Addressing ways women professionals can overcome obstacles in male-dominated industries, Aisha Mills-Hendrix, regional sales manager, Sandvik Coromant, will present at the Women in Manufacturing (WiM) SUMMIT 2023. The event, set to take place in San Diego, Sept. 25-27, will bring more than 1,000 attendees from various industries across the country. Aisha will deliver her presentation, “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Advancement, Self-Advocacy, and Resilience” on Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 1 to 1:45 p.m.

Women face a “glass ceiling” in the workplace due to several factors, such as the exclusionism in male-dominated industries, the commitment associated with raising children, wage gaps and a lack of female senior-level role models. Aisha will discuss these obstacles, drawing from personal experience in her own journey through the glass ceiling. She’ll also explore the “glass cliff” phenomenon, a term that refers to the challenges women face after breaking through the glass ceiling and the tendency of companies to promote women to senior roles during times of crisis when probability of failure is highest. As a woman in the manufacturing industry, Aisha will discuss how women can strive to overcome these challenges while also offering best practices and strategies to support the advancement of women in the workplace. She will also provide insights on ways women can combat imposter syndrome and the internalized pressure to continuously prove themselves in male-dominated workplaces.

“After years of dedicated service in the manufacturing industry and my personal journey navigating the traditionally male-dominated landscape, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share my insights and experiences,” Aisha said.

Aisha has spent the last 23 years working in the manufacturing industry, 17 of which have been dedicated to Sandvik Coromant. Specializing in leading teams, global project management and corporate presenting and training, Aisha has held a number of important roles at Sandvik Coromant. There she worked as a solutions team leader for engineered products until 2015, she held the global role of senior project management specialist from 2016 to 2020 and is currently a regional sales manager, where she leads a team to provide the best cutting tool and industry solutions to Sandvik Coromant customers. She lives in Manistee, Mich., where she enjoys spending time with family, golfing and kayaking.

“Together, we can strive toward a future that is inclusive and equitable for all. I am eager to engage in thought-provoking discussions with fellow speakers and attendees on topics such as closing the wage gap and creating more opportunities for women to succeed in manufacturing. It is truly an honor to have been selected as a speaker for the prestigious SUMMIT and to contribute to these transformative conversations.”

The WiM SUMMIT brings together industry professionals, leaders and influencers to address critical issues, promote diversity and inspire women in manufacturing from all walks of life. The event includes three days of keynote presentations, roundtable discussions, breakout sessions, plant tours and social events designed to strengthen the community of women in manufacturing at all levels.

For more information, visit https://www.womeninmanufacturing.org/events/summit-2023 or www.sandvik.coromant.com.