- Women of NATE Member Alisa Reed Introduction
- WON Profiles: Andy Page Lee
- Upcoming Events
- Recent Event Highlights
- Featured Article - Why Women in Business Need Female Role Models
Release:
June 3, 2020
Women of NATE Today Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 5
Over the last twelve years of working in the wireless industry, I have come to realize that it is a community like no other. It is very much a family, and even though there is competition there is also a sense of responsibility for each other and a camaraderie that is unparalleled. I have seen it especially over the last two months of uncertainty during the pandemic. Every email starts with “I hope you are well and staying safe.” Every phone call evolves into a conversation about the new normal, the different dynamics in our industry, and for those of us with young families, our diversified roles as parents educating children. There is so much support to be found in our colleagues, and it is personal. But then, it always has been.
That sense of community is one of the reasons why the Women of NATE is so important. For the first decade of my career, I didn’t have the support of other women because there simply weren’t that many…in fact, when I started, women accounted for less than ten percent of the people in every room. That meant in most rooms, I was the only one. However, a gradual shift has happened in our industry, where women account for ever-increasing numbers of our wireless workforce. This makes it imperative for us to have a place where we can find other driven and supportive women, to empower us and give us a voice. That’s what the Women of NATE is. I believe with all of my heart that what we’re doing is crucial to the development of women in our workforce and continued diversity in our industry as a whole.
There are several ways for you to be a part of what we’re doing. Our inaugural WON Women’s Leadership Summit will be held on Monday, September 21, 2020, at the Gleacher Center in Chicago, Illinois, and we still have sponsorships available. We’re already looking forward to the annual NATE UNITE conference in Memphis, Tennessee next year. And over the next few months we will be looking for annual sponsorships. If you feel that you’d like to be a part of this, please know that we can tailor your sponsorship to your capabilities. Every dollar counts. Our eventual goal is to provide a scholarship to a woman who plans to begin a career in our industry.
Being a part of the Women of NATE has shown me that not only am I not alone, but I can play a part in showing other women that they can have the support they need to be successful and empowered. What’s your wireless story?
Alisa Reed is a member of the Women of NATE (WON) Committee and Business Development Manager for Valmont Site Pro 1 in Jupiter, Florida.
Won Profile: Andy Page Lee
Andy Page Lee is the Vice President of Operations for Lee Antenna & Line Service, Inc., in Springtown, Pennsylvania, a position which she has held for the past 23 years. In addition, she is in her fourth year as the Chairwoman of the Women of NATE.
She is also a writer, photographer, runner, and advocate for chronic pain patient's rights and women's rights.
Tell us 3 things that most people do not know about you?
I am currently writing a children's book about the telecom industry with my daughter, Brianna.
I like to hike and would love to take 5 months off to do the PCT (Pacific Coast Trail), which is 2650 miles from Campo, California, up to the US-Canada Border at the edge of Manning Park in British Columbia.
My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. We have a big old-fashioned bash at our farmhouse in Illinois, with all of our friends and family. Bryan cooks beef brisket and pork shoulder, I make pies, and everyone brings their favorite side or dessert. It's an amazing day of great food, live music, Olympic style games with trophies, fireworks, and a bonfire that lasts until the wee hours.
What are your hopes for our industry?
My most sincere hope for our industry is to continue to grow, but to also get back to our roots, with collaboration between all sectors. For all of the hard work that everyone is putting in across the board, payment terms and procedures have become untenable, corporate double speak has made paperwork, procedures, insurance requirements, and close out packages tedious and time consumptive, and small companies with some of the most experienced collective employees are being pushed to close their doors daily.
What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years?
