Release:
August 7, 2024

Women of NATE Today Newsletter
Volume 6, Issue 8

It's hard to believe it is already August in what, at times, has felt like one of the longest years in my career. For me, this time of year is always energizing. I look around and see the kids getting ready to go back to school, friends and families taking that one last summer vacation, and of course, the stores are loaded up with my favorite – school supplies! It’s funny how a new notebook or pen can still spark some joy and motivate me.

This month’s article, “Women: Lift As You Climb” resonated with me as it discussed two truths about women in the workforce. I am proud to consider myself a woman who is supportive of other women and I am always there to help them grow as they move up in their careers.

Just last month, I had the pleasure of hosting a small group team meeting with four very different, wonderful women. The energy I gained just from a few days of learning more about the team and where they would like to go in their careers was fantastic. As a member of the Women of NATE, I have been lucky to meet many women who strongly value helping other women grow and I am grateful for their mentorship.

Unfortunately, on more than one occasion, I have also worked for the women who “pull the ladder up behind them as they climb” as well. I experienced this multiple times when I was younger and would not even think twice about a job if there was a female manager. I know now that it is the insecurities of the manager when they don’t support you to achieve your career growth, and having a tribe of your own for support can really help.

When women support each other, amazing things start to happen!

WON Profile: Lymaris Pabellon

Currently, I work as a Digital Marketing Specialist at Learning Alliance, managing all aspects of digital marketing from advertisements to data analysis. My experiences have fueled a passion for connecting people to educational opportunities that align with industry needs, particularly through innovative programs like those at Learning Alliance.

Upcoming Events

The NATE Annual Marketing Toolbox is a comprehensive resource designed to offer extensive opportunities for companies in the communications infrastructure industry. It encompasses various avenues for marketing and brand exposure including exhibiting at events, sponsorship opportunities, print and digital advertising, as well as options for publishing and speaking engagements.

The Toolbox is aimed at enhancing visibility and engagement within the industry, providing detailed information on the diverse range of meetings, exhibitions, and conferences available for participation. It's an essential guide for companies looking to strategically position themselves in the dynamic field of communications infrastructure. Included in the Toolbox are marketing opportunities for events such as NATE UNITE 2025, the Women of NATE (WON) Women's Leadership Summit 2024, NATE Emerging Technologies EXPO, and the WIN Regional Conference 2024.

Now is the time to register for this fun-filled in-person event for women, complete with educational sessions, keynote conversations, and a Networking Reception rounding of the day. 

Highlight your company’s name by sponsoring the Women's Leadership Summit. Recognition is given to the companies and people that support Women of NATE (WON), and your company name and/or logo will be included in the various WON social media platforms, websites, and newsletters.

Click on the link below to consider attending or sponsoring the Women's Leadership Summit!

If you are interested in sponsoring or registering for the Great Plains Regional Conference, please visit the Great Plains Regional Conference Portal for more information. Sponsorship opportunities can be found on page 14 of the NATE Marketing Toolbox.

We understand that staying ahead in today’s fast-paced environment requires continuous learning and growth. That is why we are excited to extend a special invitation to those who may have missed our previous training courses. This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge from the comfort of your own space, ensuring you don't miss out on valuable learning opportunities due to distance.

If you are located more than 100 miles outside of the following cities, we are thrilled to offer you a full-day instructor-led remote training option.

• Louisville, Kentucky on Thursday, August 8, 2024
• Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, September 17, 2024

For those within a 100-mile radius of each city, we kindly require in-person attendance. This is a wonderful chance to engage directly with our expert trainers, network with peers, and experience hands-on learning that is both impactful and inspiring.

Whether you join us remotely or in person, you will gain insights and tools that are crucial for both personal and professional development.

Mark your calendar and take the next step in your professional journey with #NATEsafety.

Investing in employee training is a smart move for any company or organization, especially when it comes to ensuring their safety on the job. Registering your employees for this complimentary, comprehensive PPE training provided by NATE and supported by a U.S. Department of Labor Susan Harwood Training grant (SH-000003-SH3) is a proactive step towards creating a safer workplace environment.

This initiative recognizes the evolving nature of workplace safety and the need to address a wide range of hazards beyond just hard hats. 

The training will provide in-depth education on the applicable Standards, Regulations, and Reference Documents encompassing PPE, JHA Development, Hierarchy of Controls (how to eliminate hazards prior to use of PPE), Fall Protection-specific PPE, Climbing Facilities, Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee PPE Testing, and the ANSI/ASSP A10.48 - Standard for Telecommunications. In addition, the curriculum will include pertinent OSHA information regarding employer responsibilities, worker rights, whistleblower laws, and complaint procedures (including time constraints). 

