Optoro Employee Spotlight

Optoro Employee punktlicht Below is an article originally written by PowerToFly Partner Optoro, and published on October 29, 2018. Go to Optoros page on PowerToFly to see their open positions and learn more.Optoro is made up of a diverse collection of individuals who have come together to achieve a single missionto transform the reverse logistics industry by finding homes for used and excess goods. We like to highlight that diversity with our Employee Spotlight blog series, during which we sit down with an employee every month to hear a little bit about the people who make the Optoro culture so distinctive.How would you describe yourself in 10 keywords or fewer?Tenacious, optimistic, adventurous, fearless, intellectually curious, fun, outgoing, BritishWhat is your role at Optoro, and what do you do?I am a Director of Solutions at Optoro. In my role, I focus on partenering with retail clients to determine how our solution could be deployed to drive maximum value for them. Essentially, this means I spend time visiting clients facilities to hear exactly what their pain points are and to understand how their reverse logistics systems work. Once Ive done this, I develop a potential solution for that client through a business case that outlines the key areas of value. In any given week, I spend a good amount of time interacting with clients, talking them through our findings, and refining our perspective jointly to find the best solution for them. Its the perfect mix of rigorous quantitative analysis with heavy client interaction.What did you do before Optoro, and why did you choose to work at Optoro?Prior to joining Optoro I was a Case Team Leader at Bain & Co. based in Boston. I decided to join Optoro as I wanted the opportunity to work in a high growth company that was looking to solve a clear market need. I received my MBA from MIT Sloan and one of the reasons I decided to study there was due to the schools mission to develop principled, innovative leaders who im prove the world and generate ideas that advance management practice. At Optoro, I found a company where I could work in an exciting, dynamic company and help tackle a serious environmental issue. Often times a tremendous amount of returns end up in landfill, and our solution helps reduce that environmental waste.What is the most important thing you have learned since starting at Optoro?Remain flexible Were a fast growing company with 200 employees. Optoro is the market leader in our industry and is constantly innovating to push the boundaries in this space. As such, I am frequently learning new skills, shifting priorities, and stepping up to tackle new challenges. Every day is different and excitingWhat is the best part of working at Optoro?One of the best parts of Optoro is the people. My team is incredibly collaborative, intelligent, and motivated. The people push me to think differently, to find unique solutions to problems, and to have fun all at the same time. Additionally, I t hink one of the universal qualities that Optoro employees share is an at cause approach. If one of us sees a problem well take it upon ourselves to fix it no matter how trivial.What would you most likely be doing on a normal Saturday afternoon in your free time?Thats a tough question I enjoy traveling so Im frequently taking weekend trips. However, as I just moved to DC, Ill likely be exploring the city trying to find a good, new foodie spot with friends. I also enjoy events such as The Phillips Collection jazz night so you might find me there. One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, constructi on workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard geschftsleben Reviewsho ws that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respe ctively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.