Did you know that 40% of women of color engineers are exiting or never entered the profession according to American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/08/women of color of color-engineering.aspx? Are you one of them or strongly considering exiting stage left as well? Women of color engineers are still not common in STEM. The numbers of new women of color engineers has grown but the attrition rate.
One of which is for women of color engineers to stand out on their own. Oftentimes engineers no matter the gender overlook entrepreneurship or small business ownership as an opportunity they should undertake. Many women of color engineers won’t consider this because it’s either they are all in for traditional engineering firms or out of engineering all together. I’ve been one of them.
Women of color engineers should definitely consider entrepreneurship. You are not only technically-excellent but have the skill sets to build your own firms. Oftentimes, we as engineers no matter the gender overlook entrepreneurship or small business ownership as an option. This option should definitely be explored by women of color engineers for 5 major reasons.
Reason #1 - Inclusion. Maybe it has just been me as the only woman engineer on construction jobsites, but oftentimes women of color engineers identify the lack of inclusion the reason for exiting engineering. By creating their own firms they can create their own inclusive work environments. They no longer will be treated like an outsider after maternity leave or for having breasts. Now women of color engineers can create a work environment which embraces the differences among its staff. They can create a workplace which values the varying opinions. No longer will they have to fight to have their voices heard during meetings.
Reason #2 - Work Life Balance. The old standard of engineering is the work must continue so let your wife take care of the kids. Women of color engineers who have their own firms can now select when they will and won’t work. They can be active during the day with their kids and spouse. They can structure their work around their family time. This could include early mornings, late nights and any times in between to have meetings and to work on projects.
Reason #3 - Promotion. The difficulty to rise in the ranks into upper management stall for many women of color. By going out on their own, they not only lead an organization, they will BUILD it. Their income is no longer limited by a supervisor who may believe women of color of color can’t be technically excellent.
Reason #4 - Building a Team. As an entrepreneur, women of color engineers can now build their own teams. No longer will they inherit to hire their boss’s favorites. No longer will they have to succumb to the boy’s club hiring practice as the principle in their own firm. Instead they can hire according to what will work best for their business. Women of color engineers can be hired on qualifications and recommendations.
Reason # 5 - Create A New Business Model. The current business model for engineering firms in the United States is to have a storefront. Women of color engineers can create virtual firms using current technology. Instead of investing in office space, they can use cloud computing, group meeting spaces like Slack, do virtual meeting with Skype, etc. No longer will today’s women of color engineers have to conform to the old standard of engineering firm business models.
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