Ep. 145: Amy Underwood (The Digger Girl): One of the Industry’s Best

CONEXPO – CON/AGG Podcast: Construction Business Insights For Contractors

Amy Underwood, widely recognized as the_digger_girl, brings her charismatic and insightful perspective to her conversation with Taylor here today. Amy, a plant operator hailing from Scotland, shares her remarkable journey within the construction industry, transcending traditional gender stereotypes and championing blue-collar careers for both women and men. Her narrative underscores the vital importance of representation for women in construction, an industry often dominated by men, and she passionately advocates for introducing construction as a viable career choice at an early age, fostering diversity, and challenging outdated perceptions. She also delves into the unique challenges women face when balancing motherhood with a career in construction, emphasizing the need for supportive policies within the industry.

Amy's expertise extends to her work with various brands of machines, including Kubota and Hyundai, where she harnesses the transformative power of tilt rotator attachments. Together with Taylor, she explores the diverse applications of heavy machinery, from residential construction to handling different terrains and ground materials. Their conversation spans geographical challenges, technological advancements, competition, and collaboration within the construction industry. Additionally, Amy provides valuable insights into content creation and the intricacies of managing a prominent social media presence alongside her fulfilling career. You will definitely want to tune in to this special episode here today that not only illuminates the dynamic world of heavy machinery and construction, but addresses some key components that will prove crucial to ensuring the continued success of the construction industry itself in the future.

Topics:

• Amy's exceptional success in a male-dominated construction industry
• Her family roots in construction
• Amy's unintentional rise on social media platforms
• The importance of introducing construction as a viable career option to young minds
• The unique challenges women face when balancing motherhood with construction careers
• The transformative influence of tilt rotators in construction
• Diverse applications of heavy machinery
• Technological advancements and collaboration

Quotes:

"I just started posting digger pictures on a digger girl page because none of my friends were interested there."

"Young girls have got parents who let their kids watch me on TikTok and YouTube, and they know that they can do that, and that is an opportunity."

"I honestly think we need to get into schools from a younger age and show that a job in construction is an opportunity for boys or girls."

"I didn't know any other female in Scotland that I knew of who ran excavators. There's plenty of truck drivers, but no excavator drivers."

"It's not all glam. It's not all sitting in a nice brand new 50-ton Hyundai, getting pictures taken. You've got to get your hands dirty and get stuck in about it."

"The love for blue collar, it's got to be there. You’ve got to love it."

"I think it should be totally fair for that and make it a bit easier for women who do have kids."

"I love all platforms for different reasons - I love YouTube the most because I can show the most on that."

Links:

• Taylor White on LinkedIn
• To see highlights from the 2023 show, go to: https://www.conexpoconagg.com/show-experience/show-highlights
• Komatsu Homepage
• Amy's Linktree