Celebrating WiM's 15th Anniversary - Karen Norheim Shares Her WiM Story

In honor of WiM's 15th anniversary year, we had the chance to talk with Karen Norheim, President and CEO of American Crane and Equipment Corporation, to honor and share her WiM story. Karen served as WiM Board Chair in 2019 and has been a passionate supporter of women in the manufacturing industry. Read her feature below.

Karen Norheim

President and CEO, American Crane and Equipment Corporation

WiM Board Chair, 2019

Why is WiM important to you?

WiM is important to me because when we bring women together and they can see other women succeeding in the industry it creates inspiration for confidence and growth. We then turn the flywheel because we learn their story, and they share more, and they inspire more.

WiM is like an amplifier of things that help us to attract women to our industry and keep women in our industry. And honestly, by attracting more talent and helping to attract more women, I think in the end we attract more men too, because we're changing outdated perceptions of manufacturing. We're showcasing opportunities, we're showing that it can be creative and hands on; that there are great career paths and success stories. It is a rising tide for everybody.

I also think having different perspectives from people in your businesses is always great for problem solving and WiM is a place where we can further grow on an industry level. That, and we're greater together because we can do more together than we can in our individual companies.

WiM really plays a key role in helping women build their careers. And I love that over the years it has evolved to make sure it includes the shop floor all the way up to leadership. It makes a great contribution to improving the industry overall with its specific mission of supporting, inspiring and promoting women.

I have a philosophy on life and learning, inspired by my Norwegian heritage, and it’s that as a leader, we want to garden people; cultivate talent, nurture future leaders. It's helping companies grow their people.

We're also being a warrior through learning how to face challenges head on and learning the skills of how to push the industry forward. For me being warriors is being ready for the battles of your business and life. There is a skill learning that happens there. We are both cultivating and then we're also sharpening our knives and skills so that we know how to approach and be successful in the manufacturing field and in our careers.

There’s also storytelling, which was a big tradition with Vikings. It goes back to this idea of sharing experiences and lessons learned and insights. For me, when I first went to WiM, it was such a breath of fresh air to talk to people who understood what the shop floor was and who dealt with metal, which is my industry. People who understood the challenges that come with that.

We’re elevating women, but it also elevates the industry at large.

What is a highlight moment or a favorite memory from your time with WiM?

The biggest highlight would be attending my first SUMMIT. Talking to people and realizing that we had so much in common, that I wasn't alone, and that we spoke the same language.

Another favorite memory is from 2023, to be able to be on the other side, to be a keynote speaker at a WiM SUMMIT. It was such an honor to share my story. It makes me think of this great organization that supported me from the beginning of my understanding and learning, to now being a successful leader.

And I know that it will continue to inspire and provide support as I continue down my journey in manufacturing.

How has WiM affected you personally and professionally?

I have met so many incredible women and men in the industry who have shown me what it's like to be a female leader in our industry.

The gift of being in the organization before I got involved with the board was this chance to hear how different leaders are helping their organizations build their cultures. I remember one particular person telling me about what she did for people's birthdays and anniversaries. There are so many practical tips and things that have helped me.

I've been involved with WIM for about 10 years and I feel like it evolves through my positions of where I am in my company. I found something in the organization at every level, whether it was when I was looking after technology and marketing or moving along and taking on more of a leadership role, to now being a leader and owning the company, there are women to connect with on all of those levels. There are so many things to learn and ways to grow and be alongside other professionals in the field.

And I'm always looking for ways to show up for the next generation. I do feel a sense of responsibility. For me personally as a CEO, owner of my company with my sister and a second-generation family business, I feel there's so many people in WiM who affected me personally and professionally, that it's my responsibility to pay that forward and continue to create ripples. How can I help others get those opportunities.

So, fostering and mentoring the next generation. This cycle of growing and challenging and innovating where we're planting seeds for the future.

WiM is one of those organizations where you plant seeds under the tree which you may not sit. It's what I like to think of with my father. He planted seeds that my sister and I now sit on today and at WiM they are planting seeds. We're all responsible for planting and paying it forward to grow the garden and grow the experience and hopefully the work we do now will also help out in the future.

What’s one word that you would use to describe WiM?

Empowering.