Like A Girl
*FOR CONFIDENTIALITY, THE LAST NAME OF THE INTERVIEWEE HAS BEEN REDACTED. THIS PIECE WAS WRITTEN FOR A NEWS GATHERING AND WRITING CLASS, TAKEN AT NEVADA STATE UNIVERSITY.
Regan starts her day the same way - waking up at 5:30 am and starting her day with a workout. "Fitness has always been a priority for me," she says, "it's the perfect way to get my day off on the right foot." After that, she eats breakfast -avocado toast with a tall glass of water - and gets ready to start her day. "Routine has always been huge for me. My schedule can get pretty crazy, so keeping a personal schedule can help me feel grounded."
Regan works in the music industry, specializing as a Production Manager for artists and organizations all across the country.
"I love music, I'm organized, and I love to travel. When I was introduced to Production Managing through a family friend, I knew that this was the route I wanted to go. To be able to be in a different city every day and meet so many people is such a huge blessing, and quite honestly, a dream come true."
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry can present its challenges, though. "You feel as though you have to work ten times harder than everyone else. Building influence and trust is an uphill battle. You constantly have to prove yourself."
"There was a big-name organization that I worked for that was so, so toxic," she states, "I felt like I had absolutely no use being there. I was only there so they can check the box of having a woman on staff. It was embarrassing for me and contributed to some self-doubt that I had. It was a [expletive] mess. There is one specific time that sticks in my mind. As a part of my job, it is my responsibility to make sure that things are running smoothly. One time, during a meeting, one of my male co-workers said, 'Thank God we have a woman doing those jobs, so the rest of us can get to the real stuff that actually matters.' I laugh at it now, because what he didn't realize was, without my job, he wouldn't have one."
According to Zippia.com, "Among Touring Production Managers, 13.6% of them are women compared to 81.2% which are men." "It's a bit frustrating to be honest," she says, "because I have met so many women who absolutely kill it in this industry. They are strong, assertive, and are still caring while doing it. If I can be transparent, I would say a little more than half of the males I have worked with in similar positions were way too underqualified to be doing what they are doing. It's shocking to hear stories from other women about how they have been treated by male counterparts, too."
What keeps Regan coming back, though? "Although it can be tough breaking through, the relationships that I get to build with people over the course of months make it all worth it. We become a family. We accomplish things that allow some people to have a night that they will remember for the rest of their lives. If I can just play a small role in that, and inspire others to do the same, that's what makes it worth it, to me. I also believe that change starts from within. If I can be a positive influence and bring awareness to how women are treated in any profession when compared to men, I will fully take that responsibility, and not take it lightly."
Regan is inspired by women all around the world who are breaking gender barriers. "Look at Kamala Harris, for example." She starts, "Whether or not you agree with her policies and what she's about, she is leading by example for little girls all around the world. There are girls at a point in their life where everything they are seeing can shape them, and for them to see a strong woman of color in such a powerful position is something that inspires me daily. God-willing, when I have girls of my own one day, I want them to be able to see women in leadership positions wherever they go. I want to be that example for them, too."
When asked for advice that she would give young girls who aspire to rise to the top of their profession, she chuckled. "No pun intended, but just do it. You have to go in confident in your abilities and what you have to offer. I truly feel like I would have been in a different place today if I had just believed in myself and been confident in my own abilities, not just the ones that others said I did or didn't have. But I'm grateful for how my experiences shaped me into who I am now."
Regan credits her determination to another woman in her life, her Mom.
"Man, my Mom is a total badass. She's a two-time cancer survivor. Leukemia." The smile is evident on her face as she recalls a pivotal time in her life. "When she was first diagnosed, it was grim. She didn't think that she'd be able to see me graduate or get married. She was able to put the comments of the doctors aside and focus on doing whatever she could to get healthy. I take a lot of inspiration from that, as it can be applied in my own life. People will always have opinions on what you should and shouldn't do, but it is up to you to be confident in what you can do, and make sure that you do it well. That is something that I credit my Mom for teaching me every single day."
It's not easy being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Through my conversation with Regan, though, one thing is evident - you (and only you) get to determine what keeps you from falling. Self-confidence is key. Having an understanding of what you are skilled in is a crucial component in working your way to the top. Although being a woman can bring difficulties, it doesn't have to limit you in how you can achieve success.
