Sonya Malvick and the METALCONLive Diversity Discussion
A discussion on the challenges, benefits, rewards and strategies associated with recruiting and retaining top talent.
Sonya Malvick, Olympic Steel Outside Sales Representative and International President for the Association of Women in the Metals Industry (AWMI) recently participated in a METALCONLive! panel discussion titled.
The discussion of diversity in the workplace focused on the challenges, benefits, rewards and strategies associated with recruiting and retaining top talent in today’s market. Four women representing the construction and metals industries shared their expertise, including these thoughts from Sonya Malvick:
- Recruitment and Retention – A new generation of employees are looking for a company whose beliefs and values align with their own. Much like the Core Values of Olympic Steel and AWMI align with Sonya’s own values. When we find the right fit, it’s easier to recruit and retain those employees.
- Support from Companies – Olympic Steel is a corporate sponsor for AWMI, supporting the organization and their employees’ participation in the group, locally and nationally. Organizations like AWMI provide training and mentoring programs that may not be available through the Company, so an investment in organizations like these provides additional resources for employees for the low cost of membership dues.
- Employer Sponsorship – When requesting sponsorship (reimbursement) from your employer to join a professional organization, it’s important to explain the value the organization is providing to not only you (the employee), but the employer. How will your participation positively impact the Company?
- Trends in Leadership Roles – Times have changed, and for the better, but achieving roles of increasing responsibility remains a challenge for women in some areas. Know where you want to go and work tenaciously to reach your goal.
- Flexibility and Family – Three positive take-aways from the challenging year we’re all experiencing include a better understanding of technology that can enhance our communications, virtual meetings that make it easier for groups to align schedules and allowing work flexibility.
