4 Women Breaking The Mold In Male‑Dominated Industries

Women continue to face structural barriers in industries long dominated by men,  from technology and automotive manufacturing to mining and energy. These environments often feature skewed gender representation, stereotype bias, and limited pathways to leadership. 

Yet women are shifting these dynamics by not only entering these fields but transforming them from the inside out, proving that leadership, innovation, and resilience transcend outdated norms. Recent data from NDTV Education shows women are gaining critical credentials and reshaping the workforce landscape in sectors historically dominated by men. 

Below are four women whose careers are reshaping male‑dominated industries and offering inspiration to other professional women.

In the technology sector, which is still disproportionately male at leadership levels,  Katherine Kostereva stands out as a trailblazer. As CEO of Creatio, Katherine leads efforts in low‑code automation platforms that power digital transformation across industries. Her rise in tech leadership exemplifies how women are carving out senior roles in an industry where women remain underrepresented, particularly at the executive level.

Katherine’s story highlights how women can leverage strategic vision and technical expertise to thrive even in areas traditionally dominated by men.

Also featured among women advancing in tech, Karen Baker serves as President of Boathouse, a marketing and communications agency. In an industry where data‑driven services and digital transformation are often steered by male executives, Karen’s leadership illustrates the impact women have when given opportunities to shape strategy, client relationships, and organisational culture.

Her focus on aligning business strategy with inclusive leadership sets a powerful example for women advancing in tech‑adjacent industries.

Alicia Boler Davis has carved a remarkable path from engineering to executive leadership. After rising to executive vice president of global manufacturing at General Motors, too, a rare achievement for women in automotive operations, she transitioned into a CEO role at Alto Pharmacy, bringing technical insight to health‑tech innovation. She also just recently transitioned to President of Ford Pro. 

Her career demonstrates that technical proficiency is a superpower, particularly for women who break into senior technical and operational roles where male representation still predominates.

The automotive industry has long been one of the most male‑dominated manufacturing sectors, from assembly lines to executive suites — yet Mary Barra’s leadership breaks that mold. Mary became the first woman to lead a major U.S. automaker when she became Chairman and CEO of General Motors, a role that demands technical understanding, strategic foresight, and change‑oriented leadership in a historically male arena.

Under her direction, GM has sought to diversify leadership and push into emerging technologies like electric vehicles, proving that women can lead legacy industrial corporations in times of transformation.