How Are Women Shaping the Future of Traditionally Male-dominated Industries?

The business world is moving towards equality in leadership roles for women. Unfortunately, many industries, like manufacturing, construction, energy, and technology, are still predominantly led by men.

That said, women are starting to shape the future of these industries. Kathryn A. Mikells is the CEO and Senior Vice President of ExxonMobil. Melani Raney is President and CEO of the construction company TEXO. These executives are making an impact that opens the doors for future female leaders.

Let’s examine how women can move forward in these industries.

Stumbling Blocks for Women Leaders in Traditionally Male Sectors

According to a recent study, a key problem for women trying to attain leadership roles today is the “broken rung.” While the glass ceiling indicates the barrier that prevents them from entering top leadership, another challenge is just getting into their first promotion. McKinsey & Co. found that in 2023, “for every 100 men promoted from entry-level to manager, 87 women were promoted.”

In other words, the stumbling block lies on the ladder to the glass ceiling. Leaping management is a struggle because of bias and the dynamics of the workplace, where males are often considered the best choice for promotion.

If you’re passed over for a role or promotion in favor of a less qualified colleague, there are some steps you can take to deal with the situation professionally. If you’re feeling angry or upset, talk to a trusted friend or family member to help process those feelings and stay respectful of your boss and your colleagues. Remember that professional support, including therapy, is always an option if you need it. On the work side of things, offering your congratulations to your coworker demonstrates that you are a true professional.

To stay competitive, you can take on training or ask for a mentor to better quality for future roles. This also helps you to network and build relationships that can improve your chances for a promotion. Also, remember to only compare yourself to yourself. Seek to build your career, rather than be concerned with the positions of others.

When you accept your next opportunity, support and raise up the women you have worked with. In addition to promoting qualified women for leadership roles, you can support organizations that help them. For example, women in tech can support others in the industry by participating with groups like The National Center for Women & Information Technology, Women Who Code, and the League of Women Coders. These organizations provide resources, networking opportunities, discussion groups, and other support to help women of all ages build successful technology careers in male-led fields.

Making an Impact

To make a difference when working in a male-dominated industry, it’s critical to remain professional no matter the circumstance. When others oppose your ideas, or you need more clarity, ask questions while remaining honest and cool-headed. Be prepared for challenging conversations, especially as you climb the ladder but avoid unnecessary criticism or confrontation to avoid poking someone’s ego.

You should also stay informed and updated on your industry and your company. And remember to keep your personal life out of the office, but be clear with your priorities in and outside of work.

It’s also wise to take strategic risks. Success only comes to those who are willing to take chances. That means being aware of what you’re willing to sacrifice and understanding the risks and opportunities that being bold presents.

If you want to stand out and be effective in a managerial role, start by showing your team that you care by supporting their efforts and acknowledging their accomplishments. Providing opportunities and recognition improves productivity, performance, and job satisfaction. People who enjoy their workplace are more energized, innovative, and successful, which benefits everyone in the workplace.

On the other hand, when you receive a negative response from a superior or colleague, work together to find a solution. View constructive criticism as an opportunity to improve your skills and expertise. This is not the same as tolerating disrespectful or inappropriate comments at work. In that case, you should report the incident.

Staking your leadership claim in these fields requires that women go beyond the qualifier of gender. Those in leadership need to stop thinking of themselves as the only woman in the room. Consider yourself a leader with unique skills and strengths with a role and contributions equal to anyone else in the same position.

How Women Are Leading the Way in Male-Dominated Industries

The good news is that women are making headway in leadership. In the U.S., research shows that between 2020 and 2022, women have increased by 7% in construction jobs and 15% in transportation and warehousing jobs. Even better, women in leadership are making an impact in these industries.

One amazing woman leader whose work has impacted numerous male-dominated industries is Ishita Ghosh, the winner of the  2024 Global Recognition Award. Her achievements include improving intelligence in Walmart’s in-store application, developing computer vision solutions to improve the safety of oil rig workers, and using AI to improve the understanding of structures within pharmaceuticals for new drug development at Abbvie Pharmaceuticals.

Other groundbreaking women are employed in the trades, including construction. There may still be fewer tradeswomen than is desired, but those who are involved are poised to make big differences in the industry. Megan Knoch-Dohlin, sector strategy director at Mortenson Construction, is leading the charge at her firm to create green hydrogen as an energy source. Margaret Montgomery leads the sustainability practice at NBBJ, which is building a geothermal heating and cooling project for Microsoft. Ultimately, these women leaders are changing the way these companies do business.

However, many women leaders already hold leadership positions in the petrochemical industries, particularly in sales and marketing. Female leaders can create innovative marketing concepts in the oil and gas industries that broaden the appeal for young women and girls to enter this business. Women in these areas can take advantage of investments like B2B digital marketing platforms by refreshing outdated systems. They should invest in cutting-edge tools, like AI, smart data, and the IOT to build company visibility and reputation.  Innovations like digital platforms, remote sensors, robotic drilling, and 3D printers can capture real-time data to improve marketing and operations.

To shape the future of male-dominated industries, women must take steps to overcome the obstacles before them. A professional approach to workplace challenges helps them succeed and lead the way for others. This will go a long way toward opening doors for a younger generation of women across all these sectors.