Women break the mould

Women break the mouldOne of the Guys is an initiative launched to build career confidence in women currently studying in the typically male-dominated fields of construction, engineering and information technology (IT).One of the Guys is the joint initiative of Construction Assignments’ managing director, Drenka Andjelic, and the Women in Engineering & IT Program at The University of Technology, Sydney.The careers program is designed to invest women with the confidence to build successful careers in the male-dominated fields of construction, engineering and IT. It aims to address the lack of access to relevant, successful and inspirational female role models working in these fields by welcoming students into weekly conversations and gatherings that are focused on successfully navigating studies and setting agendas for career growth.The program has just completed a successful pilot semester with more than 25 female students, but it is expected to expand and attract to 100 students each semester.One of the Guys currently has support from many business leaders in the construction and engineering industries, and organisers aim to diversify program offerings in the future.While accepting that gender imbalance in currently male-dominated industries won’t be overturned any time soon, the One of the Guys organisers state that providing female students with tips on maximising inner confidence and setting their own agendas is important. Women, they say, still feel pressure to conform to male models of behaviour and thinking.According to One of the Guys, the program’s name is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, especially as it was almost unanimously rejected by women in the industry when the name was first polled. One of the Guys took it as a sign that people felt passionately about the subject.For more information, visit: www.oneoftheguys.com.au