What does it take for women leaders to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated industry?
At Hope Plumbing, Heating, Cooling of Indianapolis, it’s a culture built on trust, flexibility and the belief that talented people shouldn’t have to choose between professional growth and the rest of their lives. That philosophy has helped women across the organization grow into leadership roles while helping shape the future of the company, which has more than doubled in size in the past five years.
While many of Hope’s women leaders don’t work in the trades themselves, they are in an industry that has historically been dominated by men. Women make up just 2% of plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters nationwide. At Hope, opportunities exist for women across every part of the business – including marketing, operations, and customer experience – that help strengthen the company, broaden perspectives and build a culture where people can succeed.
“The home services industry has traditionally been male-dominated, which is exactly why representation matters,” says Stephanie Capouch, Chief Marketing Officer at Hope. “When women see other women leading, making decisions and having a voice at the table, it expands what’s possible. I’m proud to work on a team that invites and empowers women to help shape the future of the company.”
A Culture of Belonging
Brand Creative Manager Colleen Lotz has grown alongside Hope—and credits much of that growth to the culture around her. Lotz joined Hope in 2019 as a freelance content creator when the company had roughly 50 employees. She was hired full-time in 2021 and has grown alongside the organization ever since.
“There has never been a moment at Hope where I felt like I had to prove that I deserved to be here because I was a woman,” Lotz said. “My work is appreciated. My ideas are valued. People celebrate each other’s successes.”
That sense of belonging has shaped her leadership journey. After nearly two decades working in male-dominated industries, including sports media, Lotz says Hope stands apart because of the trust leaders place in their people.
“They’ve given me the freedom to create,” she said. “I think sometimes people are afraid to take risks or ask for help because they think they should already know everything. But the best leaders I’ve worked with have always been willing to share what they know and let their teams experiment. And if something doesn’t work, we try something new.”
She encourages younger women to seek mentors, ask questions and resist the urge to figure everything out alone.
“Don’t try to prove yourself on your own,” she said.
A New Definition of Success
That support extends beyond professional development. As a mother of three, Lotz remembers feeling pressure early in her career to separate her personal life from her professional one. Over time, she realized the strongest workplaces – ones like Hope – recognize employees are people first.
“We know what needs to get done [at our company],” Lotz said. “It doesn’t really matter where it gets done.”
Whether it’s attending a doctor’s appointment, volunteering at school, or showing up for a child’s softball game, Colleen and other Hope employees are trusted to balance their responsibilities while continuing to deliver results. That flexibility has shaped Lotz’s understanding of ambition.
“In your twenties, you think you’re going to rule the world,” she said. “In your thirties, you’re raising kids and trying to survive. In your forties, your priorities shift again.”
The quality of her work hasn’t changed. But her definition of success has. Today, ambition looks different than before for Colleen. It’s become less about chasing a title and more about finding alignment between meaningful work, family, and personal fulfillment.
A Message for Indianapolis Women
This perspective resonates beyond Hope’s walls and into the Indianapolis community. Lotz believes Indianapolis is a uniquely supportive place for women building careers because of the people willing to share advice, make introductions, and help others succeed.
“There are so many people here who genuinely want to see each other win,” she said. “My hope for other women is that they embrace that support system: Ask for the promotion; seek out new opportunities; find your advocates.”
At Hope, leaders are working to create a culture where those opportunities exist and where women feel empowered to pursue them. For Lotz, that’s what leadership means: helping others grow, supporting people through different seasons of life and creating environments where individuals can succeed without sacrificing who they are.
For women who feel underestimated or uncertain about what’s next, her message is simple:
“You’re doing your best. Keep doing your best. Take care of yourself. Support other women. Find something you love.”
Before sending an opportunity down the drain because it doesn’t look the way you expected, take a closer look.
Sometimes the best opportunities—and the best places to work—are hiding in places you never thought to look, including the plumbing industry.
This content was created in partnership with Hope Plumbing.
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