Pioneering Woman Water Operator Angela Walker Talks About Being The Only Woman on Site, Career Breaks, and Taking On Discrimination and Retaliation and Winning!

Now starting a new career phase as a consultant and professional speaker, Angela takes us through her career journey. She has worked for many years as an Operator, and later as a Compliance Coordinator, for water utilities, and talked about the value of a stable career and good benefits as a single mother. Often, she was the only woman or first woman in a leadership role.

She talks about the value of continuing education and mentorship for Women throughout their Water Careers. Her career included a 6-year break to care for her sister during cancer, although she was able maintain her contacts and return to work after her sister passed away.

Angela also shares how she was successful in her discrimination and retaliation case against an employer - which, since she didn't settle, she is not prohibited from talking about (this is rare) - with advice for women who find themselves passed over for promotions where they are more qualified, and then retaliated against if they speak up!

0:00-1:11 - Introduction and Welcome Remarks

The host welcomes the guest speaker, Angela Walker, to the Women Of Water Virtual Summit and provides an overview of the event's objectives and agenda.

1:11- 8:14 - Background of Angela Walker 

Angela started working at a wastewater plant as a trainee in 1987 and worked her way up to superintendent of two facilities. She left the field for several years to take care of her sister but returned to wastewater after her sister's passing. She now works as a pre-treatment compliance coordinator and runs a consulting business. The speaker is also involved in several organizations and speaks at conferences around the country, and has been invited to speak in Argentina in August.

8:14-18:55 Filing Lawsuits with the EEOC

Angela shares her experience in filing two lawsuits with the EEOC early in her career, one for discrimination against a woman and another for retaliation. Though she won both cases, she did not pursue monetary gain because she feared being blackballed from the industry. She advises women to document incidents and get certified to find a better-suited environment. The speaker found the EEOC online and wrote a statement about what had happened. She says one needs thick skin to pursue such cases, and it takes a lot of depositions, talking to HR departments, and proving retaliation.

18:55-29:20 Getting more education to work smarter in the water industry

The speaker advises getting more education to work smarter in the water industry where biases still exist. She shares a personal experience of being terminated from a supervisor position because she couldn't perform unsafe tasks. The speaker encourages documenting safety concerns and not doing anything unsafe, even if it means refusing to do a job until proper equipment is provided. She applauds the women who are breaking stereotypes by doing physically demanding work in the water industry.

29:20-35:38 Hiring women and the importance of having support from upper staff

Angela discusses her experience working in the wastewater treatment field, including operating heavy machinery, cleaning drying beds, and pulling plastic off of a trickling filter plant. She also talks about hiring women and the importance of having support from upper staff in treating women equally in the field. The speaker explains that the job is not for everyone and requires a certain level of toughness and willingness to learn. However, it has allowed her to raise her daughter alone and provide for her family with good benefits.

38:50-44:53 Keynotes of Angela Walker

The lack of women in the water treatment field is a significant issue. The pay in this field is lower than other industries such as engineering and plumbing, which makes it challenging to attract people. The Georgia Association of Water Professionals is making efforts to get more people interested in this field, particularly high school and college students. Women who have been successful in their careers should be highlighted to encourage others to follow in their footsteps. Women who take time off to care for family members should not be excluded from returning to the workforce in this field. Employers should be willing to provide training and education for older workers who wish to switch careers.

44:53-55:05 Supporting women, importance of having skills like psychology

She suggests that women in positions of power should be willing to help others and make themselves open to supporting women who are trying to navigate the field. The speaker also believes that women should be made aware of the opportunities available to them in the industry and see examples of successful women in various positions, such as in design and build or consulting. Additionally, the speaker shares her personal experience and the importance of having skills like psychology to deal with people in the field.

55:05-01:14 Advantage of having women in higher positions in the water industry

The speaker suggests that having women in higher positions in the water industry would help facilitate progress and make it easier for other women to navigate the field. She also emphasizes the importance of women supporting and mentoring each other and highlights the need for more visibility of successful women in various roles within the industry. She encourages women to keep their eyes open to opportunities and to pursue their dreams.

01:14-54:28 Closing Remarks and Next Steps

In conclusion, the speaker is an environmentalist who is committed to protecting the environment, particularly the waterways, for the benefit of future generations. She has applied to be on the coastal advisory committee and to facilitate discussions on climate change and its impact on coastal communities. Despite the challenges, she finds her work fulfilling and important. Dr. Cat stated the summit features interviews with remarkable women in the water sector and is available for lifetime access. For more information, visit Watercitizen.org/women.