Reflections on The Empowering Women Podcast – Episode 2

Posted on by Charli Matthews
You_got_this photo with podcast

Let’s just into Episode 2 features Renee Joseph, Vice President at Johnson Controls. In this Empowering Women podcast, Renee shares her career path, explaining how she started her career in the HVACR space without any technical training. She courageously describes her experience leaving the workforce to become a caretaker for her terminally-ill father, and the verve she mustered to return to her career. Renee has exceptional, heart-felt advice for women working their way up in male-dominated career spaces. It’s also obvious from her talk that she has a deep passion for diversity, and works towards improving the environment for all people in the HVACR space.

Her quote really spoke to me: “You really have to make sure everyone has a seat at the table and that you encourage and coach out those voices so that everyone can be heard.” 

Renee_Joseph_quote

As Renee talks about the unknown world of equipment behind the walls, it also reminds me of the awesome work men and women do that they don’t celebrate.  So many times, the ones that do the best work don’t want to be in the “spotlight”.  They are working for the greater good, so I believe it is my job to show them the importance of celebrating what’s worthwhile, scratch that! What’s Essential! It is necessary to create role models, super heroes, and to shine a light on the stories of our ‘unsung’ heroes.  We know you are awesome, but we also need everyone else to know that as well!

Renee’s interview is special to me because I met her in January at the AHR expo, and well… I feel in LOVE.  She was so Charismatic and Graceful!  I was in awe. Let me tell you the story… After a long day at AHR, we pushed through to the “Coolest Women in the World” event (CHEERS to those who organized that event, btw!).

Coolest_Women_in_the_World photo

As we entered, were given 5 bracelets to exchange as we met new people. We grabbed a glass of wine and began to meet the people in the room.  I was determined to meet the woman who put the event together. I spoke to several organizers, and then one gentlemen at my table said “I know exactly who you need to meet! WAIT HERE… I’ll bring her to you.”    Ok can we first say… how many people do that?!  Bring a perfect connection to you!

When she walked up, I was star-struck. She began to speak about the event and her career.  She was so passionate about connecting women and raising awareness about the awesome careers “behind the walls”.  She told me about the book she had just completed about her father’s life, how she taught herself how to write, and how special it was to tell her story of how he served his community by driving the school bus every day. Bottom line…We have so many opportunities to learn from someone’s story.  I feel honored to have met such a pioneer. Please listen to Renee Joseph‘s story here:

https://www.empoweringwomeninindustry.com/podcast/episode/bde2df1c/empowering-women-podcast-renee-joseph-global-vp-of-sales-and-customer-enablement

A short pause…I had to take a break from writing this article to have ice cream with my mom and daughter (because sometimes ice cream with loved ones just can’t wait ;D ). And now…a quote that came to me during that ice cream break:

“Thoughts can change your attitude immediately”

Which is why listening to the Empowering Women podcast is so powerful and enlightening…

On to Episode 3…

Reflections on The Empowering Women Podcast – Episode 1

Posted on by Charli Matthews
You_got_this photo with podcast

Working with the Empowering Women in Industry team this year has been so rewarding!  I have loved connecting with so many inspiring women and learning from them.  Since the start of the Empowering Women podcast, I have been thinking about how I could share some of the lessons I had learned from listening to their stories. I believe listening to each of these Empowering Women stories can help you in your careers.  I understand that each person will relate to a different part of each of these stories.  Hopefully, this summary of my thoughts won’t distract you from your own, but add to them. Here goes…

The Introduction to Empowering Women Podcast with Mel the Engineer.  Can we just stop to appreciate the amazing podcast Mel put together… from the sounds to the vision to better the lives of career women and help them succeed – I am inspired by her every day.  And let’s just say – she knows how to pick out cool podcast tunes. Listen to it here:

https://www.empoweringwomeninindustry.com/podcast/episode/8493be24/introduction-to-the-empowering-women-podcast-and-mel-the-engineer

In episode 1, Lynn Spivey, the Director of Utilities for the City of Plant City in Florida, shares her career path. She started her early career in the U.S. Airforce working for a defense contractor in electronics. She went to school for Chemical Engineering and ended up in the municipal water and wastewater sector. Lynn has a wonderful perspective on navigating tricky career situations, and the Empowering Women team hopes you enjoy this first episode. The most “ah ha!” moment for me was when she talked about “Figuring out your Boundaries.”

Lynn Spivey photo and quote

Lynn explains that if she didn’t establish these boundaries, she was going to enable behavior that she didn’t want. I think everyone is different and everyone has different boundaries; when working in male-dominated fields, I think we all have a different level of “comfort” in setting those boundaries. I speak to women all the time that like being the only woman in the room; while others don’t like it one bit.  Having said that, today, we need to create an inviting space and demonstrate an appropriate place for women and men to work together.

