Between November 6 – 10, 2023, Wabtec© hosted Women of Wabtec in recognition of the many women in leadership roles within the manufacturing industry.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, women make up only 30% of the manufacturing workforce and hold only one out of four management positions. As corporations work to close this gap, recognizing and uplifting women in leadership is vital to attracting and retaining more women to manufacturing.
That is exactly what happened at Women of Wabtec – an event hosted by Wabtec, a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for the transportation industry, which recently acquired L&M Radiator.
Between November 6 – 10, a group of women from Wabtec’s global network gathered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Wabtec is headquartered, for the event. Holly Minne, Vice President and General Manager, and Kelly Hertling, Human Resources Supervisor, represented L&M Radiator at the event. Attendees participated in classes, learned from each other in breakout sessions, and were inspired by keynote speakers.
“This event was yet another reason why I am optimistic about the future of L&M Radiator,” said Minne. “Not only does Wabtec really value its people, but it demonstrates that value through personal development opportunities such as this. It is clear that Wabtec believes that the happiness of its people is important to its success – which is a belief that L&M Radiator has held since day one.”
A Week with the Women of Wabtec
One of the highlights of the week was listening to the inspirational stories of the keynote speakers. Christina Cassotis, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Allegheny Airport Authority, which serves the greater Pittsburgh area, spoke about the importance of comradery and building strong relationships within your company. Cassotis emphasized that to be a true industry leader, you must believe in yourself, be present, build trust and gain relationships.
Cassotis also spoke to the value of being available to her people, shaking hands with folks who work at the airport, and taking the time to truly listen to their experience. She told the group to keep being curious, ask the questions, follow up and follow through. Even if it’s messy – just try it. Your people are your biggest and best asset.
This resonated deeply with Hertling, whose favorite thing about L&M Radiator is just that: the people.
“I connected with her message so much. I love everything about L&M and am especially proud of how we have always put our people first,” said Hertling. “That’s what Women of Wabtec celebrated — building people up and instilling in them a sense of self-worth.”
From within the hubbub of this grand conference, breakout sessions were a great way to form connections between the attendees. These sessions included presentations on leadership, building confidence in a man’s world, and creating your own future. During one presentation, women in the rail industry told the story of their career trajectory and how they got where they are today.
But it wasn’t all about growing from within. Many breakout sessions allowed women to spend time supporting women outside of Wabtec. In one session, event attendees filled purses with essential items to donate back into the community in Pittsburgh.
When all was said and done, Women of Wabtec had created a space that uplifted the voices of powerful women. Together, they enjoyed a week of activities centered around celebrating their success and propelling their careers further.
“So many women came up to Holly [Minne] and me saying they were so excited to have us there and even offered us pointers, support, and advice,” said Hertling. “It was so empowering. I was overwhelmed in the best way by all of these talented women. I love how supportive Wabtec is of its leaders, and I loved the diversity of the event. Women leaders came from all over the world to uplift each other and the women who work at Wabtec companies worldwide. I left feeling so inspired.”
L&M Radiator: Supporting and Empowering Employees Around the World
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Interested in joining our worldwide team? Visit the L&M Radiator careers page.