What do you do if you want to thrive in a male-dominated industry?

For nearly three years, I worked in an organization where I was the only female employee. Naturally, I encountered numerous challenges. However, I believe that both agreement and disagreement should be handled with care. It's crucial to express your viewpoint while also acknowledging that others may hold different perspectives. When faced with disagreement, aim to resolve it with rationale, fostering open dialogue and mutual understanding.

In my experience confidence comes from taking action and moving towards something you want. Even if the results aren't positive or what you expected or wanted, you'll have learnt something - about yourself and what to do [or not do] next time. Your confidence, and resilience will increase if you focus on the learning you're gaining rather than the setback or failure. And seek help and support - having advocates, mentors, allies and sponsors who can provide guidance, share their experiences, promote opportunities and generally champion your efforts and goals can be incredibly empowering - and will boost your confidence.

Believe in yourself and your abilities. Celebrate your successes and learn from failures. Surround yourself with supportive people who uplift you.

Thriving in a male-dominated industry can be both challenging and rewarding. When I started by career as software engineer in a big product development firm 16 years ago, I was mostly surrounded by men in my team and leadership. There were hardly much women in technology. The 3 things which really worked for me were: Confidence, Visibility & Support system: 1) Be Confidence to pursue advancement or greater responsibility, don't underestimate your abilities. 2) Be Visible- attend conferences, host events, network with influential professionals 3) Develop a support system with other women-Share experiences, mentor each other, and create a supportive network

Any industry whether male doiminated or not, requires productivity through it's employees and it comes from right knowledge, skills & attitude & if someone has excellent passion & dilligence to maintain the CONTNUOUS LEARNING approach then I must say dominancy of whichever gender won't play any siginificant role.

Stay updated with industry trends and continuously educate yourself. Knowledge is power, and it will give you the confidence to contribute effectively.

Sí, de una parte la solidez y autoritas de tu conocimiento, esto está muy ligado a tu propuesta de valor. Y a la vez, no renuncies a ser tú, o a tu lado femenino. Siendo dulce se puede ser muy firme, con voz suave se pueden decir muchas verdades, etc. Es decir no renuncies a las cualidades que tienes sino hazlas fortaleza.

Show Confidence: Display confidence in your abilities and contributions. Speak up in meetings, share your ideas, and don’t be afraid to take credit for your work. AND Advocate for Yourself: Be your own advocate in terms of career advancement and salary negotiations. Understand your worth and be prepared to present your achievements and aspirations clearly.

Build meaningful connections with both men and women in your industry. Attend events, join professional groups, and leverage social media platforms to expand your network strategically.

Seek Out Role Models: Look for role models and mentors who have navigated similar challenges. They can offer invaluable advice, support, and inspiration. AND Support Others: As you advance, support and mentor other women entering the industry. Building a community can help change the industry dynamics over time.

Speak up and make your voice heard. Don't shy away from sharing your ideas and opinions. Stand firm in your beliefs and capabilities.

Understand Industry Dynamics: Be aware of the subtleties of workplace dynamics in a male-dominated industry. This understanding can help you navigate potential biases more effectively. AND Promote Diversity and Inclusion: Advocate for diversity and inclusion within your organization. This not only creates a more supportive environment for everyone but can also enhance the organization's performance.

Address bias calmly and assertively. Educate others about diversity and inclusion. Advocate for equal opportunities and fair treatment.

Maintain Professionalism: Always maintain a high level of professionalism. This includes how you communicate, your work ethic, and how you handle conflict or criticism. AND Balance Assertiveness and Empathy: Find the right balance between being assertive and empathetic. This can help in managing relationships and building a positive reputation.

Develop a strong mindset to bounce back from setbacks. Embrace challenges as learning opportunities and stay focused on your goals despite obstacles.

Address and Challenge Bias: Be proactive in addressing gender biases and stereotypes that you encounter. Educate yourself and others about unconscious biases and advocate for fair treatment and opportunities. This can involve participating in or leading training sessions, speaking up when you see biased behaviors, and helping to implement policies that promote equity.

A mí me ha resultado útil tratar con los hombres como personas, no como un género. Pero a la vez, estudiar. Ampliar mi conocimiento. Desde dónde funcionan los sistemas internos. Cómo funciona el hombre de manera aislada y cómo lo hace dentro del grupo, como animales que somos. Así mismo, observando los matices de su funcionamiento dentro del sector y dentro de cada departamento. En definitiva, observar, mucho. Escuchar, mucho. Utilizar el lenguaje corporal. Ser asertivo. Funcionar desde tu esencia también siendo hábil y mimetizarte con el entorno. Tomártelo como un juego más. Con sus reglas. Carrera de fondo, perseverar. No perder el FOCO, cuando traten de despistarte o de apagarte. Mente clara, ecuanimidad. Silencio. Escucha.

As well as many of the other insightful tips already mentioned, it is important to call out any biases if you see or experience them, advocate for other females, and not feel the need to conform for the sake of fitting in.

Thriving in a male-dominated environment requires confidence, competence, and resilience. Build strong relationships, establish your expertise, and don't be afraid to assert yourself respectfully. Seek out mentors, allies, and opportunities for growth. Remember, your value and contributions are just as valid as anyone else's.

Ultimately you have to believe in yourself and the experience and expertise you have to offer. Embrace [and own] your uniqueness, your personal leadership style, your individual perspective. And don’t forget to advocate for yourself – others might not recognise your achievements, but that’s no reason for you not to acknowledge them. Recognise your value - it’s got you where you are today, and it can take you further still. Effective leadership is about leading by example - with integrity, empathy, and professionalism. When you set a positive example, you encourage and motivate others to want to follow suit. You can show the way, and empower, leaders of today and future generations.

Seek mentorship from experienced professionals, prioritize self-care to maintain balance, and remember to celebrate your achievements along the way. Trust yourself, and don't be afraid to pave your own path.

When would people take notice of you? Typically when you exhibit qualities or traits that they themselves are working on, or lack or desire to acquire or are struggling with. Eg. - an upcoming batter would notice the techniques of the best batter & try to emulate them. Could women executives acquire skills that their male counterparts struggle with? Eg. - completing all the assigned tasks BEFORE the deadline! {After a while, it would HURT them to see you log off with your clean desk - EVERYDAY - while they are still at it! - it might get increasingly challenging for them to convince themselves of their superiority - watching this on a daily basis!}