Women in Construction Paving the Way

As a woman in the construction industry, are you afraid to speak up?

Susan: In my experience, women are often afraid to speak up to the men on the team, as well as afraid to go to the other women in the field. Women often find other women to be competitive and become worried of what their teammates will think of them asking questions. More recently, I have seen more and more women feeling confident in their abilities. Women are speaking up and asking questions and in my opinion, this is how you become successful in construction.

How do you view the construction industry and how have you seen it change over time?

LeAnn: I’ve seen more and more women fill positions that were traditionally filled by men whether that be project managers, field supervisors, operations managers or IT. There has been tremendous growth. It took me about 5-10 years of working to prove myself and earn respect from my team. I’m now recognized as a force within our business. 

Marie: I’ve seen women bring a different perspective to business conversations. I think doors are really opening for women because managers are beginning to realize that diversity, including gender, is a good thing to have in construction. Women are good at bringing shades of gray and creativity to questions. It’s the different perspectives that are good and that are shaking things up and I think that’s all positive.

How have you seen the construction industry change as a result of technology? How is this going to support women in the industry?

Susan: Technology is working to help the construction industry create less waste and develop safer work environments for employees. The increase in technology use is also encouraging more and more women to pursue STEM degrees. There’s just so much more to offer for women in construction.

Marie: From my perspective of working with software and data, I think that it’s all about collaboration and about eliminating fragmentation that exists between departments and between the office and field. There are an infinite number of ways to get involved if you’re a tech minded person whether that be tech support, specialist in data and reporting, or cybersecurity. If you’re into software development, there’s a growing vertical market in construction software. Help us bring the office and the field together!

What advice do you have for young women just starting out in the industry?

Susan: Be brave and take opportunities, don’t sit around and wait for them. Also, be verbal and share your opinion. It’s important that you speak up and advocate for yourself. Don’t be afraid to take a chance because you won’t grow without pain and sometimes you just need to take a jump.

Marie: Don’t worry too much about what others think. Set your own path and adjust as necessary, but don’t let others throw you off. Work on being a good listener, it will give you a competitive advantage. Listening is an essential step to understanding processes and solving problems, and it’s important to being a great leader.

LeAnn: It takes a team and fostering a team is so important. Everyone should be working and collaborating together. So continue learning and always keep growing. Don’t accept the status quo, shine with your knowledge and continue moving forward.