Long Beach City College hosted an event called “Keeping It 100”, during which a panel of experts discussed their experiences and offered helpful tips to young students on navigating settings that may not have been traditionally designed with women in mind.
Working in male-dominated careers such as finance, engineering, construction, or jobs in the medical field can lead to women in those fields getting overlooked and undermined, making it difficult for them to succeed.
The panel of experts consisted of Interim vice president Melissa Infusino, planning commissioner Jane Templin, board director member Pearl Hanales and medical aesthetics specialist Dr. Gloria Tumbaga.
The panelists were asked various thought-provoking questions that sparked conversations about their backgrounds, hardships and the obstacles they faced while navigating their careers, all while they maintained honesty and transparency in each of their answers.
Infusino shared a story with the audience about how one of her employees stole her concept for a product.
She emphasized that even in the face of injustice at work, one must trust their gut feelings in the face of difficulty.
“It’s crucial to stay true to yourself and your goals, even when the path ahead seems intimidating,” Infusino said.
When asked on how to navigate male-dominant environments Dr. Tumbaga shared her own journey on challenging barriers and stereotypes, “Navigating a male-dominated environment as a woman requires a combination of assertiveness, resilience, and strategic networking. It’s about finding your voice, standing your ground, and building alliances to amplify your influence.”
According to the panel, having role models and surrounding yourself with mentors can give individuals a huge advantage in the future.
“A key element to achieve success is to surround yourself with allies and mentors who will support and guide you toward success,” Hanales said, “These people can provide valuable insights, offer guidance during challenging times, and serve as sources of inspiration and motivation.”
Jane Templin offered insightful advice on overcoming obstacles and accepting failure as a necessary step on the road to achievement, according to Templin, keeping a positive mindset and viewing mistakes made in the past as an opportunity for personal growth.
“Remember that failure is not the end, it’s an opportunity to learn and grow stronger,” Templin said.
Although the panel was a one time event, it laid the foundation for potential conversations about gender equality on campus to continue as students navigate the landscape of future planning.