There's no question that the women at The Erb Group have been an integral part of bringing the company to where we are today. Whether it comes to family, mentoring, leadership, or just being there when someone needs them, The Erb Group has an incredible team of females to help keep our operations running smoothly, and the team supported. In honour of International Women's Day this year, we wanted to highlight our Senior Director of Human Resources, Alyssa Couvillon. Her contributions as a woman in a leadership role have significantly guided other women within our company and industry. She is an individual that not only women in our company look to for advice and mentorship but everyone here at The Erb Group. We had the opportunity to sit down with Alyssa and talk about what it means to be a woman in this industry and what International Women's Day means to her. Alyssa has a wide range of expertise when it comes to life and her career, having started working for a trucking school 20 years ago. She took this opportunity to learn how to drive a truck and gain some insight into a truck driver's life and the industry itself. On top of learning how to drive a truck, she also learned to double clutch, received her air brake endorsement, and went to skid school as well. This initiative to learn beyond her job requirements was all done in an effort to relate better with drivers and gain a deeper understanding of their experience. She said this has been extremely helpful throughout her career, from enrolling students to get their AZ licence to hiring drivers in companies and now being in Human Resources, where she needs to relate to drivers and what they do daily.

What's it like being a woman in this industry?

Since the trucking industry is predominantly male, Alyssa says it puts women in a unique spot to bring their distinctive perspectives and contributions to the table. She believes males and females must have an open mind and be willing to listen to each other's insights, experiences, and ideas. When needed, a give-and-take approach can make the conversation surrounding gender equality a little easier. We've seen much growth on the subject in recent years, but there's always room to learn. Alyssa believes men can support the women they work with by breaking the stigma and speaking up when they see gender bias taking place. As a woman in leadership, Alyssa says seeing more female representation in these roles would be nice. As well as encouraging more women to take place in the trades, driving, and other jobs outside of the office. Mentorship can be vital in being able to help and inspire women, as there are always opportunities to help them advance and grow in their careers.

What's something you're proud of as a woman in your position?

Alyssa says she is grateful to be able to work for a company that has allowed her to lead and be given the autonomy to do so. She's also proud of all the times she's been able to instill knowledge, guide and mentor other women in junior positions throughout her career. International Women's Day is all about celebrating and uplifting women and their contributions at home and in the workplace. While there is still work to be done on gender equality in the workplace, seeing women like Alyssa put the work in, and help guide other women in their careers, makes it that much easier to do the same.