Once a Skeptic, Now an Active Ally
Dan Maitland shares his honest journey from gender-equality skeptic to active ally in the heavy civil construction industry.
In this fourth episode of Conversations with MOXY, host Natasha Ozybko talks with Dan Maitland from Ajax Paving. The discussion marks a pivotal moment in the series by featuring a male perspective on gender equality within the heavy civil construction industry, detailing Maitland's personal evolution from a skeptic to an active ally.
The Skeptic’s Awakening
Dan Maitland’s journey toward allyship began at a 2022 AEMP (Association of Equipment Management Professionals) conference in San Antonio. Initially, Maitland admitted to being highly skeptical of a keynote panel focused on women in the workforce, going into the session with a defensive mindset and assuming the topic would be "man-bashing". At the time, he believed that the struggle for gender equality had already been "won" and was no longer a relevant issue in 2023.
His perspective shifted not through a grand political lecture, but through the realization of small, pervasive daily interactions. Listening to female panelists, Maitland began to recognize systemic patterns within his own office and home life that he had previously been blind to, such as:
Invisible Labor: Noticing that women or administrative staff are almost always the ones setting up or cleaning up after communal office lunches while men stand around talking.
Default Roles: Observing that women are often reflexively assigned tasks like note-taking in meetings.
The Provider Myth: Recognizing the subconscious bias where managers may justify higher raises for men based on the outdated assumption that they are the primary family providers.
The Data Behind the Disparity
To validate his shifting perspective, Maitland performed his own research into pay gaps across various industries. He was surprised to find that even in female-dominated fields like nursing and teaching, women consistently earned 6% to 15% less than their male counterparts. This data shattered his belief that equality was already achieved and highlighted that if disparities existed in those sectors, they were undoubtedly pervasive in the "male-populated" construction industry.
Natasha Ozybko reinforced this by sharing a personal career experience where she was denied a promotion specifically because a male candidate was married and "needed" the income more—a clear example of the "old guard" norms that Maitland is now working to challenge.
Advocacy in the "Old Guard"
Maitland’s transition to an ally has not been without social friction. He revealed that even as he prepared for this live stream, he received "cringe" and mocking text messages from "traditional toxic men" in the industry questioning his participation. He noted that this fear of peer judgment is often why men in the industry remain quiet, even if they mean well.
Despite this, Maitland has embraced a more vulnerable and authentic leadership style. He actively seeks out Ozybko for a female perspective when navigating difficult industry scenarios, proving that leaders do not need to have all the answers to be effective. He encourages his peers to "pity the bear" of status quo and step out of their comfort zones to create a more inclusive environment.
Conclusion: "Poking the Bear"
Dan Maitland represents the "first domino" for a new generation of male leadership in infrastructure. He proves that allyship is not about "marching in the streets" in a crusade, but about being mindful of daily interactions and having the courage to have uncomfortable conversations with leadership and peers.