MAST PODCAST

Empowering Women in the Pool Industry: Insights from Susan, Megan, Jaime, and Alicia

Featuring Jamie Novak, Megan Kendrick, Susan McPhie and Alicia Stephens

Jamie Novak, Megan Kendrick, Susan McPhie and Alicia Stephens join Dalton Pence for a wide-ranging conversation about the roles of women in the pool industry. They cover mentorship, handling bias, breaking into male-dominated spaces, work-life balance, and what an inclusive culture actually looks like in practice.

Published: 9 January 2025

Runtime: 1 hour 6 minutes

INSIDE THE CONVERSATION

Inside the Conversation

Four guests join Dalton Pence for a panel on the roles of women in the pool industry: Jamie Novak, Megan Kendrick, Susan McPhie and Alicia Stephens. The discussion draws on personal journeys, with authenticity, support and resilience as the recurring themes.

Jamie describes the supportive community she found within the Witte Group, and Susan reflects on Canada’s first in-person event. Megan talks about how her view of work-life balance has evolved and about accepting imperfection. Jamie and Alicia discuss the career-empowering relationship they built at BioLab and the role mutual support played in it. Megan and Susan address handling bias and breaking into male-dominated industries, alongside practical advice on navigating professional challenges using the STAR method.

The conversation ranges across women’s progress into leadership roles, workplace bias, and what building an inclusive culture requires in practice.

Key Topics

Celebrating significant career achievements
Empowerment through an expanded network
Women gaining leadership roles as the industry recognises diversity
Overcoming bias and self-doubt in a family business
Using differences as an advantage
Confrontation varies, and no single approach fits all
Finding supportive mentors early in your career
Work-life balance: accepting imperfection is not failure
Being yourself rather than what others expect
Including women in conversations and work settings
Striving for equality through inclusive organisational culture

What You’ll Take Away

ABOUT THE GUEST

Meet Jamie Novak, Megan Kendrick, Susan McPhie and Alicia Stephens

PRESS PLAY

Listen to the Full Conversation

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