Gender Equality in Business – Women Founders’ Advice - Part 7

In the Gender Equality in Business Series, we feature the insights of women founders who share lessons on claiming equal opportunities, building credibility in male-dominated industries, and trusting your abilities even when you are new to a field. Their advice also highlights learning through experience, leading authentically, advocating for your needs, and recognizing both professional strengths and personal well-being as part of building a sustainable career.

Featured Women Founders

• Rebecca Robichaud  When I entered the HVAC industry, I knew nothing about it.

• Purva VG (Velapure-Gokhale)  I would like to divide this answer in two parts.

  
  

Rebecca Robichaud – When I entered the HVAC industry, I knew nothing about it.

Company– Blue Flame Ventures

Website: https://www.blueflameventures.com/

Advice

When I entered the HVAC industry, I knew nothing about it. It was a male-dominated field, and at times I had to work harder to earn credibility. My biggest piece of advice to aspiring women founders is this: don’t wait until you feel fully qualified. Learn as you go, ask questions confidently, and let your results speak for you.

You don’t need to know everything on day one. You need curiosity, resilience, and the willingness to grow.

Secondly, don’t try to lead like someone else. Especially in industries where women are underrepresented, there can be pressure to adopt a more aggressive or traditional leadership style. Instead, lean into your strengths. Listening, organization, empathy, and thoughtful decision-making are not weaknesses — they are powerful leadership tools.

Purva VG (Velapure-Gokhale) – I would like to divide this answer in two parts.

Company– D20 Elements Group

Website: Www.d20elements.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/purvagokhale

Advice

I would like to divide this answer in two parts.

1. Claim Your Own Equality:  My first piece of advice to all you powerful ladies out there is this: stop differentiating yourself. Like beauty, equality lies in the eyes of the beholder. You can only expect equal opportunities and be trusted with equal challenges if you see yourself that way first.

I remember that one time on-site when our team asked us not to climb a ladder because it "wasn't stable enough," even as others were going up and down it freely. In those moments, my project manager (who is a female too) and I felt the weight of being perceived as "weak." We realized that waiting for permission was the barrier.

We began making our own safety checks, trusting our judgment, and climbing those ladders to inspect the bungalow roofs ourselves. It was incredibly empowering to overcome that fear while showing our site teams and clients that we are fully capable of handling every physical and technical challenge this field demands. This is what it means to give an equal opportunity to yourself.

2. Honor Your Unique Blueprint: While we strive for professional equality, we must also acknowledge that our physical and emotional requirements differ from our male counterparts. True resilience comes from not being ignorant of our body’s needs or our emotional well-being. Prepare yourself to take care of those needs with intention rather than treating them as an afterthought.

In a field that isn't always designed for us, we learn to be our own advocates. We carry the essentials—disposable tissues, toilet seat covers, and sprays—so we never have to compromise our health in search of a clean washroom. We carry spare clothing for untimely flows. Most importantly, we cultivate the emotional strength to have open discussions with our coworkers. Take care of your need to share the load and discuss every challenge.

By planning for our physical comfort and emotional clarity, we ensure that we are not just surviving in our careers, but thriving in them.