Yes, You Can Succeed in a Male-Dominated Industry!

It’s the 21st century and women have cast off our ruffled aprons and donned our (metaphorical) pink hardhats. That’s right. We are reaching new heights every day in every industry, including those that are still more heavily populated by men. Construction, for instance. Science. Engineering. Medicine. But despite our growing numbers in male-dominated industries (MDIs), many women shy away from these “masculine” careers. Well, I’m here to encourage you not to hesitate another second: every industry needs strong, smart women—women just like you!

I’m Roxanne Rivera and I’ve been working in MDIs for 22 years. I built a construction company from two employees and $1,200 in the bank to a thriving business that had yearly revenues of approximately $13 million and employed over a hundred people. I never let anyone hold me back, and I want to instill that trait in every woman in the workplace.

Think about what’s holding you back. Have you fallen prey to those stereotypes that men are simply better suited for certain industries than women? Do you fear you’ll never be able to get ahead in a male-dominated industry? Do you simply have trouble communicating with men? If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes!” you’ve come to the right place.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to be a successful woman in a male-dominated industry. I want to share what I’ve learned with you. I’ve taken what I’ve learned and laid it all out here on my site and in my new book, There’s No Crying in Construction. Read on to find out what every woman working in a male-dominated industry needs to know.

—Roxanne Rivera