Powered by courage. Fueled by curiosity. Built by girls.
Mission: Inspire. Educate. Empower.
Power Tools & Pony Tails was created to expose more girls to the trades, teach them they can do anything they set their minds to, and show them they’re just as capable of building, fixing, and leading.
Girls are often more detail-oriented, careful, and agile—traits that make them incredibly well-suited for skilled work.
Even back in the 1970s, my father knew women made some of the best operators on fast factory equipment. He made sure their work environment was safe, respectful, and welcoming—long before it was popular to do so.
Today, we’re continuing that legacy: equipping young girls with the confidence to build futures that are every bit as bold as they are.
— Heather C. Gastelum, Founder of Cowgirl Capable™
Discover the Power Tools & Pony Tails Series
Every building you walk into, every road you drive on, every phone call you make—it all exists because skilled people built it.
The skilled trades are careers where people use tools, training, and problem-solving to build, fix, and maintain the world. These jobs are in high demand, pay well, and can lead to leadership roles, business ownership, and lifelong careers.
And yes—girls belong here too.
Upcoming books:
- Wendy the Welder
- Fiona the Fabricator
- Callie the Crane Operator
- Randi the Rebar
- Reinforcer
- Daisy the Drywall Rocker
- Tammy the Truck Driver
- Taylor the Tower Tech
- Ella the Electrician
…and more strong, capable women working in the trades.
Book Highlights
Each book dives deeper into:
- What the job is really like
- Why safety matters
- How confidence is built
- And how girls can see themselves in these careers
Dream it. Build it. Own it — that’s what Hard Hat Girls™ do.
Hard Hat Girls™ champions girls who build, fix, create, and lead in the skilled trades — fields traditionally dominated by men — by showcasing real‑world role models and career paths with safety, confidence, and girl power at the core. These stories empower girls to see themselves in non‑traditional roles and give them language and confidence to want those careers.
What our readers say
Hear from those who’ve read our series
About the Author
Heather C. Gastelum grew up learning how to use tools in her father’s fabrication shop and spent over 30 years working in male-dominated industries, including construction and telecommunications.
She began her career in the field building cell sites, later worked in commercial construction, and eventually returned to telecom in leadership roles managing towers, safety programs, inspections, and construction teams across the United States.
Through the Hard Hat Girls brand and the Power Tools & Pony Tails book series, Heather’s goal is simple:
Because every girl’s story starts somewhere.
Heather is also the founder of Cowgirl Capable, a women’s empowerment brand focused on confidence, safety, and skill-building.
About the Author
Heather C. Gastelum grew up learning how to use tools in her father’s fabrication shop and spent over 30 years working in male-dominated industries, including construction and telecommunications.
She began her career in the field building cell sites, later worked in commercial construction, and eventually returned to telecom in leadership roles managing towers, safety programs, inspections, and construction teams across the United States.
Heather is also the founder of Cowgirl Capable, a women’s empowerment brand focused on confidence, safety, and skill-building.
Through the Hard Hat Girls brand and the Power Tools & Ponytails book series, Heather’s goal is simple:
Because every girl’s story starts somewhere.
Real women. Real tools. Real stories of strength and skill.
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