I have survived 13 surgeries in the last 20 years, the first due to a misdiagnosis of cancer while I was pregnant with our daughter. I live with nerve damage pain, due to botched procedures, and suturing and surgical clips that were taken off the market after being used on me without my knowledge. I had a moment 5 years ago, where the third doctor in a row told me during a visit that I needed to give up sports, as I would presumptively end up in a wheelchair anyway, in his words. In that moment, I discovered that I was stronger than I ever thought possible. I don't quit. I began training for my first marathon, which I completed 6 months later, at a turtle's pace, but I was so proud. I also joined the NATE Trade Show Committee that year, in the hopes of developing an administrative track for women at the annual conference, which we did, which led to the creation of the Women of NATE, after being told repeatedly that it couldn't be done. Look at us now!
What is the weirdest job you have ever had?
When I was in high school, this small town girl would go out to Boston in the summers, and work odd jobs for my Aunt and Uncle and their friends and neighbors, because I had the opportunity to make a lot more money there as a teenager. But that meant that I never knew what my next job would entail, I would just show up, and do whatever was asked of me. One neighbor, John, took me to a room about as big as the small ranch house that I grew up in, and there were about 30 boxes of vinyl record albums, with empty shelves from floor to ceiling, made for the albums. He wanted them cleaned, alphabetized, and put away. I needed a ladder for the top shelves. It took me about 4 days, and I earned every penny.
What is your favorite thing to do in the wonderful city of Gibson City, Illinois?
My favorite things to do in my hometown of Gibson City, Illinois, population 3400 (Bryan calls it Mayberry), are visit our farm, and sit out at the pond with a stack of books and a thermos of hot tea, go to the community concerts in the park (current high school and alumni band, homemade pie and ice cream for sale, lawn chairs under the Pavilion), twin screen Harvest Moon Drive-In theater, and small town shops and kindnesses.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
That's easy, rudeness. Talking in movie theaters, aggressive drivers, seeing people not being respectful of others in ordinary everyday situations. A little more kindness would make the world an infinitely better place.
What would you want to do for a career if you weren't doing this?
A couple of things, really, write books and open a women-centric store with gifts, antiques, a bakery counter, books/reading corner, and art/craft/baking/healing/writing classes. Bring in retired folks to teach a specialty or hobby. A place that encourages people to sit a while, connect, relax, and not be in a hurry. A second floor for sleepover events with girlfriends, or host to special events. On the side, I would love to coach a girls' basketball team or running group.
What would you like to be famous for?
I really don't have much of a desire to be famous, but I do think it would be fun to have a best-selling novel. I would really just be happy if we reach enough women to make a difference, help them find their voice, fight for equal rights, equal pay, and equal opportunities.
What is your hidden talent?
I can speed read about 600 words a minute when I want to, which I discovered back in college was a pretty helpful odd skill to have. And I know a lot of obscure sports trivia.
What is the one thing you cannot live without?
Book, books, books.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
It's a tie. I used to go down to the corner house on my street to listen to my neighbor play violin. I could sit in his living room for hours, and to this day, I have never heard anything so beautiful. He left me that violin when he passed away, and it is one of my most valued possessions. I also used to go with Grandfather, who as well as being a farmer, drove a propane gas truck. It was a big honor between the cousins to be chosen to go along. You were to be quiet and respectful, but we got to spend time with our Grandpa, who we all adored. In the afternoon we would stop at this old general store for an ice cold Orange or Grape Crush out of the machine outside, and a choice of comic book inside. I didn't realize it until I was older, but I was always curious about the things he would leave quietly on the back porches of some of the families on his routes, a winter coat, or a bag of groceries. He always spent his hard earned money to make sure that people had what they needed, and didn't want any credit for it. This made an indelible impression on me. It's what I believe honor to look like.
Upcoming Events
To stay apprised of recent event updates and to view the most comprehensive events listing visit the NATE WIN (Wireless Industry Network) website at www.natewin.org.
Recent Event Highlights
If you would like to be profiled in an upcoming issue, nominate someone who should be featured, submit articles about improving position skills, or work for a great company that supports women in technology, please email WON Committee Liaison Nikki Gronau at nikki@natehome.com for consideration.
