The Growth of Business Women and Female Entrepreneurs in Male-Dominated Industries

I’m Elle-Rose, a blogger and editor (you can find my website here). As a woman in business myself, the roles of women in business and (especially) the growth of women in business is something I’ve always felt very passionate about. I grew up around strong women, and I’ve always looked to incredible women for inspiration and guidance, both personally and professionally. Some of the women I find most inspiring at the ones who have pushed past all the odds, and succeeded in spite of the challenges that faced them.

A lot of the time, I look toward women who are succeeding in male-orientated, or male dominated industries – and while the gender wage gap between males and females may still be an issue that needs raising (listen to Emma Watson’s empowering and inspiring speech), it has been shown that women are making headway in terms of success within the business world, especially within industries where – throughout history – women may not have always been equally represented.

It’s important for women to read about the opportunities available to them in male-dominated industries – because if we don’t talk about them, issues like this will never be resolved. Women in business have been breaking through the barriers of these male-dominated industries for the last two decades, and now more than ever, women can be seen making a real impact in industries where, 30 years ago, they may not have been any female employees at all.

Digital Marketing and Information Technology
The world of IT is perhaps less of a gender-focused community than other industries, and yet the gender gap is still heavily weighted to men, with men making up a large percentage of workers in this industry. However, the amount of women in the IT (and online marketing) is growing and the number of women entering the industry is slowly on the rise. A Moz Blog survey carried out every year since 2012;  states that 22.7% of the online workforce were women in 2012, but that number has increased to 30.1% in 2015. They have also reported seeing more women in the industry speaking at conferences, which is a great step forward. Having women publicly speaking, is a great way to show others, like them, what is possible. I know some of my greatest inspirations have been women just like myself who have stood up and shown exactly what they can do.

Another striking example can be seen in the appointment of Ginni Romerty as the CEO of IBM Industries, who was voted no. 63 on Forbes most powerful people list.

Lists like these, published by Forbes are a great indicator to the rise of female business women and entrepreneurs, but they also do an incredible job of encouraging the new generation of women who may just be beginning their journey.

Fleet Transportation and Associated Industries
I wanted to use the fleet industry as an example, because even still – it is very much perceived a men-only industry.

However, female lorry drivers are becoming increasingly common both in the United States and the United Kingdom, and with the demand for drivers and fleets continuing to rise – this number is likely to rise with it.

American companies such as Swift Transportation have noted that a lack of qualified male drivers has caused them to embrace female operators and this trend is only expected to continue. On the software and management side of things (take for example software companies like this) we can see more women breaking into the management and senior planning roles, than ever before.

One stellar example was witnessed in 2014 when driver Mary O’Toolewon the prestigious Women in Transport Award. And women such as Dr Lisa Dorn who not only founded Driver Metrics, but also remains a constant voice on driver and road safety.

Construction
Construction has always been a male-dominated industry. However, things are slowly changing. Due to the fact that a growing number of women are now graduating with degrees in engineering and architecture, it is likely that middle – to upper-level positions will see an influx of female workers in the near future. This view is also supported by international organisations such as the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). Recent figures have shown that 8.9% of this industry is comprised of women and these statistics highlight that the trend should continue into the foreseeable future.

Biotechnology
Biotechnology is an ever-expanding field and an increasing number of roles are being filled by women. It has been shown that this is the second-highest growth rate in terms of female market share. As success is based off of intellectual capacity, it should come as no surprise that women have made a pronounced difference. Names such as Katrine Bosley, Deborah Dunsire and Carol Gallagher have already experienced fame and success.

For me, as a young woman in business myself, these women are shining examples of how women can, and are leading the way in male-dominated industries. For more women to feel comfortable and confident to work in these sectors, we need strong business women leading the way. I hope that as we write more articles like this, we can increase that confidence and see real positive changes.

By Elle-Rose Williams