At Programmed, we seek to increase the representation of women in leadership and attract women in trades. We are proud to have women thriving within our organisation, just like Tegan Overall, Programmed Contract Manager at Greater Western Water. This Friday, we tell Tegan's story.
Raised on a farm in Northwest Victoria with little understanding of the opportunities available to women, Tegan initially left high school and started her career working in the interior design industry.
She worked in Western Australia as an assistant project manager for a consulting company for 10 years, where she began working on major commercial projects, from office buildings to significant airport redevelopments. Later on, she moved back to Victoria to work as a senior project manager consultant at Melbourne Airport for 4 years.
COVID-19 was a turning point for Tegan. With a desire to add value in a sector giving to the land and people, Tegan decided to look for opportunities that Programmed and the Water sector offered. "I wanted to be involved in a bit of blue-collar as opposed to corporate and starting to make a difference within the lives of my team, and that's how I landed with water", Tegan mentioned.
Tegan didn’t study project management straight out of high school because she didn't know it existed and didn't understand it was available for women in the trade sector. That is why she believes early education is essential and encouraging women into trades is key to make people understand what they're capable of.
"I've always been in the construction sector around male-dominated industries, I've always had to fit in, and if I didn't fit, then there was no room for me. But that's not how we should be thinking - that's not how I want the women in my organisation to be thinking."
Tegan shared that her parents never treated her like a little princess, so she never felt she wasn't capable. She encourages parents to change their mindset and raise young women as leaders who are capable of anything. "As leaders, we need to start driving the change now and early - it is still very uncommon to have women in trade. We must set our organisations up to support young women".
Though Tegan joined Programmed and Greater Western Water relatively recently, she has always felt aligned with the values of both organisations and how we live and breathe our core values. She has had nothing but support since she came onto these contracts.
Tegan's inspiring story embodies the Work and Smile message, finding fulfillment in helping to break down barriers for women in trades and really show them what they're capable of.