Hazard Girls
EPISODES
As part of our series of chats with diversity specialists, today we’re speaking with Mercedes Gamor. Mercedes is the first-ever Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist at Prime Electric, one of the most prolific electrical construction contractors on the West Coast of the US. Today, she joins us to talk about how Prime Electric is going …
There is a distinct difference between building a sellable business and building yourself a glorified job. Returning to the show to preach the importance of starting with the end in mind and planning your exit, is the admirable Michelle Sieler Tucker. Michelle is a world-renowned expert in the field of mergers and acquisitions, and a …
Futurists are people who plan for the future by looking at trends and identifying what’s coming instead of only looking at the past. To explain more about this profession and the profound value it offers, today we are joined by Rebecca Ryan, a top 50 professional futurist, as well as an economist, best-selling author, and entrepreneur. She is also on …
Our guest today is Libby Mendiratta, the Executive Vice President at G.E. Frisco Company, a family-owned business specializing in supplying lumber and building materials across the Mid-Atlantic region. Libby has been in the construction industry for over 20 years and she oversees the entire division of the business that serves state and federal contracts. She …
Joining us in conversation today is Kuma Roberts, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Arrowhead Consulting. Tune in to learn the difference between ‘DEI’ and ‘D and I’, and why the focus has shifted from the latter to the former. You’ll hear why everyone has something to contribute to the conversation around diversity, and how …
A few years ago, a house in Utah was built by a team made up entirely of women. Today’s guest, Mollie Elkman, is the owner and president of Group Two, and she and her team were responsible for the sales and marketing side of the build. As the project was nearing an end, Mollie saw …
The “command and control” leadership style is common within many organizations, but in today’s episode, we’re going to be discussing why a more inclusive and collaborative form of leadership holds so much value. Today’s guests are Shannon Karels and Kathy Miller, both of whom have had many years of experience leading manufacturing operations and implementing …
Architecture is a unique career that bridges the gap between the worlds of construction and art, and most architects have creative hobbies. Today’s guest made her creative hobby a full-time job when, after 15 years as an architect, she transitioned into the world of sustainable fashion in 2019. Namita Reddy is a professional architect and …
One of the latest and greatest trends in business is to hire a coach to help you streamline your company and clarify your thinking. Today’s guest is Coralee Beatty, a business coach, a consultant, and a mom. Coralee was the owner of a mechanical contracting business before she moved into coaching, where her specialty is …
Nouchelle Hastings thought she was going to be a doctor, but when got to college she realized what she really wanted was a different kind of challenge and chose to pursue a career in business development. Today she is the holder of two prestigious accolades; Women of the Year and Most Powerful and Influential Black …
When Katya Echazarreta moved from Mexico to the United States at the age of seven, she couldn’t speak a word of English. Three years later she was as fluent as a native. Eight years after that she was beginning her Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at UCLA, and to date, she has worked on five …
It’s well established that women tend not to apply for jobs if they don’t meet all of the criteria that the position requires, while men will apply when only meeting 60% of the desired skills. This needs to change, and talking to us today about this very issue is executive coach, mold-breaker, and podcaster, Claudia …
From the age of 5, Kimberly Fiock knew she wanted to be a scientist. Today, at just 25 years old, she is working at the cutting edge of experimental pathology research, on track to receiving her PhD! This journey has not been without its hardships; on top of her mental health struggles, Kimberly has dealt …
This episode’s guest is the incredible Stephanie Garcia, who’s here in her pink hard hat to tell you not to let anyone dull your sparkle! She’s the Quality Manager for Rogers-O’Brien Construction, has been in the construction industry for seven years, and is currently the secretary for the San Antonio chapter of the National Association …
Many women, contrary to their male counterparts, hold back from applying for positions because they feel under-qualified. Our guest today is an example of someone who refused to fall into the imposter mindset and went for the position she deserved! Joining us on Hazard Girls is the awe-inspiring Buna George, Executive Director for The Greater …
Many of us think the style of leadership taught and practiced in the military is fairly rigid and uniform. Debunking this myth today, is Dr. Janet Polach, retired marine, executive coach, speaker, expert in developing new managers, and now author. Janet talks us through why she entered the marines, and how the leadership skills she …
Today’s guest is a true pioneer in her field, being both the first woman to hold the Teaching Lab Technician position at Sinclair Community College and the youngest member of the department! Welcome to Hanna Weaver, an ASE certified master tech, full-time lecturer, and now a Master’s candidate. We talk to Hanna today about how …
