Ep. 198: Hard Hats & Hard Truths: Michelle Bates on Women in Construction

EQ: What do you believe are the most significant changes needed in the construction industry to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in trades, and how can individuals and organizations contribute to this transformation?

We’re back with part two of our series on diversifying the trades! Listen to our previous conversation in Ep 189: Wired for Change w/ Alejandra Alexander

This time, we’re talking with Michelle Bates, a total powerhouse with 30 years in the construction industry. Michelle grew up bouncing between Ontario and British Columbia and now runs Echelon Creative, where she tackles everything from commercial and civil projects to factory-built homes and custom log structures. We get into her journey—what drew her to the trades, the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field, and what still needs to change to make the industry more inclusive. From breaking down misconceptions to shouting out resources like Women in Construction, Michelle shares her take on how we can all help move the needle.

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Annie: if you’re a woman, non-binary, or trans person interested in a career in the trades in the Seattle-Tacoma area and don’t know where to start, check out the pre-apprenticeship programs at ANEW, based out of Tukwila. It’s not too late to start - I changed careers at 30 and there were multiple people in my pre-apprenticeship class in their late 30s and early 40s. 

  • Michelle: Women in Construction (Vancouver Island Construction Association)

Ep. 189: Wired for Change--Inclusion in the Electrical Trade

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EQ: To what extent are the trades becoming more welcoming and inclusive for anyone who is not white, CIS, male and in what ways are they still woefully retrograde?

Note to listeners: We hope this will be part of a larger series on women in the trades.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges and progress surrounding diversity and inclusion in the trades with Alejandra Alexander, a writer, visual artist, and former electrician. Alejandra shares her personal journey from the trades and explores the systemic barriers faced by women, non-binary, and trans individuals in construction and other skilled trades. We explore  the disconnect between the industry’s stated goals for diversity and the realities on the ground, touching on issues like representation, discrimination, and the small but important cultural shifts that are beginning to take place. Alejandra also offers advice for anyone thinking about joining the trades and what she wishes she had known before getting started. To learn more about Alejandra visit her substack. 

Related Resources:

Do Your Fudging Homework: