How a Woman Electrician Built Opportunity in the Trades
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
I love the trades. As soon as I got in, it was a little dirty, it was a little grimy, it was cold and it was hot, but I really love just, you know, getting in and, you know, being a little dirty and being creative more than anything.
Sabrina Westfall is a master electrician, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of J. West Electric. She helps businesses and communities power large-scale construction projects while inspiring the next generation to pursue rewarding careers in the skilled trades.
I really enjoyed creating opportunities. It's been life changing for me, but also to other people. We have about 30 electricians. I care about them and I value them. So I want to find jobs that set the whole company up for success. I was usually the only woman, a lot of times the only woman of color on a job site. So hopefully I can be an inspiration to others.
It spans the globe like a super high school internet Elvis. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win.
How did Sabrina transition from a corporate office to becoming a master electrician?
The Living Your Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy.
What about working in the trades made Sabrina say “I love the trades”?
That's extraordinary. The impossible. Oh, that is sensational. Open. Chicago with the lead. Usain Bolt is the fastest man on the planet.
How did Sabrina decide to start J. West Electric and leave her comfort zone?
You can live your legacy.
Welcome to the Living Your Legacy podcast. I'm Angelina and I'm here today with Sabrina Westfall. Hi, Sabrina. Hi, Angelina. Thank you for having me. Of course. So, Sabrina, you filmed your episode with us today. So I know a little bit about you, but tell everyone else some stuff about you.
So I am Sabrina Westfall. I'm from St. Louis, Missouri, and I'm joining you at Inside Success as the owner of J. West Electrical Contracting.
Super cool. It's very rare to see a woman in a trade. Can you tell us a little bit about that and how you got started?
Absolutely. Yeah, it's getting better than it used to be. When I was in the trade about 15 years ago, I was usually the only woman, a lot of times the only woman of color on a job site. So I will say there's been some advancements and now you see more women in construction, but I would love to see more. So hopefully I can be an inspiration to others.
Super cool. I agree. In Miami, we have construction 24-7. And I will say I do see some women here and there. So that is cool to see. Very cool.
How does Sabrina run her business day-to-day and support a 30-person team?
So how did you get into, you know, trade in the first place?
Sure. I did work in an office, typical corporate job, and I just did not like it. I did not like getting off at five o'clock in the afternoon. I didn't love the whole office dynamics. I can watch, you know, TV shows and the movie The Office and laugh at those now. But It just wasn't for me. I wanted something more hands on, more creative. And I just I love the traits. As soon as I got in, it was it was a little dirty. It was a little grimy. It was cold and it was hot. But I really love just, you know, getting in and, you know, being a little dirty and being creative more than anything.
Okay, that's super interesting. What do you mean by creative?
So being in construction, you're a part of building a building. So I really got into understanding what other trades were doing as well as building my own craft. And so understanding, you know, where does power come from? What's the source of getting energy into a building and then turning that into a functional use? You know, you hit a light switch and the lights come on. But understanding how that really happened and understanding the wiring and the mechanisms involved. It allowed me to be creative. I don't think a lot of people think of construction that way. Yeah. But it's something that I really love about it.
That's very unique, like a super unique take. Yeah, I love that. So how did you go from being, you know, a day to day worker to opening your own business?
Sure. Part of that probably had to do with being a woman in construction. I just felt limited. I wasn't getting a lot of opportunities to be a manager or a supervisor. And I felt like I was starting to hit a ceiling in my position. And I wanted to offer more. I started liking it. I became really good at it.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:00
2
How did Sabrina transition from a corporate office to becoming a master electrician?
1:00–1:16
3
What about working in the trades made Sabrina say “I love the trades”?
1:16–1:19
4
How did Sabrina decide to start J. West Electric and leave her comfort zone?
1:19–2:21
5
How does Sabrina run her business day-to-day and support a 30-person team?
2:21–5:41
6
What challenges has Sabrina faced as a woman and woman of color on job sites?
5:41–11:36
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from Living Your Legacy
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