Why WIL, Why Now?
by Heather Matthews, CAPP
Why WIL, Why NOW?
by Heather Matthews, CAPP
WIL, Women Industry Leaders, was not a solo idea– but one I knew I had to run with. It was at the IPMI Golf Tournament in 2021 where the idea was born. I was part of a group of women that chose golf lessons over golfing. We finished much earlier than the groups of golfers, and spent that time chatting and getting to know one another.
While we love the golf tournament and the good it brings to the IPMI recipients of scholarships, there was one thing we all agreed on: we don't love golf. Our conversation sunk deeper into wishing we had something we found enjoyable, that was more inclusive to women’s involvement and participation. We spent this time reminiscing about past organizations and their initiatives, but concluded there was still a need for something fresh in our industry to celebrate, benefit and bring positive changes to our female colleagues.
Several times in my career I have had to leave jobs feeling undervalued and unappreciated. These workplaces often favored the advancement of men over woman. It was soul sucking to not have my voice heard and to be walked all over. I have worked for several companies in my career and have quickly progressed to a leadership role; sadly a lonely place for a woman as I was generally the only one.
In my 10 years in this industry, I’ve encountered men who have told me my position would be better suited by a younger man with less commitments (ahem, on the home front). I’ve been propositioned by men in countless ways. I’ve even been told– by a woman, that my energy was responsible for a man attempting to shove his tongue down my throat. The more I opened up to other female colleagues, the more I heard that my story was far from unique.
Women are more than their sexuality and we are tired of it being used as such. We are leaders that bring unmatched expertise to the actual issues in our industry. We bring unique perspectives to the hottest topics of today such as EV charging, digitizing the curb, gateless operations, electrifying fleets and so much more.
Women bring creativity, innovation, resilience, and a focus on collaboration that drives success. We have an innate ability to think outside of the box and approach problems from a variety of angles, and we have proven abilities in creating more diverse and inclusive environments, providing a lasting and positive impact to the communities we serve.
With so many years of just talking but no solutions it was time. It was time to make a change! And that change is WIL! Only a few weeks in and we have already recruited a “killer-kickass” board of successful women who share the same values.
We want to see more women in leadership and to honor them in every step of their career journey. We want to create a safe-space for women to not only be heard but seen and valued. We want to take up space, share our challenges, and succeed together. WIL aims to celebrate, educate, and support all women in all industries.
It is inspiring to create something that will benefit all women in a meaningful way. Our actions will match our words, and that is a promise. Our board of fearless leaders is passionate about making a difference. Our promise is to bring positive change through action and we are only just getting started!
