This picture. This is the day I decided to quit my Aerospace Quality Engineering career I had spent 22 years building. This is a picture of a broken spirit and a woman who could not spend one more second as the only female at the conference table.
This is also the day of my epic Facebook Live rant that some of you may remember.
Let me recap.
I was sent to a supplier location to investigate a million dollar issue that was impacting production. I was lead investigator.
I arrived with my team and was greeted with "Hi, you must be the buyer? Nice to meet you."
I replied with "Nope. I'm the Supplier Quality Rep investigating the ______ impacting our deliveries.
The team I brought with me laughed and one man said "I bet she gets that all the time".
We move to the conference room where I assume the power position of middle seat at the conference table. I had asked one of the Supplier's support staff to please choose another seat so I had a better view of the presentation. A woman's seat choice at a conference table is very important. Never, and I repeat, Ever, sit on the side of the room or too far in the back. I worked for 22 years for a seat at the table and I refused to be pushed to the back of the room.
I was asked if I could set up the video conferencing and I suggested they call their IT department. It was just assumed that I would set up the meeting. No supplier in the world would have asked a male Lead Investigator to set up their meeting .
I opened my notebook while we waited, to review the facts of the issue. One of the Supplier's engineers asked in front of the entire room if "I understood the issue". I responded with "Yes" and went back to reviewing my notes. (Fun fact: this was also the day I came up with my 'Lady Brain' candle)
Once the presentation started, I asked probing questions. The presentation was riddled with errors and at one point, their Lead Engineer asked if I needed help with the math.
Filled with determination, I got up, went to the whiteboard and said "I understand math, what I don't understand is YOUR math. I then proceeded to outline the errors of their flawed logic.
The moment I decided to quit was when the VP of Quality said for the entire room to hear "She's a smart girl."
To say it was a rough day was an understatement. I got home, poured a glass of wine and grabbed an "All The Fucks" candle. I lit it and proceeded to do a 30 min rant Live on FB for the entire world (or a couple thousand followersš) to see, while I checked all the boxes on that candle.
Fast forward to today. I am 2 days away from opening my dream manufacturing and retail location. I have never worked harder, been more exhausted
or been happier!!!
I was so scared to leave my high-paying job and the security that paycheck gave me. What if the candle thing didn't work out? How was I going to provide a livable wage for the amazing women that worked for MWCC who had families to support? How was I going to do the marketing, sales, production, and all the other things I had to get done, and still be a wife and mother?
Here's the thing. Fear is a FUCKING liar! I didn't have to. My husband pitched in, each woman at MWCC took on more responsibility and as a tribe, we worked it all out. I am surrounded by highly-capable women and we are building this together.
So I say this to all the "smart girls" out there. Do It! Follow your passion. You may be still working at your kitchen counter, or maybe your dream has filled every room of your house. I still don't make even close to what I used to, but I have never been happier in my whole life. Stop doing shit you hate.
Stay Malicious,
Lacie
Photo cred: One if the most wonderful co-workers I ever worked with snapped an undercover photo. He texted me and said I would want to remember this day. He was right.Ā
Comments (82)
ecaEIVARivW
I work in the Defense Industry, I could give a Master Class on being the only woman at the table and usually only one of about three minorities. Iām proud of you, Iām grateful for your example, and I will definitely be supporting you!
It gets exhausting being called a āgirlā after 40 when every boy over 17 is referred to as a man. Well fuck you! Iām a Grown Ass Woman and now even my candles šÆ say itās so!
XOXO
OMG! I work in Quality, too! And yep, I hear you about the seat at the table and the “smart girl” comments. Been there, done that, girlfriend! I still have my “real” job, but I’m an auditor now, so people kind of have to listen to me. I got tired of it being the other way around. Maybe some day I’ll go on a rant and leave my job for something cooler, but until then, I’ll just buy your candles and keep on keeping on!
I love your message! Way to go! Thanks for sharing.
As a father of 2 daughters, I salute you.
Way to go! I am going through a nasty divorce. After 19 years of marriage, 14 years of hell, I have to get a job. Fear isnāt the right word. I have no resume to send. No one cares that I was CEO, CFO, President and janitor for the last 17 years. Being passed over by snowflakes for retail positions is beyond frustrating. Any ideas on how I get back into the job hunt would be much appreciated. Iām sorry if this isnāt the place to ask questions!
I’ve been here too. That moment that you decide to quit what you hate and do what you love is the scariest and most freeing moment. Right out of college, I worked as a receptionist at an engineering firm (a man’s world!). My job was to answer the phones, greet people, and set up lunch meetings…you know, “women’s work”. The only person in the office who knew my full qualifications was the office manager who hired me to be her assistant, one of only 2 other women in the office of 50 men. Once word got around that I had a BA in Architecture and was capable of helping the men with drafting and design work, I was asked to take on more projects outside of my pay grade, but was still treated as “just the receptionist” with a receptionist’s pay rate. I politely declined the extra work and found another job. The next job was the same story, I was there for less than 6 months before pulling the plug (or rather lighting the fire?) and began working for myself full-time. I’m now a self-employed graphic designer and bring home nearly twice the salary I ever did working for the “guys”. The pay is great, but nothing means more than doing what you love and answering to no man!
Yep! Just what I needed to hear! Iām determined to quit this job and live without FEAR
I remember the day of the video well and the aftermath that followed. Thank you for sharing all of it. I’m exhausted by having to deal with the constant complicity of a culture where this happens.
After working full time for three years, well below a living wage, without benefits or respect, I was thrilled to leave and take a leap. Thank you for showing us what it looks like to be anxious/scared/doubtfilled/angryAF/fedup and want to do something to change it. Your example allowed me to know what I really DON’t want and fall in love with what I need to do and the long days and hard work that go with it. Malicious Women, we got this. Get out of our way.
I canāt even begin to tell you how inspiring this is to me! I donāt know you but Iām so proud of you.