Today’s episode of Hazard Girls is the premiere episode interviewing a woman in tech! We are so excited to welcome Catherine Dummitt, VP of marketing at Narvar, and honorary Hazard Girl through her work building diverse teams and bringing women into the workforce. Join us to hear about Catherine’s experience in the world of tech, …
Imposter syndrome isn’t something that people are simply born with. More often than not, it’s a consequence of a wounding experience. Joining us today to talk about this and so much more is musician, culture consultant, and leadership and life coach, Dr. Nancy Williams. Dr. Williams has an impressive musical background, with a doctorate in …
From raking leaves into floor plans as a teenager to being nominated as Cape & Plymouth Business’s 40 Under 40’s, Krista Manna’s success has been meteoric. Join us today as we talk to Krista (architect, property developer and flipper, and interior designer) about what inspires her, and how she started working in this industry. We …
Growing up with a carpenter dad who built their family home gave Danielle Schroeder a solid foundation from which to explore her interest in math, science and construction, which eventually led her to find her niche in transportation related civil engineering. Being the first engineer in her family, Danielle had to learn a lot through trial …
Many women in the construction industry come to the sector via another career, and today’s guest is no different. When Janet Bates studied theater and dramatic literature, she never envisioned she would be the trailblazer she is today. Currently, Janet is a Client Solutions Manager at JE Dunn and is also involved in a number …
How does being a high school rodeo champion prepare you for becoming a welder? This week on the Hazard Girls we get together with Kaylin Leas to talk about her journey into the male-dominated industry of welding; why she first was attracted to it, and what receiving the Empowerment Women in Industry Tradeswoman of the …
From paralegal to power tools, Jennifer Cline has taken the DIY world by storm! Tune in today as we hear from Miss Dewalt herself about how she started on the path to a DIY influencer, and why she feels it’s her purpose in life to challenge stereotypes in the tool and makers industry. When tragedy …
One of the biggest issues many female entrepreneurs face is having to do it all on their own, and that can lead to overwhelm and, sometimes, detrimental decision-making ability. But don’t fear, Danielle Hayden and Kickstart Accounting are here! Author of The Profit Planner book series, host of Entrepreneur Money Stories podcast, and owner of Kickstart …
The trucking industry is stereotypically male-populated. However, it doesn’t have the glass-ceiling so many other male-populated industries are infamous for. Talking to us today about why this is the case are Debbie Sparks and Kellylynn McLaughlin. Debbie started her career in marketing and is now the Vice President of Women in Trucking, and Kellylynn is …
It was Isra Banks’ mother who first encouraged her to become an architect. Now a mother herself, Isra is passionate about building healthier, just, and more sustainable cities for the next generation. As a licensed architect in Massachusetts, two years ago Isra launched her own architecture firm, TriVek Architects. She also has a YouTube channel …
In this episode, we are thrilled to hear from Charli K. Matthews, Founder and CEO of Empowering Brands, Founder of Empowering Pumps and Equipment, and Founder of Empowering Women in Industry. Charli is also the co-host of The Empowering Industry Podcast and, in today’s episode, she shares some exciting details about the upcoming Empowering Women …
Today’s guest is on a mission to provide you with the community and education you need to scale your business, be a high-performance leader, and achieve the success you deserve. Known as the Pivot Queen, Kate Hancock is a serial entrepreneur, international speaker, and community builder who has founded ventures such as Bintana Sa Paraiso, a high-end boutique hotel in the Philippines, and …
In this Episode of Hazard Girls we are joined by Amy Nicklaus to chat about entrepreneurship, the risks involved, the obstacles faced, and the importance of building the right team. Amy is the founder and CEO of Nicklaus Marketing & PR, a full-service marketing agency with a heavy focus on digital marketing and product development. …
Jennifer Zhang started a watch company six months out of college. She was broke and had just quit her full-time job. Within two weeks, she had launched a successful Kickstarter campaign and turned a $1,000 investment into $91,000. Her company, Rotate Watches, which offers novice engineers all-in-one kits to build their own mechanical watches, went …
As many of you may know, we were recently at the National Association of Women in Construction Annual Conference (NAWIC) in Charlotte, North Carolina. While we were there, we got to meet so many interesting women, working on all kinds of innovative and exciting things in construction, but one of our favorite presentations was the …
This week on Hazard Girls we continue our conversation on diversity and inclusion. Here to help us shed further light on the topic is Julia Hodum, Director of Inclusion and Diversity for the North American arm of the Schindler Group, a Swiss company and leading global mobility provider of escalators, elevators, and related services. In …
Today’s guest, Rebecca Francis, is a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist with IEA, Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives Inc. Tuning in, you’ll hear what her role entails and how she uses her background in education to teach employees on who to go to if they have a complaint, and Rebecca shares what she thinks about the goal …
