Women's Equality Day

In celebration, our female employees share their experiences and perspectives on gender equality in the workplace.

Whitney Kellett, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Essential: 

• What does Women’s Equality Day mean to you personally, and why do you think it’s important to recognize it in the workplace? 
  • Women’s Equality Month commemorates the passage of the 19th amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Given that women represent more than 50% of the population, it seems unbelievable that there was a time when women were not allowed to vote. Women are incredibly capable human beings, and I celebrate every step we take towards equality for women. On a personal level, one of the reasons I work is to show my children, especially my daughters, that women can work in any job, if they want to. In 9th grade, I orchestrated a summer camp for little kids and ran it out of my parents backyard, and it was a huge success. I never had any doubt that I would work as an adult, and I want all women to feel that same sense of inspiration and independence and equality. 
• Can you share an experience where you faced challenges related to gender equality, and how you overcame them? 
  • For the majority of my career, I worked in technology roles, and on many occasions, I was the only woman in the room. Because of my gender, I was mistaken for an assistant, a concierge, a secretary, a waitress, a travel agent, etc. Just 10 years ago, a peer in my field assumed I worked for the event catering staff and asked me to find more rolls for the lunch buffet. I was a Chief Information Officer at the time, at an invitation-only event for industry leaders. It would have been easy to get mad and retaliate, but I learned early on in my career that I could use these opportunities to change people’s mindset. With every slight, I quickly correctly the person (professionally) then let my words and actions and results speak for themselves. I used each slight as a motivator to learn something new, take on a new role, take new risks, set my goals higher.   
• What women have inspired you in your professional journey, and what lessons have they taught you? 
  • I have been inspired by many women throughout my career, and most of them probably don’t know it. I can think of family members, friends, volunteers, teachers, clergy, peers, team members, executives, authors, artists, entrepreneurs and so many more.  Each person shared a learning or advice which I try to model every day: communicate early and often, practice empathetic leadership, patience is a virtue, wait 12 hours before sending a nasty email (because you probably shouldn’t send it), know your numbers, kindness almost always wins, laughter is the best medicine, never judge a book by its cover and many more. 
• What advice would you give to young women starting their careers, especially in industries traditionally dominated by men? 
  • We have to stop making assumptions about industries and career opportunities based on gender. If a young female professional is interested in the engineering of how raw water moves through a treatment plant and eventually makes it to the customer’s tap, I want her to dive right into an engineer role and become an expert. If a woman is interested in how servers, networks and applications turn into solutions for our employees and customers, then take technical classes, try an internship and pursue a career in Information Technology.  Women are every bit as capable as anyone else in being successful in fields traditionally earmarked for men. Research and common sense prove we are much more successful and happy (as a team, as a company, as a planet) if women are seated at the same table, in the conversation, helping to drive results.  Just a few years ago, my then 10 year old daughter gave me a sign for my desk.  It reads “The Future is Female.” Couldn’t have said it any better myself! 
• The only thing I didn’t mention is the women’s resource groups at Essential. I am honored to be an executive sponsor of them, and we have a number of events throughout the year to celebrate women. 

Rita Black, Community Assistance Programs Director for Essential: 

• What does Women’s Equality Day mean to you personally, and why do you think it’s important to recognize it in the workplace?
  • Women’s Equality Day is the celebration of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote.  It’s a reminder of the vision and effort of women and men alike, more than 100 years ago, to earn that right that all of us benefit from today.   
• Can you share an experience where you faced challenges related to gender equality, and how you overcame them? 
  • Throughout my career, I had the benefit of an amazing male mentor. He brought me to meetings to expand my knowledge about the business, he gave me opportunities to present ideas in formal and informal ways, and he always encouraged me take on new things. His counsel was priceless. He was an example of how men can support women in growing their careers.      
• How does Essential support gender equality?
  • Women can be found at all levels of the organization, contributing their ideas, wisdom and leadership. They bring unique life experiences and perspectives that we all benefit from.   
• What women have inspired you in your professional journey, and what lessons have they taught you? 
  • Early in my career, I had the pleasure to work on a project with Virginia Craig, the leader of Sales for Peoples Natural Gas. Virginia was a strong leader in a field that was, at the time, predominantly male. She taught me to always show up prepared and to present my ideas with confidence, even if I were the only woman at the table. These are good lessons for all of us, regardless of gender.   
• What advice would you give to young women starting their careers, especially in industries traditionally dominated by men? 
  • Seek out a mentor and look for opportunities to learn every day. Be aware that you are a role model for the next young woman to follow behind you. And, finally, recognize that your experience and perspective are valuable and make your workplace richer.     

