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How can I, as a woman, stay confident and motivated when facing challenges in male-dominated fields, such as the sports world?

Tips for being a woman working in sports?

fall25 sports athletics sports-management professional-sports women woman
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Stephanie’s Answer

Develop a thick skin. I've spent my 25+ year career in Information Technology and have found that staying focused on the goal/problem/issue/project rather than on each individual comment or interaction is key to both my personal enjoyment of the work and my professional success.

Also, find other women in your company/industry and nurture those relationships. Don't hesitate to ask for advice on anything you're struggling with!
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Liz’s Answer

Echoing what Stephanie said about developing a thick skin. It's also very important to find a way to build and maintain a support network for yourself outside of your field. It's human to need to vent and let off steam about work frustrations, but especially as you start your career, you won't necessarily be able to identify who may be a "safe" colleague to vent to. Both for venting and also for your emotional health overall, make sure you have people outside of work to remind you that life is more than work, and to help keep your emotional health up. If you don't have a natural built-in network with family and friends, look for professional or interest-based networks in your area (it can be a knitting group, for example! Just a group of people you can connect with outside of work).

Also, in your career you will encounter people whose backwards opinions you'll be able to influence -- but also those who you cannot budge. It's important to learn how to spot the difference, because for that second category, you do your work, you do it well and you give zero thought as to their opinion.
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Annette’s Answer

Great question, Samantha! It can be challenging at times, but there are ways to manage it. Besides what Stephanie mentioned, try to find role models. Connect with other women and supportive men to discuss the challenges you face in a male-dominated environment. Often, male colleagues may not be aware of their behavior. Reflecting their actions back to them can help. Also, try to move beyond thinking in terms of men and women. Often, the behavior is more about confidence levels.
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