The women we profile in our Supply Team, are characteristic of the enormous number of women who are achieving their goals, they carry effective positions of influence, importance, reliability and are fundamental to the successful progress of not only each project in isolation, but also the the building industry itself.
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- Your role title/trade within the Building industry?
Representative to Builders, Architects and Interior Designers. My role is promoting products and solutions developed by Clipsal to the construction market.
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- What is involved in training for your role?
I was hired three years ago on a sales traineeship and I underwent extensive product training with Clipsal and even spent some time out with electrical contractors, observing how they work. Clipsal also provided me with formal sales training and I completed a Cert 3 in Business Communication and Sales.
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- How did you get into your chosen tade?
I fell into this job when I moved cities and couldn’t get the kind of work that I wanted. I applied for a Clipsal traineeship thinking it would be great experience and something new. Three years later I have had three different role changes and have moved up in the company. I got a taste for how interesting and technical this job can be through my traineeship, and I’m really enjoying the mix of forming relationships and providing strong technical solutions to my clients.
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- What obstacles have you overcome on your journey into and through the Building industry
Obstacles that I have overcome in the process, are gaining the required knowledge, acceptance of a woman in a very male oriented workplace/industry, being seen as too young and a certain loneliness that comes with ‘being the only one’ amongst your colleagues. It’s always nice to have some people at work that you can relate to and as great as these guys are, they’re still not the same as me and it can be difficult trying to get on their level and bond with them.
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Build strong relationships with those you deal with and always show respect for your peers and also yourself. Gaining an achievement through knowledge and skill is worth respect as opposed to cutting down your opposition or undermining a co-worker. By building relationships you’ll find people are much more co-operative and things will work more efficiently, especially when it comes time to ask for a favour.
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- Why do you think it is important to help establish a name and better recognised opportunities for women in Building?
I think that just because we see a lot of men performing a particular role, women simply don’t consider that to be a job for them – and vice versa. I think it’s important to pursue what interests you, even if it is not conventional, and there is no reason why more women shouldn’t pursue a crossover into non-traditional roles. If you look at typically female oriented industries such as fashion and beauty, there are many successful males that are fashion designers, make-up artists and hairdressers. Women need to know that there are opportunities out there and to explore them.
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- What are your goals for the future?
My goals are to increase my product knowledge and sales skills to be promoted again in the next three years, to get more hands-on knowledge of how Clipsal products are used and installed, to be seen as an expert in my field who’s abilities are on par with those in similar positions.
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- How do you effectively deal with your workplace culture?
Going back to the lessons that I have learned, building relationships and respect. Being different to your co-workers can open you up to ‘otherness’ or separation from the group and criticism regarding the reasons for this separation. By forming strong relationships with your co-workers and showing them that you are very capable and don’t need to be treated differently will earn their respect, and ultimately break down the barriers that make you different as a person, so that you are the same as colleagues.
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- Has there been a role model you have looked to for inspiration?
Going back to the lessons that I have learned, building relationships and respect. Being different to your co-workers can open you up to ‘otherness’ or separation from the group and criticism regarding the reasons for this separation. By forming strong relationships with your co-workers and showing them that you are very capable and don’t need to be treated differently will earn their respect, and ultimately break down the barriers that make you different as a person, so that you are the same as colleagues.
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- Lucy's inspirational message:
Be strong and confident in everything that you are, and don’t buy into the excuses for not succeeding. It is your dream, so go and make it happen.
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Participants 