Lynn makes another powerful statement: “How strong am I?”  Said a different way… what is my level right now? What can I handle today? I love that she poses those questions as these are questions we can ask ourselves…this is the part of the podcast that we can apply to our own lives. Sometimes, we aren’t in a position of strength and this is a moment where we can be taken advantage of. So, let’s ask ourselves about our own strength and our own thresholds. We need to know what this is for ourselves, so that when the occasion arises to draw (or re-draw) a boundary, that we are able to take control of the situation.

I love how she discusses “Experimenting” with her boundaries. It’s not ‘black and white’, though a lot of people want it to be. It’s just not!  It makes me think about my own inclination to hug people. I am a hugger. That’s just me! But I realize that not everyone wants a hug, and it’s a lesson I continue to learn.  I basically announce that I am a hugger and read the person’s reaction. Usually, I don’t hug people in business settings if it is my first time meeting them. I tend to hug the person I know in the group first. Having said that, sometimes I forget and I think it is important to notice and say sorry to the people I may have made uncomfortable. I believe in a world where hugs are great for everyone, but I also understand other people have a different boundary.

Another concept that occurred to me while I was listening to this episode was about the environmental influences in our careers. Most of us are introduced to many different career choices… how do we decide which job to pick?  If we are introduced to the skills needed to do each of these jobs, we can decide which fits us best. Lynn made a choice to join the army to be educated to obtain the opportunity she needed to be successful.  I believe finding the opportunity for growth is the biggest obstacle for growth. This reminds me that it’s our job to be the pioneers to shine a light on these opportunities… for the incoming workforce. We need to have cross-training programs that allow our new professionals to gain experience.  For Lynn, she now has the influence to make the water industry better, and I look forward to following her leadership.

Listen to Lynn Spivey‘s story here:

https://www.empoweringwomeninindustry.com/podcast/episode/87105822/empowering-women-podcast-lynn-spivey-director-of-public-utilities

Once you’ve listened to the first one, it’s close to impossible not to hit ‘play’ on the next episode…

Read my reflections on the Empowering Women Podcast Episode 2 !

LADYBOSS… Why The Label?

Posted on by Charli Matthews
Charli-boss-horizontal

I’m curious. When you see that word is it a positive or negative?  Is it motivating or demotivating to you? Is it annoying or uplifting?

I was recently listening to Rachel Hollis’s book, “Girl, Stop Apologizing”.  I love Rachel’s energy and agree with most things she says.  She brought up the term Girl Boss and how media has created this cute word that we use to describe women entrepreneurs. She goes on to say how the “Girl” is not needed to describe the job and it reduces the value of the significant BOSS job us ladies are doing!  At first, I totally agreed with her. I thought, “ Yes, we are doing the job that would be described for a man as “boss”.  Shouldn’t we just be Boss for us too?” But, then as I sat and reflected on this statement, I began to feel proud of it.  I am just fine with claiming that I am a Lady,( a work in progress no doubt) … and a Boss.  I think it is great to find common bonds and connections with people who are like you.  I have said many times, “don’t label me” I don’t do well with politics or judgement based on these labels.  But, Lady… now that is a label I wear proudly. And well, “Boss” is just the name I was given to me by my team.

I think it is important to realize we ARE DIFFERENT but EQUALLY VALUABLE! Respecting the differences other “labels” have and realizing we all have ideas and solutions based on our unique experience and talents will help move us forward.

I have recently been studying leadership and paying close attention to my own bias, so I can be a better boss. The more I study, the more I know I have much to learn! Being one of the few women CEOs in my network, I find it motivating to have a focus on building up other women.. And though the men in my life give me a hard time for my “girlpower” energy, I will continue to be proud of it! In order for the numbers of female leaders to increase steadily we have to have more lady bosses there to support them, to make the environment more inviting, so we can help to solve the complex problems our world faces. I will continue to advocate and empower more #ladybosses and push for a #balanceforbetter society.

I am a woman, so I find it easy to talk about that… I am aware that diversity is not just about gender.  If you are focused on changing your “label”, I’m here to help you as well!

In today’s world, we have to think about our personal brand! Whether we convey it through social media or just in our everyday interactions, our personal brand is part of our identity! People are going to “assess” you and put you ‘in a box’ (whether we like it or not, it’s just part of our nature)  If we get to define our identify before others can do that for us, isn’t it something we should do?

I challenge you to create “your words” around your identity!

My word is #LADYBOSS!

