There Are No Guy Careers or Girl Careers. Just Careers.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by Concrete Ontario as part of their initiative to highlight and support women in trucking. It has been edited for length and republished here with permission. Concrete Ontario is an association that represents approximately 96% of all ready-mixed production and manufacturing in Ontario.
Lisa Olyschlager makes a mean lasagna and banana bread. She takes her dogs to the dog park on the weekends, and has a partner and two kids. Benjamin is 8 and Violet is 5. Spending time with family and friends is paramount.
“When I was ready to get back to work after having Ben, I started driving a school bus,” says Lisa. “I love kids, but man was that a lot. It is a high-energy environment; it can be really chaotic and a bit intense.”
Then, COVID.
“I needed work. And concrete and construction were essential; people in it were getting consistent, good work,” she recalls. Lisa saw a job ad for concrete delivery professional at Hanson Ready-Mix and decided to apply because the ad made her comfortable to apply. “Many women just assume that some driver job postings aren’t directed at them,” she says.
“Let’s be clear,” Lisa emphasizes. “ I didn’t know anything about concrete. But the interview went well. And I learned a lot about the job during the interview – I asked them as many questions as they asked me. We both felt good after the discussion so when they offered me the job, I took it.”
Less than two years into the profession, Lisa has been impressed by some of the positive comments and insights she’s received on job sites. “I’ve driven to a site and had the guy doing the backing in yell, ‘Come on buddy let’s get that truck backed in over here!’ and then when I get the truck backed in and get out, I sometimes get the, ‘You did way better than the last guy,’ or ‘Hey – that was awesome. There should be more women drivers.’”
Other drivers on Lisa’s team have also mentioned that they notice some of the intense or uptight site superintendents “chill out a little bit” when Lisa or one of the other women drivers delivers a load. “Nice to think we have a calming effect and everyone works calmer, effectively and productively together,” she says.
Lisa also receives good feedback from the fans in her family. “Getting text messages from my teenage nieces that say ‘Built anything cool lately?’ It just warms your heart. I want to believe I’m modeling to them that they can choose to be strong girls and do anything their heart tells them is right for them. There are no guy careers or girl careers. There are just careers. And if it’s right for you – do it. And concrete’s turned out to be the perfect right for me. I want other women to know it could be the perfect right for them too.”
To the industry at large, Lisa implores employers to understand it’s a tightrope for moms. That there are going to be days where the kids are all sick and mom is the only answer. “Try to find a way to build more flexibility into how women can work for you. I have great child care and support at home and even I have emergencies with my kids that I just need the company to understand I have to be there for.”
At the end of the day, Lisa does get to tuck Ben and Violet in at night. That, plus earning a salary that supports her family, makes all the difference in the world.