How a Utility Company Built a Pipeline for Women in Trades

Episode 59 of The Diversity Career Podcast with Fexingo looks at how one midsize utility company, Midwest Power & Light, tackled a stubborn problem: women make up less than 3% of its lineworker and technician workforce. Instead of waiting for applicants, the company partnered with a community college to create a pre-apprenticeship program that pays participants a stipend while they train. Lucas and Luna walk through the design — a 12-week course with hands-on labs, mentorship from current female lineworkers, and a guaranteed interview upon completion. Two years in, the program has placed 34 women into full-time roles, and the company has seen a measurable drop in turnover among those hires. The hosts discuss what made the partnership work, where the friction points were (scheduling, PPE sizing, resistance from some senior crews), and whether this model could scale to other industries like construction or manufacturing. A specific, replicable case for building pipelines, not just widening the funnel. #WomenInTrades #PipelineProgram #MidwestPowerAndLight #PreApprenticeship #SkilledTrades #CommunityCollegePartnership #Lineworker #CareerPipeline #DiversityInUtilities #StipendTraining #Mentorship #Retention #Turnover #TradeJobs #Inclusion #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo