This year our Manager of Pricing and Data Analytics Mona Abdi was Transurban's mentor representative at the 2021 Transportation YOU – DC SUMMIT organized by WTS International.
Mona Abdi chats with mentees during Q&A session about pursuing a career in transportation.
At the event, Mona spoke on the importance of building resilience in girls to help them succeed in transportation and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. Historically, women represent 15% of jobs in transportation, distribution, and logistics. The annual summit connected mentees (students aged 15-17) and mentors (transportation professionals) for a 4-day program of tours, lectures, and interactive experiences to offer exposure to careers and top women leaders in transportation.
Mona shared her experience and all the ways the transportation industry is evolving. She also attended the 'Ask me Anything' segment where mentees asked questions into the chat to practice networking, building confidence, and allowing them the opportunity to gather more insights about transportation careers. During her speech, Mona highlighted important points for the mentees to consider, including:
- The evolution of data analytics: Data analytics radically changes the way we live and do business, and Mona shared with the mentees engaging data visuals taking them on a journey on how data usage has transformed through the decades since they were born.
- Why say ‘yes’ to all opportunities: Mona detailed the importance of saying yes to opportunities because they can reshape your life in unexpected and positive ways. Early in her career, Mona was a professional cake maker before saying yes to countless opportunities that led her to work at Transurban.
- Being at the forefront of innovation: A benefit for the younger generations for working in transportation or STEM is all the exposure to innovation. Mona shared how at Transurban, there are countless opportunities for women to work on innovative projects and with emerging technologies, including, connected and autonomous vehicles and electric vehicles that will shape mobility for years to come.
According to a 2020 report released by the National Science Board, the numbers of women and minorities who hold science & engineering (S&E) degrees within the S&E workforce have increased, but these groups remain underrepresented given the rapid increase in the number of S&E jobs overall in the United States. It is also important to consider many women experienced unemployment and more hardships throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which threatens to widen the gender wage gap going forward.
At Transurban, we recognize within the transportation sector there is a lack of diversity that goes beyond gender imbalance, and we are committed to fostering a working environment and culture that not only supports women but champions them. We are proud that our workforce is comprised of nearly 40% women.
Events like the Transportation YOU – DC SUMMIT is an important opportunity allowing leaders like Mona to connect with the next generation of women leaders in transportation, and one of the many ways we can take community action to help move forward in narrowing the gender gap.
