage of that diversity. Adjusting our definition of a candidate’s potential as well has how we evaluate her success will require gender-inclusive assessments.
At Hilti, our interview process and on-going career discussions include competencies such as how candidates embrace feedback, their evidence of learning agility, and their ability to bring out the best in people, to name a few. This helps establish a fairer playing field for all candidates.
23 years ago, someone took a chance on me, perhaps seeing more of my potential than I did myself. It is now my turn to return the favour.