Why Women in Business Need Female Role Models
When I was in college, I did an internship with LA’s Restaurant Week program. My boss was an incredible role model. She was warm, caring, and tough, and she executed. I got to see all of that in the same person, someone who was like me. That experience encouraged me to not only set more ambitious, meaningful goals in my career, but also to embrace being both tough and warm.
For me, and for most women, having a positive female role model played a big part in recognizing my own style. As a recent study found, 89% of women set more ambitious life goals in the presence of women they admire than when they contemplated their goals alone. When a young woman just starting out in the workforce sees every day that it’s possible for someone like her to thrive in business, she’s likelier to believe in her own possibilities.
Sharing Feminine Strengths and Skills
A female role model literally models for other women the impact feminine energy can bring to business. Feminine energy isn’t about being pretty or soft-spoken: It’s about listening to colleagues and employees, a habit women have proven more inclined to cultivate than men. That’s not to say that men don’t listen or that they can’t bring a feminine energy — they absolutely can and do. But women model it in a unique way.
Women are often more receptive to sensitive feedback from leaders who look like them and live like them. For instance, a female founder I mentored told me about an investor who passed her up, reasoning that it was because he was sexist. But when I dug into the why, it was actually because her vision wasn’t big enough. When I gave her the same feedback that the male investor had, she was willing to listen to me and work to improve because she didn’t suspect ulterior motives at play.
Some of the trickiest professional questions for women are the personal ones: figuring out how their work lives interact with their personal lives. They want to know how to balance love and careers, family time and work time.
Happily, women are uniquely positioned to share details of their “life design,” which is a more holistic way to approach challenges. A female mentor might advise a younger colleague about designing boundary-based work hours, making rules around where in the house to work, selecting a supportive partner, or navigating the intricacies of being a working parent. Though your situation will always be a little different from someone else’s, talking through these issues with another woman will provide a great deal of clarity.
3 Tips for Working with a Female Mentor
If you’re lucky enough to have a female role model who is willing to mentor you, you want to take full advantage of your time together. These tips will help you make the most of the opportunity:
1-Document Your Challenges
Take notes to share with your mentor. When I continually struggle with an issue, I document key examples of that trend throughout the week, keeping track of the situation and detailing the context, my behaviors, other peoples’ behaviors, what I thought and felt, and the ultimate outcome. This will let your mentor see things more clearly and completely in order to offer you a more informed perspective. Not only that, but it will let you see patterns emerge so that you can continue to grow when you don’t have immediate access to a mentor.
2-Be Vulnerable
If you trust your mentor, there’s no reason to fake what’s going on for you. Lay all your cards on the table so that she has all the context she needs to understand who you are and what you’re facing. That includes telling her about things that may not show you at your best. You’ll find that sometimes you both learn the most from those times when you’ve messed up.
3-Set a High Bar
While it’s true that everyone has something to share, that doesn’t mean you should plop yourself down at the feet of any woman you come across in your professional life. Instead, look for someone you can truly look up to. And don’t be afraid to approach women who feel “out of your league.” If the thought of asking her for input is intimidating, it’s a sign of a path worth pursuing. Even if she doesn’t have the time to give to you right now, you won’t regret making the ask.
Whether you’re just beginning your career or a seasoned professional, it’s important to nurture relationships that strengthen women’s positions and clarify their paths to success. When you need advice, don’t hesitate to ask the hard questions of your female mentors. Likewise, when a woman asks you for help, make sure you’ve got her back.
Author: Tracy Lawrence is the founder and CEO of Chewse, a service that delivers family-style meals to offices from the best local restaurants. Her vision is to transform transactional drop-off delivery into an inclusive meal experience that also gives back through meal donations. Chewse operates in Los Angeles; San Francisco; Silicon Valley, California; and Austin, Texas. She has raised $30 million for her company and feeds thousands daily. Tracy also mentors female founders in technology, working to fulfill her personal mission of building a more authentically connected world based on vulnerability as a leadership philosophy.
