INSIGHTS Making HerStory By Marge Axelrad Monday, July 20, 2015 12:00 AM Back in the not too distant past, most women in the optical industry worked as secretaries. A small number worked in sales, or in retail stores or wholesale labs, and even fewer were eyecare professionals. That’s was about it. Job opportunities for women were limited, and career growth was difficult. Fortunately, times have changed in optical as well as in other industries, as women have overcome many barriers to advancement. Today’s optical work force is much more diverse and welcoming to women, who can now be found within every strata of our industry, from board room to exam room and beyond. In the 13 years since we first produced VM’s Most Influential Women feature, you can see how the industry has changed for women and the many roles they now play in vision care, retailing, manufacturing, distribution and designing. But new roles are emerging: bloggers like Jennifer Lyerly, OD, who has a website called Eyedolatry; Colleen Galanti, creator of Opticians on Facebook; biomedical engineer Meghan Murphy breaking the glass ceiling on the sciences with The Shop @VSP Global (at 26 she is the youngest PhD among 6,000 employees). Optical is still somewhat male dominated, except for optometry. As of 2012, the male/female split among practicing ODs was 61/39 percent. In 2022 it is likely to be 46/52 percent, according to Jobson Medical Information. The pendulum is definitely shifting. As Jenney Rivard, an instructor and licensed optician at Middlesex Community College in Middletown, Connecticut observed, “When I first started my career, most women were receptionists, rarely opticians. Now, my classrooms are primarily female, a big difference from even 10 years ago. It’s a wonderful opportunity for women as there are many different avenues that can be taken.” A final #HerStory takeaway: in telling the stories of our 40 honorees, we concluded that women are passionate, dedicated and always open to new possibilities when it comes to their optical careers. We hope once again that you enjoy this must-read report. And take a look around your practice, at your associates, co-workers and partners. Who knows, maybe next year’s Influencer is right in front of you. maxelrad@jobson.com