Colleen Arnold, Aqua President: 

• What does Women’s Equality Month mean to you personally, and why do you think it’s important to recognize it in the workplace? 
  
  • Thinking about 1920 as when women received the right to vote in our country astounds me.  I know that was over a century ago, but during my Grandma’s early life women were not able to vote.  Our country was formed for 144 years before half of its adult society could vote.  I think of the women suffragists who fought so hard for this beginning in mid-1800s.  It took them over 70 years of not saying no, going on food strikes and educating continuously.  Women’s Equality Day and month is such an important milestone to remember the strong women who did so much for us and never take our rights and the right to vote for granted. 
• Can you share an experience where you faced challenges related to gender equality, and how you overcame them? 
  • When I was first starting out as a young project engineering in consulting I was assigned to operate a mobile pilot plant treatment trailer.  The project involved moving the trailer to different locations in the watershed and testing various conditions to optimize treatment.  It was a joint venture with another firm who had assigned a male engineer about 15 years my senior.  I would set up the treatment to test the various variables per the protocol.  In the middle of a treatment run or test, he would change a variable.  Sometimes he would change mulitple ones to get to the “optimized” point all at once.  I would ask him to stop because we needed to do a full run under a certain condition and he wasn’t following treatment regime and causing us additional work.  He would ignore me.  I wanted to solve this on my own but after this continued ,I did need to report to my manager.  In the end I was affirmed and he was removed from job.  After attending college as one of three engineers out of 105 I knew what it was like to work with guys and always held me own.  I really tried to reason with the man in question, listen to his point of view and assert what I knew was right in this situation.  However, in the end this engineer did not respect me or my boss and was called out on it.  Sometimes you do need to speak up is what I learned from this.   
• What advice would you give to young women starting their careers, especially in industries traditionally dominated by men? 
  • Sheryl Sandburg (Lean In) wrote about this a lot and I agree with her.  First know that you have every right to be where you are.  I have found, myself included, that high achieving women, are used to a high bar where you feel you need to be perfect all the time.  I have worked in a male dominated field of engineering and utilities my entire career and I have had to prove myself at a level my male counterparts have not.  The flip side of feeling your need to be perfect is that we often don’t assert ourselves – fear that we’re not good enough or ready.  I have interviewed and hired many men throughout my career.  They don’t have the same reserve on asserting themselves, offering their knowledge – whether or not they’re that skilled or learned or experienced.  They don’t wait to be perfect.  The Imposter syndrome is real and I have spoken of it with women peers at the highest level as something we struggle with that most our male peers do not.  Know that you have every right to be there, speak up and offer your knowledge and experience and don’t wait to be.

Natalie Chesko, Aqua New Jersey President: 