On this episode, we chat with Sarah Marie Liddle, a certified professional coach for small businesses and individuals seeking to live well and productively. She is based out of Canberra, Australia, where she offers positive psychology and wellness tools to help professionals bring more balance and productivity into their day. You’ll hear how Sarah Marie …
Do you ever wonder how things are made? Paige Loew, a safety specialist at 3M, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, works with end-user customers across nearly every industry from healthcare and construction to manufacturing, and she gets to see it all! In today’s episode, you’ll hear about Paige’s journey to her current position, how she can …
On today’s episode, we are visited by the Queen of Concrete, Lupita Vazquez, a leader in the male-dominated construction industry and an integral figure in the Hispanic construction community. Tune in to hear Lupe tell the story of how she entered the world of construction after being told it wasn’t for her, the elevator pitch …
Excelling as a woman in a male-dominated industry is no easy feat but, looking at Michelle Seiler Tucker’s career, it is clear that with the right focus, tenacity, and ability, it is totally achievable. On today’s episode, Michelle tells us the story of how she came to build a hugely successful business, offers listeners expert …
Our guest today is Dr. Nicole Tschierske, founder of Into Action Coaching, is a scientist who has turned herself into a career coach, specifically to help women in science and technology get noticed in their companies and grow in their careers. Dr. Tschierske studied food chemistry and holds a Ph.D. in chemistry. When she felt …
Jill Morley is an award-winning screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. Her feature documentary, Fight Like a Girl, is about women using boxing to fight their demons and empower themselves. In addition to her many award-winning screenplays and films, she is a contributing writer to periodicals like The Village Voice, Bust Magazine, and The New York Press, …
In today’s episode of Hazard Girls, we are visited by two impressive guests from the National Association of Women in Construction, Anne Pfleger and Kristey Stewart. We open today’s episode with a conversation about how Kristey and Anne entered the world of construction and the ‘aha moments’ that sparked their passion for empowering women in …
Valencia McDaniel and Erica Jean-Baptiste are on a mission to solve the issue of the skills trade gap in construction through the company that they co-founded; Women Gone Global Partners. Both women come from different backgrounds, but they have the same dream, and their partnership is giving the construction industry a female face. In this …
When people think of male-dominated fields, broadway music is not usually the first to come to mind, but the truth is that women are a minority in orchestra pits. Today we talk to Geraldine Anello, a Broadway musician who has worked as a conductor, keyboardist, and pianist for many well-known shows, including Kinky Boots, School …
With a background in energy, finance, and real estate, the owner and president of Wildcat Management, Tanya Ragan, brings to the table a multi-faceted skillset that’s diverse and incredibly powerful. But leading Wildcat Management to success comes with another big responsibility — that of stewardship. Regardless of the projects she and her team work on, …
If we only rely on the people who are being disenfranchised to solve that disenfranchisement, then it will never change. In today’s episode we speak with Director and Filmmaker Jen McGowan whose recent feminist horror, Rustcreek was lauded by Harper’s Bazaar as being “Exactly What Hollywood Needs Right Now”. Jen is the founder of Glass …
Only 3.5% of jobs in the trades are held by women. Judaline Cassidy, our guest on today’s show, is a tradeswoman on a mission to change this. As a young girl growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, Judaline’s dream was to study law, but circumstances led her to become a plumber, and this was the …
29 percent of the manufacturing sector is made up of women and very few of these are in leadership roles. Our guest on today’s show, Allison Grealis, is passionate about changing this. Allison is the founder and president of Women In Manufacturing, a national trade association focused on supporting, promoting, and inspiring women in the …
Kate Day has had a long-standing love for the environment, in all its forms. Whether as an arborist or eco-research assistant, she always puts her best foot forward to ensure that our natural resources are protected and preserved. Kate’s devotion to environment and community led her to Indonesia with Mercy Core where they work tirelessly …
Enhancing lives by advocating for agriculture is something that our guests today are passionate about doing for agriculture and the families behind it. Karolyn Zurn holds many positions within the agricultural world; she is the current President of American Agri-Women, the past President of Minnesota Agri-Women, and the lead Minnesota farmer for Farmers Feed the …
Today on the Hazard Girls Podcast, we talk to tradeswoman and businesswoman Lynley Oakes of Wild Oaks Creations. Lynley is a carpenter and lumber saleswoman based in Jacksonville, Florida. She started out in a corporate office, and then from there switched into trades as a construction site assistant. Within a week, she was promoted to …