Just a G.I.R.L with a Dream

Posted on by Charli Matthews
charli dreaming

As I celebrate my anniversary and National Girl Scouts Day, I am reminded what G.I.R.L means to me.  I was reminded of this several times since our International Women’s Day event.  First, as we sat around the table and discussed if we had ever felt like being the only girl at the table was a challenge for us. Most of the leaders at the table never even took notice of it. But I have heard stories from less assertive people, it was indeed a challenge. Then, as I watched the girl in Captain Marvel movie be pushed down over and over and told she shouldn’t want to do what he boys were doing, I started to be reminded just how hard it is.  I had been pondering on these things when I received the text, “Favorite moment of Captain Marvel when she’s kicking ass to Gwen’s “I’m just a girl” I instantly thought of you!”

I too had noticed “Just A Girl” playing at the very moment when the girl realizes she has always had the power she needed to win.  She just needed to take control it.

I am a girl named Charli.  I often laugh and say my dad thought I was a boy, and they just didn’t have a backup name. The truth is I have always wanted to prove I could do the same things boys could.  Growing up with a sister who was always annoyed with me, I had no other choice than to keep up with my two younger brothers. Competing with them left me with a broken arm and my feelings hurt too many times to count.  I continued to strive to be more than “Just a girl.”  I remember the day my brother picked me up and moved me to one side… I no longer tried to compete with him on strength, but I also didn’t understand how my limiting beliefs got in my way.

I have been drawn to No Doubt’s “Just a Girl” as long as I can remember.  Honestly, I can’t remember when I first heard it; it has been with me always. When you hear the title, you may think she is agonizing over being a girl or that she can’t do things because she is a girl.  The opposite is true.   She is fed up with the world telling her she can’t do things.  I am drawn to the lyrics.

“’Cause I’m just a girl
I’d rather not be
‘Cause they won’t let me drive
Late at night
Oh I’m just a girl
Guess I’m some kind of freak
‘Cause they all sit and stare
With their eyes”

Probably because I was 14 going on 18, and I wanted to be able to drive whenever I wanted to or wondered why I couldn’t wear a swimsuit without people staring.

Today, I find this verse closer to my everyday:

“Don’t you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand”

My thoughts go to responses like “I’ve played this game long enough, and I have had it up to here!”  From time to time, I sing this VERY LOUD in private, or on a karaoke stage after too many margaritas with my sister (who always says I don’t know the song).  Honestly, I don’t either of us can say this line with margaritas… go ahead try it…

“What I’ve succumbed to
Is making me numb”

The point of this ramble is to say… I have had it up to “here.”  Here being the level in which I am forced to stop improving.  I want to continue to grow, climb, lead, and be challenged.

When you are at the top, pushing forward and feel the resistance, it can be crippling. Similar to Captain Marvel, when she knows she had done the work to compete.. YOU have to make a choice… To go for it, or to quit.

I have no desire to be masculine or to say I can do things better than men. I do want to continue to challenge myself as a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, and Leader)  and to focus on the things, I can control…

Meghan Merkle now Duchess of Sussex,  says it best in this speech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmAEQuK_6Rk

Where she says, “Women need a seat at the table, they need an invitation to be seated there, and in some cases, where this is not available, well then you know what? Then, they need to create their own table.” That is exactly what I am doing!

She goes on to say “It is said, that girls with dreams become women with vision. May we empower each other to carry out such vision because it isn’t enough to simply talk about equality. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to simply believe in it,  one must work at it… Let us work at it together.  Starting now.”

EmpoweringWomeninIndustry.com … Just a girl with a dream of sitting at the table!  Join me…

3 Ways Men Can Support Empowering Women in Industry

Posted on by Charli Matthews
Men_Supporting_Women_in_Industry

As we continue to build a community of women in male-dominated industries and finalize plans for the Empowering Women in Industry Conference & Gala, I can’t forget about the 79% of our audience that are men.  I want to assure you that shining the spotlight on women in industry will only increase value to you and your organizations.  It does not devalue men.  The end goal is a Diverse workforce.  However, to get there, we must build a more inviting space to be more inclusive; diversity only works when coupled with inclusivity. And inclusivity works both ways.

Just this week, as I planned my #IWD2019 event, I asked a few men to attend.  I got responses like “I don’t want to be in the minority” and “I would stick out like a sore thumb there.” This is the same feeling women have when they are the only woman in the room. It is their passion for this industry and professional goals that drive them forward and over the obstacles which sometimes unintentionally get anchored in front of them. Through my research and life experiences, I know there is a need for a “women supporting women” environment. In a male-dominated industry, this is harder to find.

On a positive note, I have found close to 400 women in my network (when I originally thought it was more like 20) who are actively seeking this supportive network.   What we focus on is what we see! My network ratio has always been 80/20 male.  We just experienced a 1% change because I focused on connecting with women… I am focused on building role models for our industry and our children.  And I need your help.  So, you might feel a little uncomfortable, but know that supporting this initiative is better in the long run. Many women who have a passion for building and problem solving feel uncomfortable and alone most days on the job, so let’s start showing our support for them.

Read more!