Trade Equity

Nora Spencer, Rhoni Basden, and Stacey Gordon join Natasha Ozybko to discuss pre-apprenticeships, systemic workplace equity, and transitioning women into high-wage trade careers.

In this forty-sixth episode of Conversations with MOXY, host Natasha Ozybko facilitates a powerful panel discussion featuring Nora Spencer (Founder and CEO of Hope Renovations), Rhoni Basden (Executive Director of Vermont Works for Women), and recurring guest Stacey Gordon (Founder of Rework Work). The conversation focuses on the "Pink Collar to Blue Collar" transition, the critical role of pre-apprenticeship programs for women, and how to create systemic workplace equity in the trades.

The Power of Pre-Apprenticeship

The episode highlights two groundbreaking programs—Hope Renovations in North Carolina and Vermont Works for Women—that serve as bridges for women entering the trades.

Safe Learning Environments Spencer and Basden emphasize that women often need a "low-stakes" environment to learn the basics of power tools and trade math without the social pressure of a male-dominated job site.

Confidence as a Tool These programs are not just about technical skills; they are about building the psychological resilience and confidence needed to enter a "blue-collar" workforce.

Holistic Support Both leaders discuss providing "wraparound services," such as childcare assistance and transportation, which are often the true barriers preventing women from completing trade training.

Systemic "Reworking" of the Workplace

Stacey Gordon provides a strategic overlay, arguing that recruitment is only half the battle. If the workplace culture remains exclusionary, women will leave as quickly as they enter.

Beyond "Culture Fit" Gordon challenges leaders to stop hiring for "fit" (which often masks bias) and start hiring for "culture add".

The Manager's Role The panel agrees that middle managers and site supervisors are the "gatekeepers." If they are not trained in inclusive leadership, executive diversity goals will fail.

Operationalizing Equity Equity must be integrated into the actual operations—from properly fitting PPE to transparent promotion tracks that don't rely on "Old Boys' Club" networking.

The "Pink-to-Blue" Transition

The guests discuss the massive opportunity in transitioning women from low-wage "pink-collar" jobs (like retail or hospitality) into high-wage "blue-collar" trade careers.

Economic Mobility Moving into a trade can double or triple a woman’s income, providing a pathway to homeownership and financial independence.

Transferable Skills Spencer notes that women from service backgrounds already possess the "soft skills"—communication, crisis management, and organization—that make for excellent project managers and lead technicians.

Changing the Narrative The industry must stop marketing trades as a "fallback" and start marketing them as a high-tech, high-impact first choice.

Conclusion: Building the Future Together

The episode concludes with a call for radical collaboration between non-profits, corporate leaders, and policymakers. Nora Spencer reminds the community that "pictures of women with power tools are empowering," but the actual work of building an inclusive industry happens in the boardrooms and on the job sites every day. Rhoni Basden urges leaders to "listen to the women already in your ranks" to find out what needs to change. Stacey Gordon’s final advice is simple: "Stop trying to fix the women and start fixing the systems".