Author: Cieana Detloff
I had the great fortune of meeting Aneesa Muthana, President, CEO, and co-owner of Pioneer Service Inc., on #MFGDay last year at the Influential Women in Manufacturing Awards Ceremony & Celebration. Miss Muthana was such a delight to talk to that we just had to feature Aneesa as one of our Industry Trailblazers! We will be featuring several trailblazers throughout the month of March, during Women’s History Month.
Aneesa is a Manufacturing Leader in CNC Precision Machining, running a certified women-owned and operated small business (WBE/WOSB) that provides precision machined parts since 1990. Here is what she shares:
“I got my start as an 11-year old helping out in my parents’ machine shop. My father gave my brothers centerless grinders. He gave me some sandpaper and told me to sand down some desks. This was the 80s, so the “girls don’t belong on the shop floor” attitude was still common. Still, I wanted very badly to work the machines, and after a couple years of trying to keep me busy with other jobs, my father came around. I owe so much to both my parents– Dad for teaching me how to grind, and Mom for showing me how to push through adversity.
I smile the most when I help other men and women, boys and girls, break barriers blocking their path to success. Whether it’s one of our many Career Days at Pioneer Service, a public speaking event, or just a conversation, I love it when my message resonates with people. I can summarize this message as ”You Belong Here”. It refers to inclusion, self-confidence, refusing to play ‘the victim’, and believing you have something to contribute.
My hope is that women leaders will have built enough confidence and sense-of-belonging that there’s no longer any need for women-only groups and classifications. We’re closer now than ever before, but for now we need these groups so women can continue to empower one another. There’s no room in this plan for victim-hood. As long as we keep executing to the best of our ability and lifting each other up — while recognizing most men as willing allies — women and men will achieve more together than they ever will apart.”
This was part of my speech in April @ShopFloorNAM for #Manufacturing. I’m honored to have been part of an event. I love my industry,building my business,building people, one day at a time, one person at a time. #STEPAhead #WomenInManufacturing #StepTalk #MFGwomen pic.twitter.com/ifBBtJaiTO
— Aneesa Muthana (@AneesaMuthana) June 20, 2019
Comments