On the 21st January the Women in Transport West Midlands hub, in partnership with PwC, hosted an energising and inspiring event titled "Building Your Career in Transport – How to Break Down the Barriers."
The morning was filled with insightful discussions and hearing the views from our esteemed panellists; Emma Head (HS2), Anne Shaw (Transport for West Midlands), Wafa Masfari (PwC) and Caroline Wilson (Network Rail). They shared their experiences and expertise resulting in conversations that were both engaging and thought-provoking.
We were reminded in the session that just 43% of people in parts of the West Midlands do not have access to a car, emphasising why pursuing a career in transport can have real purpose. In 2022, women made up just 19% of the West Midlands transport workforce (against a national average of still just 26%) highlighting even more the importance of our event and working to understand what some of the barriers that play into that statistic are.
The key take-aways from the panel were:
Adapt to leadership growth – Roles evolve, leadership requires a broader perspective and also you may at some point be "Leading leaders”.
Confidence is crucial – Believe in yourself and your abilities.
Recognise imposter syndrome – Identify triggers to manage self-doubt.
Seek support when needed – Know when to push back and ask for help.
Build resilience – Perseverance is key, especially in challenging environments.
Optimize team dynamics – Adapt approaches to get the best from everyone.
Foster mutual understanding – Strong teams understand both themselves and each other.
Focus on impact – Transport work has real purpose, affecting many lives.
Embrace diversity – Neurodivergence and intersectionality shape career experiences.
Key advice from the panel: Know yourself and back yourself, seek and spend time with advocates, identify and know your triggers, and stop any comparison with others.
One of the standout moments was our interactive breakout session, where attendees exchanged personal experiences and explored actionable strategies for overcoming career challenges in transport. The room was buzzing with energy, collaboration, and inspiration! With each attendee taking away three actions to take forward from the session to apply in day-to-day life. A huge thank you to our event sponsors PwC, speakers, guests, and everyone who contributed to making this event a success. It was fantastic to see such a diverse group—from industry leaders to early careers coming together to network, learn, and support one another.
The conversation highlighted the importance of intersectionality and looking at the multiple identities we can embody beyond gender. This has real pertinence particularly for those with neurodivergence and highlights how this topic of conversation and attending WiT events can benefit not just women.
For those who couldn’t make it, we hope to see you at the next one! Let’s continue breaking barriers and shaping the future of transport together.
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