• What does Women’s Equality Day mean to you personally, and why do you think it’s important to recognize it in the workplace?
  • For me, Women’s Equality Day embraces and recognizes diversity.  It provides the same opportunities and resources to everyone and allows for the true chance to develop oneself to their highest potential.  This is so important in the workplace.  In regard specifically to women’s equality, it provides a platform to highlight that women have the same standards and standards of measurement as men, and in the end, we are all alike. 
• How does Aqua support gender equality?
  • I come from an early career background where you did not get to see very many women in leadership positions. Here at Aqua, they have shattered that glass ceiling.  Within various departments at Aqua, you see multiple strong, intelligent, and deserving women in those management and leadership roles.  I am extremely proud to be in a presidential role and part of the Aqua women’s community.   
• What advice would you give to young women starting their careers, especially in industries traditionally dominated by men?
  • There are several pieces of advice I would give to a young woman just starting out in her career.  First, never stop learning and educating yourself.  Learn everything and anything that is related to your industry.  Go to the conferences and build that network.  Next, from building that network, would be to find a good mentor to learn from.  Emulate and repeat what you can.  Learn the lessons they are providing and listen to the advice they give.  Another would be to know your worth.  Always be proud of your accomplishments.  Never let anyone talk you down or tell you that you will never make it.  Never give up and keep aiming for the stars because you are sure to reach them! 

Lynda Petrichevich, Peoples Process Operations Senior Director: 

• What does Women’s Equality Month mean to you personally, and why do you think it’s important to recognize it in the workplace? 
  • It means that women should have the same opportunities as men, that they should be included in activities the same as men, and that they should be paid the same as men.  
• What women have inspired you in your professional journey, and what lessons have they taught you? 
  • Ruth Delost, our former CIO, was one of the most prepared and industrious people I’ve ever known. She had numerous accomplishments during her career, including some at Peoples, but beyond that she embodied the work ethic and preparedness that made her successful. 
• What advice would you give to young women starting their careers, especially in industries traditionally dominated by men? 
  • Don’t doubt yourself. Be bold in stating your opinion, but make sure it’s backed up by irrefutable facts. In essence, preparation is key. 

Kim Edvardsson, Peoples Vice President & Segment Chief Financial Officer: 

• Can you share an experience where you faced challenges related to gender equality, and how you overcame them?

  • Early in my career I was excluded from lunch because it was just "the boys." Realized that it impacted more than just me so it was important that I not ignore it. I looked at it from their perspective and decided to use it as a teachable moment on the responsibilities of being a good host - which means making accommodations for ALL guests  

• What women have inspired you in your professional journey, and what lessons have they taught you? 
  •  My mother. She enjoyed learning (and teaching) her entire life, was always engaged in the world around her, and brave enough to try something even if she had never done it before.  

• What advice would you give to young women starting their careers, especially in industries traditionally dominated by men? 

  • Show Up. You deserve to be at the table just as much as anyone else! 

  • Be Up, Bring positivity, curiosity and 100% of yourself - your energy will be infectious!  

  • Stay Up. Be resilient --things rarely go exactly as planned. When things are broken there is often an opportunity to build something that will be stronger! 

Maggie Reilly, Aqua Environmental Specialist: 

• What does Women’s Equality Month mean to you personally, and why do you think it’s important to recognize it in the workplace? 
  • To me, Women’s Equality Month exists to highlight how far we still need to go in the United States to prove that the roles of women are no different than those of men and the idea of a “traditional-woman” is antiquated and a term that romanticizes the oppression women have historically faced. In the workplace specifically, we must recognize Woman’s equality to all genders and emphasize the unique perspective a woman can bring based on her life experience that someone else may not understand.   
• Can you share an experience where you faced challenges related to gender equality, and how you overcame them? 
  • As a field staff member, I have experienced several occasions of being approached by strangers who have made it more difficult to perform my job - an issue some male field staff members have expressed to me they do not face. As a woman alone in often fairly remote locations, I’ve learned to always be on alert and to walk away when things get uncomfortable, regardless of how the other person may perceive my actions. By seeing more women in currently male-dominated fields, I hope it will become more commonplace to acknowledge that we are just doing our job and do not purely exist to entertain men. 
• What advice would you give to young women starting their careers, especially in industries traditionally dominated by men? 
  • You do not have to be a man’s version of what a woman in the workplace looks and acts like to be a woman in the workplace. No man is appealing to your standards in order to fit in, so never feel like you must for them.