marzo 03 2015 91Comments

Female Engineers – Winning with the Velvet Glove

Posted by admin In Sin categoría

So this blog and others like it have exhausted the facts and figured about women in engineering and how wonderful it all is for us to be there. I want to talk about something I’ve experienced that gave a new spin on why companies should hire and promote female engineers. Not all female engineers will agree to this but there is something to say about the inherent soft-skills that women possess and how this can be put to use to the advantage of the project team.

One of the first female engineers in the South African construction industry told me that a female engineer should always be wearing a boxing glove on one hand, and a velvet glove on the other. Well most of my career thus far has involved me using the boxing glove, in recent months I’ve come to understand what the old bird meant about the velvet glove.
On my first project with my new company, I was eager to earn respect within the team as a project engineer. Somewhere along the way, I started doing more Client-interfacing. I coordinated and accompanied the Clients team to site-visits, met with people to diffuse difficult situations and managed their (very long) wishlist of changes and corrections on the plant. The more I worked in this role, the more I liked it and the more my PM/ project sponsor assigned me to these tasks.
Was this hard engineering? No – really it wasn’t. The hard-engineering decisions were still taken between corresponding engineers on their team and ours. Yes, I missed the hard engineering of being on site and making things happen, and the pace and impact of project engineering. But there is a certain level of technical know-how required to interact with a technical Client’s team, that made it necessary for an engineer to do this. And somewhere along the way, I guess someone realised that I could be good at this.
Having a really large Client’s team (up-side of 20 individuals) it really was difficult to manage every request and expectation. I flew to the middle of the Northern Cape, as well as to Cape Town several times to meet with individuals and groups to ensure they were being personally attended to. I really put my heart into this as I could see its affect on the project and our image as a company. I find that so often, we forget the impact of the image we portray at a grass-roots level after a project is sold.
I left the Company before the project’s completion and before I did, I had many calls from members on our Client’s team to say goodbye and good luck. Although, truthfully, I probably did less for the project’s execution than any other engineer on the team, it was unbelievable to hear the feedback I received. Contemplating on it, I realise that this is something that maybe is missing from engineering consultancies. Balancing Client relationships with project progress is a PM function, but with the masses of time a PM has to spend on project execution, he/ she can’t also afford to take care of the requests and concerns of an entire Client team as well.
Female engineers are ideal for this role that requires charisma as well a technical prowess, professionalism and charm. Being – for the most part – better communicators than men, less intimidating and more accommodating, women at the Client-interface can reshape the image of a company. Women with good interpersonal skills can be trained to work at the apex of technical, project and social interactions – perfect for Client relationship-building in a technically-minded industry. Their unique set of skills tied to their femininity can be a great advantage to their careers and this should be leveraged by project managers and sponsors.

admin

91 comments

  1. pisior
    abril 8, 2015

    rg2 h tht bh

  2. pisior
    abril 8, 2015

    cześć chcialbym Ci zaoferowac uslugi

  3. cmd368apps
    diciembre 8, 2025

    Downloaded the cmd368apps! Not bad, quite smooth, and it’s more convenient to play on the phone, you can bet anytime, anywhere. However, I hope there can be more promotional activities

  4. slot8
    diciembre 14, 2025

    Slot8? Okay naman. The slots are fun, and may pa-promo sila minsan! Keep an eye out for those! Hehe. Give it a try! Praying for wins! Check them out: slot8

  5. 8gbet1
    diciembre 16, 2025

    8gbet1’s where it’s at! Site’s easy to get around on. I would invite to try 8gbet1! Check it out

  6. 88phatvn
    diciembre 19, 2025

    Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that I tried 88phatvn. Had a blast! Especially liked the variety of slot games they offer. Would recommend to anyone looking for a fun and reliable online casino.

  7. rrrph
    diciembre 26, 2025

    Interesting points about localized gaming! Seeing platforms like RRRPH prioritize Filipino players with options like GCash & Tagalog support is smart. Exploring rrrph games could be a good case study in adapting to regional markets – KYC processes seem streamlined too!

  8. 88vinproios
    diciembre 29, 2025

    Calling all iOS users! 88vinproios looks like the go-to app for 88vin. If you’re on iPhone, this is a must-have. Go there NOW at 88vinproios!

  9. xin88link
    enero 4, 2026

    Trying to find a reliable link for Xin88 and found xin88link! Hopefully, I will get lucky. Check them out at: xin88link

  10. 12vegas
    enero 5, 2026

    12Vegas? Vegasnya di mana nih? Hahaha. Iseng aja deh main di sini. 12vegas

  11. ninong gaming
    enero 11, 2026

    That’s a solid point about player strategy – really impacts outcomes! Been checking out ninong gaming download & their platform seems to prioritize a smooth experience, which helps focus on the game itself. Good stuff! 👍

  64. jljlboss
    enero 21, 2026

    Interesting take on roulette strategy! Seeing platforms like jljl boss vip emphasize data & security (KYC) is smart – builds trust for serious players. Transparency is key, right? 🤔

  68. swerte99
    enero 26, 2026

    Swerte99 Online Casino Philippines: Login, Register & App Download for Top Slot Games Experience the best at Swerte99 Online Casino Philippines. Quick Swerte99 login & register for top Swerte99 slot games. Get the Swerte99 app download and win big today! visit: swerte99

  69. crazywinph
    enero 29, 2026

    It’s fascinating how quickly online gaming platforms are adapting to local markets! Seeing seamless PHP integration & GCash support, like with the crazywin ph app, is key. Responsible regulation, like PAGCOR’s, is vital for a sustainable experience, too.

