Celebrating WiM's 15th Anniversary - Griselda Abousleman Shares Her WiM Story
In honor of WiM's 15th anniversary year, we had the chance to talk with Griselda Abousleman, Founder and CEO of Excellence Coaching LLC, to honor and share her WiM story. Griselda served as WiM Board Chair in 2018 and has been a strong supporter of women in the manufacturing industry. Read her feature below.
Griselda Abousleman
Founder and CEO, Excellence Coaching LLC
WiM Board Chair, 2018
Why is WiM important to you?
The significance and impact of WiM on my life are everlasting. I graduated from university in 1994, when the percentage of women in the manufacturing industry was much lower than it is today – it was in the teens. Organizations such as WiM help elevate and amplify the power and impactful contributions that women bring to the manufacturing industry around the globe. Now, at a mere 29%, despite making up nearly half (47%) of the total labor force, we still have a long way to go. For me, it was important to grow its impact, its credibility, its membership and the momentum required to rapidly close this gap. We got busy, and we did just that. As WiM Board Chair in 2018, we laid the foundation to ensure WiM membership numbers and impact grew exponentially. I am a proud member of the WiM Movement.
What is a highlight moment or a favorite memory from your time with WiM?
Wow – so many! I'll go with the most recent one, which is coming back to WiM as a speaker and engaging in conversation with so many amazing women who are driving this movement forward! Now an author and a mentor to many, I loved seeing the huge numbers present in the auditorium! I will always remember the 200 or so people we had at our conferences back in 2015, and now, there are thousands of members present, and over 30,000 enrolled! There is POWER in numbers, and this organization is definitely making an impact!
How has WiM affected you personally and professionally?
Professionally, WiM opened up so many doors during my executive career. I was invited to board seats and became a leader in the organization in my community, in my career and in my industry. Several promotions and leadership roles came my way, and I know that my leadership role in WiM contributed to those accomplishments.
Personally, I have now left the corporate world, and as a career coach, I help women get past the many struggles and challenges that they encounter as women in STEM careers. In my 29-year career in STEM, I have learned many lessons that I now pass along, ensuring that the road to thriving in manufacturing is a road much more traveled by women than before!
How would you describe WiM in one word?
IMPACT.