Event Blog
By Sandra Westlund-Deenihan

BEATING THE GENDER ODDS
Posted May 2008

I recently had the honor to deliver a keynote speech on "Beating the Gender Odds" at the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Dubai. I was surrounded by executives from Fortune 500 companies, government leaders from across the globe and cutting-edge entrepreneurs. Initially, I was uncertain how I was going to be received, considering the subject matter and the "entrepreneurial star power" that was in the room. But the fact that a woman owner of a small business manufacturing company was delivering a speech in Dubai meant I had already cracked that marble ceiling.

The convention organizers tapped me to deliver this keynote speech because they heard about my story. I want to focus more on the experience, but let me give you a small glimpse into why I was invited to speak. Since age 3, I grew up at my father's manufacturing company. In 1995, I took over his company and was better prepared, experienced and ready to assume this role than anyone around. Yet I faced challenges with customers, employees, vendors and financial institutions that treated me as if Quality Float Works Inc. were a startup – not a company founded in 1915. Yes, I lost customers, and in some cases it took me 10 years to recoup. Today, we are experiencing record revenue growth. Our company exports to locations throughout Asia, Canada and Europe, and we're growing by leaps and bounds. I accomplished this by being an innovative businessperson who designed and engineered a great product – who happened to be a woman.

So, how did it go?

The reaction was truly amazing from both the women and men in the room. In fact, I found out later that several men came specifically to hear the speech because they were curious to hear what the woman manufacturer had to say. Overall, I really struck a chord with people who found my story inspiring on a personal and professional level. They were fascinated that a woman grew up in the manufacturing industry and went on to become a leader in that industry. We're pretty rare, I guess. Many women actually followed me to the next event asking me more and more questions about my experiences and some of the real-world examples I presented in my remarks. As a result, I received some offers to speak in other parts of the world to share my experiences, hoping to inspire women to be resilient, to persevere and to remain focused on the job at hand, not the ceiling above them. I also received a couple of business leads.

I didn't just speak about my life and pat myself on the back. I took this as an opportunity for women to look inward when thinking about beating the gender odds. This doesn't just mean cracking the marble ceiling in a big-picture sense, but rather entering into industries such as science, technology, engineering and manufacturing where men dominate not because of equality challenges but because we don't apply.

I'm an engineer by trade and by education. In the last 20 years, the percentage of women engineers has only risen 3 percent; that's unacceptable. We are leaving half of the intellectual capacity on the table – as women – by not entering this field. In my opinion, this is the next chapter for women in beating the gender odds.

THE DUBAI EXPERIENCE

As for the event location, all I can say is wow. Dubai is a hub of activity – from their business growth and construction to the overall "vibe" from every person you come in contact with. It is very clean and modernized and welcomes you with open arms. Take, for instance, their indoor ski slope at a shopping mall (yes, an indoor ski slope). They are on the cutting-edge when it comes to all aspects of business. They embrace innovation from everything they are working on, and American influence, entrepreneurs and celebrities are expanding their activities to Dubai.

There is a lot of diversity in Dubai. Yes, it's a melting pot of people from all ethnicities and walks of life. But I was inspired by the tremendous work ethic, excitement and engaging attitude toward business overall. In some locations, American businesses are treated in a different manner, but not in Dubai. When you're a business traveler in a foreign location – or any location, really – and treated in a friendly way, this can make or break your perspective. Suffice it to say, I'll be back soon.

Dubai is the leading center for business and tourism in the Middle East. There is a unique blend between modern civilization and desert that is so intriguing. It's exotic, yet cosmopolitan. It was such an action-packed trip. Even taking a taxi is an adventure in itself. In a nutshell, this is a place where all of us in business should consider connecting sooner rather than later.

STRIKING A CHORD IN DUBAI

I also served on a panel discussing the importance of innovation in business. At Quality Float Works, we developed an innovative product that allowed us to enter new, emerging markets – and that has led to record revenue growth. Today our products are used to purify water in locations in Asia, Canada and Europe. Following the trip to Dubai, my belief is stronger than ever that businesses should enter the global marketplace.

Dubai invigorated the entrepreneurial spirit in me, and I'm sure it did for others. The growth and construction in the area, networking opportunities with international partners and overall pro-business environment really make one think about how we can all be more competitive across the globe.

Right now, the time is right for any business – big or small – to enter into the international marketplace. Sure, the U.S. economy is struggling, but our foreign partners view American businesses as a win-win because of the weakened dollar. In many cases, it is cheaper for these companies to purchase American products and ship them overseas than to buy from local competitors. And I can tell you from my firsthand experience that Dubai businesses are very interested in doing business with U.S. companies. I was struck by the warmth and interest in collaborating on business. In addition, lawmakers in our nation's capitol are trying to pass free trade agreements with many countries that would further expand the opportunity for businesses to play abroad. In some cases, these are new markets or markets where the playing field needs to be leveled.

The other thing that really struck a chord with me is the haste with which they are growing. This not only refers to the growth and construction of the area, but the "all hands on deck" motto I felt from every person I met. Sometimes it literally takes an act of Congress to get growth moving. I got the sense that if a new rail system or development were needed, it would happen quickly – to capture the market need. This reminded me that business should drive government, not the other way around.

My overall impression with Dubai was amazement. I am looking forward to the opportunity to return and create new friends – and continue to build on the relationships I've made. This was a new destination for our company, and we have traveled to more than 80 nations in our effort to expand our business abroad. As I said in my remarks, "The water is fine; jump in." The international marketplace is right for all of us to experiment and grow. That's what Dubai is doing, and it's a good lesson to remember.

Sandra Westlund-Deenihan is president and design engineer for Quality Float Works Inc., an Illinois-based manufacturing company that produces hollow float metal balls. In 2007, this family-owned and -operated company was named one of the fastest growing businesses in the nation due to its ability to export products across the globe. metalfloat.com