# 154: How Women are Thriving in the Manufacturing Workforce with Allison Grealis, President & Founder of Women in Manufacturing

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2023-09-19
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Allison Grealis, President and Founder of Women in Manufacturing (WIM), explains how her organization supports, promotes, and inspires women in the industry through a global network of 20,000+ members and 32 local chapters. She details the evolution of WIM from a niche metal forming initiative to a standalone trade association, highlighting three specific leadership tracks designed for early career managers, production staff, and executives. Grealis advises manufacturing leaders to address workforce gaps by offering flexibility, investing in professional development, and ensuring transparent, inclusive promotion decisions rather than making advancement choices behind closed doors.

## Chapters

- [0:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=38) Introduction: Allison Grealis and Women in Manufacturing
- [3:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=239) Allison's Background: From English Major to Trade Association Leader
- [7:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=477) The Origin of WIM: Filling the Gap in Metal Forming Resources
- [11:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=681) Advice for Leaders: Identifying and Acting on Industry Gaps
- [13:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=824) Workforce Statistics: Growth from 23% to 30% and Leadership Goals
- [18:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=1080) WIM's Three Leadership Tracks: Production, Early Career, and Executive
- [20:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=1251) Key Retention Strategies: Flexibility, Development, and Transparent Promotions
- [25:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=1509) The Disconnect: Investing in Training Without Organizational Change
- [27:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=1653) Scaling WIM: Chapter Structure, International Expansion, and Corporate Partnerships
- [31:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-19-154-how-women-are-thriving-in-the-manufacturing-workforce-with-allison-grealis-p#t=1894) Future Outlook: Becoming Ambassadors for Manufacturing Careers

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Women in Manufacturing (company)
- Metal Forming Association (company)
- Thomas Company (company)
- e-plan (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Growing Women Leaders in Manufacturing w/ Allison Grealis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-09-22-growing-women-leaders-in-manufacturing-w-allison-grealis) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Designing Manufacturing Career Paths w/ Patrick Curry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-05-16-designing-manufacturing-career-paths-w-patrick-curry) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Why Is Manufacturing Still Dominated by Men? w/ Lesley Ledwell Dukelow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-21-why-is-manufacturing-still-dominated-by-men-w-lesley-ledwell-dukelow) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Starting Young: The Next Generation of Manufacturing & Engineering Talent w/ Meaghan Ziemba](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-10-26-starting-young-the-next-generation-of-manufacturing-engineering-talent-w-meaghan) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Diversity in the Manufacturing Sector w/ Andrew Crowe and Justin Sherman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-27-diversity-in-the-manufacturing-sector-w-andrew-crowe-and-justin-sherman) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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