On behalf of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, we are encouraging you, your employees, and industry customers/contacts to register for the complimentary in-person or instructor-led remote training PPE for Telecom Workers: Hazard ID, Selection, and Use Training Course.

By providing comprehensive training on hazard identification, proper selection, and use of PPE, telecom workers can better protect themselves from the diverse range of hazards they encounter on the job. Take advantage of this complimentary, industry-specific training today by clicking the appropriate option below.

Webinar Registrations

This training is open to NATE members and non-member companies. Please share this information with anyone you think might be interested in attending.

If you have any questions regarding the PPE for Telecom Workers: Hazard ID, Selection, and Use Training, please contact NATE Projects Manager, Kimberly Elliott, at kimberly@natehome.com or 605-882-5865.

Sponsor or register today for Avalon Test Equipment's Sixth Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Maderas Golf Club in Poway, California on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Breakfast and registration start at 7:30 AM. Proceeds benefit the Tower Family Foundation.

Recent Event Highlights

(Above) NATE Director of Safety, Health & Compliance Kathy Stieler attended the Fiber Connect Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, in July and ran into several familiar faces. Pictured on the left is Kathy with WIN Minnesota State Liaison Steve Roessler of QualTek Wireless LLC. 

On the right, Kathy is pictured with WON Committee Member Erin Smith of CSR - Collective Strategic Resources, Salvatore Iovino of United Telecom Systems LLC, and Anna Kate Gandy of Tempest Storm Rentals, LLC.

(Above) WIN Illinois State Liaison Stephanie Brewer of USA Telecom Insurance Services Inc. is pictured with Dennis Robinson of Insurance Office of America at their booth at Fiber Connect in Nashville, Tennessee in July. 

Women: Lift As You Climb

"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women."

These words by America's first female, ceiling-smashing Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, reflect two truths:

1. The strong value many women place on supporting other women to achieve their ambitions as they pursue their own.
2. Acknowledgment that not all women value the "sisterhood," opting instead to pull the ladder up behind them as they climb, presumably because they don’t think other women should have it any easier than they did.

The former reflects a spirit of generosity and abundance - there’s enough opportunity and need for what we each have to offer for us all to do well. The latter reveals a fear-based scarcity mentality that views success as a zero-sum game with only so much pie (power and admiration) to go around. While this second group may be a distinct minority, they can cause immense anguish and injury as they reinforce negative “mean girl” female stereotypes, fortify existing gender barriers and, on occasion, actively seek to undermine women whose influence they perceive as a threat to their own.

Having worked in a poorly managed all-women team early in my career, I know firsthand how "bitchiness" can siphon the joy of even the best job. And while there is no quick-fix remedy, it’s important to remember that if these women weren't so insecure to begin with, they wouldn’t need to pull others down in order to prop themselves up. We must be resilient, and never let someone else's poor and petty behavior be an excuse for our own.

A quick glance at the statistics on the state of women globally tells us that much work is still to be done to create an even playing field for girls and women. According to UN Women, women still only earn 60% to 75% of men's wages globally. In line with that, the 2014 Global Gender Gap Report found that female economic participation and opportunity, while improving, still stands at only 60%. Closer to home in America, where women are graduating college at a rate of 2:1 over men and equal pay is legislated, women still lag behind men on nearly every other marker from wages to board representation to accessing venture capital. This is in the face of overwhelming evidence showing that as more women are economically and socially empowered, communities, companies, and countries are better off. 

Not just more fair and just, but richer and more prosperous. The Dalai Lama once said, "The world will be saved by the Western woman." 

So as we look toward the future, complete with all the challenges it holds - we must think bigger, beyond our personal agendas and ambitions, and recognize that we will go further and grow stronger when we give up comparing and competing and choose to pull in the same direction. As Janine Garner, author of From Me To We shared with me, “When women come together to support one another, it creates a powerful space for collaboration, innovation, and the collective advancement of our society." A rising tide lifts all boats. 

To that end, I invite you to think of five women circling your orbit you could support in some way. Whether making an introduction, sharing a useful resource, posting a recommendation on LinkedIn, or sharing a few words of praise in the presence of a decision-maker – helping other women get ahead won't diminish your position or power, it will enhance it.

We grow muscles by lifting weights; we grow powerful by lifting each other.

This article was originally featured on forbes.com/.

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