PowerToFly Joins NYC Tech Leaders Opposing Trump Immigration Ban

PowerToFly Joins NYC Tech Leaders Opposing Trump Immigration Ban At PowerToFly were devoted to diversity, inclusion and the crucialrole immigrants have in building up America. My parents are both immigrants - my fathers parents survived the Holocaust and my mothers parents fought Hitler as members of the British Army (my grandmother was a nurse and my grandfather was a surgeon who parachuted into war zones to set up mash units where he would operate). Photo Credit Lorie ShaullBoth my parents came here when they were children and owe so muchto einwanderung policies that fueled our nation forward.Milena, my cofounder at PowerToFly, is an immigrant from Bulgaria. We often remarkhow our relationship works because of our disparate backgrounds. But one thing is consistent - we both wouldnt be here without the immigration policies that have built America.Thats why Milena and I are so proud to sign this letter from over 400 tech leaders in NYC, condemning President Trumps Executive Order on immigration.You can read it from the original source herefrom Tech NYC.org. The body of the entire letter is pasted below.January 30, 2017President TrumpWe are business leaders and investors from New York Citys robust and growing technologysector. Among the reasons we proudly build and grow companies here in New York City isthe rich diversity the city and its residents provide. We write out of concern that your recent executive orders will undermine that and send a dangerous message to all immigrants that they are not welcome here.America has long provided homes and futures to millions who dared to share in ourcollective dream. There is nowhere this is more true than New York Cityhome to EllisIsland, the Statue of Liberty, and more foreign-born immigrants than any other city in theworld. Your executive orders suspending entry for citizens of certain countries, even those who currently have legal status, along with limiting the refugee program, threaten those immigrants who are our c urrent and future neighbors, friends, colleagues, customers, and even bosses. Their presence is a crucial ingredient that sets New York City fremdartig and a fundamental reason why we have all chosen to build our careers and companies here.In addition to all of the humanitarian reasons to welcome refugees, it is dangerous todiscourage immigration when the facts show that immigrant entrepreneurs play a significant role in the American economy. Immigrants are more than twice as likely to start a businessas the native-born population. Immigrant entrepreneurs started, in whole or in part, some of the most important technology companies of our time including LinkedIn, Tesla Motors,Zipcar, Google, Intel, Yahoo, eBay, and WhatsApp. More than half of the companies on the current list of U.S. technology startups valued at $1 billion or more were started byimmigrants.We should be doing everything in our power to attract these entrepreneurs to the UnitedStates. Yet when we close the door to im migrants from certain countries, not to mention torefugees, we are telling all immigrants that they are not welcome here.We are confident that we can achieve security without threatening the inclusivity anddiversity at the heart of New York Cityand the United States. We encourage you to rescindyour recent executive orders.Sincerely,Katharine ZaleskiCofounder and President of PowerToFlyMilena BerryCofounder and CEO of PowerToFlyClick here for additional signatures and the full letter One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects pla ns or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the wertmiger zuwachs of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income tauglichkeit/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), inst rumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to plektron up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.