  70. pagolbetting
    febrero 8, 2026

    Pagolbetting’s decent! Had a pretty good run with them on the sports bets. The odds are solid and the payout was quick and easy. Check ‘em out. pagolbetting

  71. yy6gamedownload
    febrero 8, 2026

    Looking for a new game to download? Give yy6gamedownload a look! They’ve got lots of games you can download and play! yy6gamedownload

  72. 7club
    febrero 8, 2026

    Hey, just checked out 7club and it’s pretty slick. The games are fun and the site is easy to navigate. Definitely worth a look. check it out here 7club

  73. diwataplay
    febrero 9, 2026

    [6787]Diwataplay Online Casino Philippines: Easy Login, Register for Top Slots, and App Download. Join Diwataplay Online Casino Philippines! Experience easy diwataplay login and register to play premium diwataplay slot games. Get the diwataplay app download today for the best mobile gaming experience and big wins! visit: diwataplay

  74. 8acecasino
    febrero 10, 2026

    Alright folks, here’s 8acecasino, I’ve been looking at it. I gotta say, it does look pretty good. Have fun! See it here: 8acecasino

  75. g55betapp
    febrero 10, 2026

    Downloaded the g55betapp the other day. Pretty simple to use. If you are in the market for such an app, then give this a try, then you might find your home there! You can check them out on g55betapp.

  76. g55betcom
    febrero 10, 2026

    Hey everyone, just saw g55betcom. I think the website loads quick. I am not sure what else I can tell, I think the best if that you check it yourserlf. Visit them at g55betcom.

  77. 999pub
    febrero 16, 2026

    Just tried 999pub out, and it’s honestly not bad. The layout is pretty clean, and I was able to find some games I enjoy. Worth checking out, yeah? See for yourself: 999pub

  78. freecine mod apk
    febrero 16, 2026

    Freecine mod apk? Yeah, I think I found a place claiming to have that. Give it a look and see if it works for you: freecine mod apk.

  79. leovegas casino
    febrero 16, 2026

    LeoVegas casino is a great platform with a generous bonus. You have a lot of options to play and win some real money. I will suggest leovegas casino.

  82. ph958
    febrero 24, 2026

    This article beautifully captures the essence of modern engineering leadership! The velvet glove approach transforms technical challenges into collaborative victories. Just as seamless user experiences matter in platforms like ph958 login, emotional intelligence elevates project outcomes. Authentic leadership blends strength with empathy.

  83. casinoluckydays
    febrero 25, 2026

    Casinoluckydays… well, did I have a lucky day? I certainly had a good time! Decent payouts and a slick interface. Maybe you’ll find your lucky day there too. Give it a try here: casinoluckydays

  84. mexloki
    febrero 25, 2026

    Mexloki. A new discovery! I had a look around on that site not long ago. I liked what I saw, could be worth a shot if you are looking for something different. Check it out by clicking here: mexloki

  85. mex365bet
    febrero 25, 2026

    Mex365bet… Sounds like a contender. Not bad at all, I had a quick play and can’t complain. Plenty of options so give it a try sometime. Jump in by clicking here: mex365bet

  86. okbet download
    febrero 27, 2026

    Thinking about doing an okbet download. Is it worth it? Heard mixed reviews. Where’s the safest place to get it? Find the details here: okbet download

  87. bongdalu 6789
    febrero 27, 2026

    For all your scores and updates I would highly recommend checking out bongdalu 6789 on Bongdalu66! It’s pretty solid. bongdalu 6789 has the best information.

  88. fb7771
    febrero 27, 2026

    FB7771? Must be a version or something. Anyways, if that’s what you are searching for, check it out here at: fb7771.

  89. jilicrown22
    marzo 2, 2026

    Alright alright alright, jilicrown22 is on my radar now! Heard some good things and finally checked it out. Smooth interface and decent bonuses so far. Let’s see how it holds up. jilicrown22

  90. 55jljl
    marzo 2, 2026

    Popped onto 55jljl the other day. Nothing special but reliable performance. Have a look for yourself if you are interested: 55jljl

  91. bongvip88
    marzo 2, 2026

    Had a go on bongvip88, and it’s alright, mate. Site layout’s proper easy to get around. I like it and here is the link bongvip88

Write a Reply or Comment