Celebrating Women in Construction Week 2022!

Happy International Women’s Day and Women in Construction Week (March 6-12)!

We are excited to celebrate and amplify the success and contributions of women in the construction industry. Read below for advice, insights, and words of wisdom from some women in our OpenSpace Community who are leaving their mark and showing how vital women are to building the world we live in.

THANK YOU to everyone who contributed! 
@sylvie.bouffard @jquinn @ElyseW @Rhonda @afinnerty @pschoech 

What advice would you give other women as they start out in the construction industry?
 

Do not avoid challenging projects or difficult conversations. Have the confidence to demonstrate your skills and make your voice heard. The industry needs you. It needs your capabilities, unique perspective and commitment to shape a sustainable future for the built environment. Always remember your contributions and achievements will stand for decades. And I believe there is no greater reward than to have a lasting impact on an industry that has such a significant impact on our economy and world.

What advice would you give your younger self as you were starting out as a woman in construction?
 

From the onset, be deliberate to diversify your experiences, such as:

• Who you work for: the Owner, the Construction Manager or the Contractor
• When do you join the project: in the study phase or the construction phase
• Which roles in construction do you take on: construction, controls, assurance, management, etc.

What advice would you give other women as they start out in the construction industry?

• Embrace technology to enhance capital productivity (i.e. build high quality at lower cost and more rapidly), whether as Contractors, Construction Manager, or Owner.
• Watch for the growing trend of integrated project team in which KPIs of stakeholders (Contractors, Construction Manager, and Owner) are aligned and shared

What advice would you give other women as they start out in the construction industry?
 

Being a woman in construction means challenging a male dominated profession. Because of that, confidence matters. Be confident in your knowledge and in yourself and respect will come.

What advice would you give other women as they start out in the construction industry?

Some advice I’d give to other women as they start in the construction industry would be to not ever see yourself as less capable than anyone else in the industry. People’s perception of you is solely based off your own behavior. If you behave like you’re not worthy or capable, people will perceive you that way. Same goes for being cocky and arrogant. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman. Secondly, build relationships everywhere. If you keep this in mind, you’ll turn around one day and see a network of people who support you.   

What does it mean to you to be a woman in construction?

Truthfully, I am mostly reminded by others that I am a women in construction and that it’s “a thing”. Whether it's the looks I get when I walk in the city to a job site dressed with my yellow vest and hardhat or the reaction I get when people ask me in what field I work in. It still surprises me that people are surprised…
To me, it's an environment where I can collaborate with colleagues, challenge myself intellectually and contribute to a great goal. There is always a big sense of pride amongst the team once a job is done, we are all in it together and it feels great to accomplish something that is tangible and visible by all.

What advice would you give your younger self as you were starting out as a woman in construction?

Confidence is key to growth. Not knowing things is ok as long as you have the confidence that you can learn and improve. Regardless of the industry, if you let yourself be guided by the judgement of others, you will not progress. Don’t support the unconscious biases that men can do better in this field.

What advice would you give other women as they start out in the construction industry?

It might not be fair but there is definitely still a double standard in the industry. Personality traits that we value and compliment in men are often referred to as negative when demonstrated my women. Man can be bold and assertive, which is celebrated, but women acting that way can sometimes be viewed differently. In my opinion, the key is not to mimic how men act but rather be realistic about the situation and be yourself. Because of the male dominated demographic, some women have held back their knowledge. I found that being open about what I know and also what I don't know brought the right kind of support and help especially when you show genuine interest and curiosity.
 

What advice would you give your younger self as you were starting out as a woman in construction? What advice would you give other women as they start out in the construction industry?

My advice would be…be yourself! There should be no reason to have to change your attitude or personality just to "fit in" or "prove yourself" in construction. You were hired into this industry for a reason, so embrace who you are, and continue doing what you're doing!

What advice would you give other women as they start out in the construction industry?

Relationship building is important, and doing things outside of the office like playing golf, grabbing lunch or dinner are great ways to develop relationships; however that can be challenging for some people to do, so find other ways to establish those relationships.  I have found one of the best ways to develop a relationship is to ask someone for their advice or help on a project.  The open exchange of ideas builds trust and mutual respect.
 
Be honest with yourself and with others, always. Understand your strengths, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s perfectly fine to say, “I’m not sure…but I’ll find out”. I think asking for help makes a lot of people, especially women, feel vulnerable, but I believe it shows strength and builds trust.  
 
As women in a male-dominated industry, it’s also important to mentor and advocate for each other. Women tend to take on big challenges but don’t often talk about what they did or the effort involved. When the opportunity presents itself, share those accomplishments with others in your organization. Be a role model. And of course, let others know how much you appreciate their efforts. And remember to speak up for yourself. Don’t wait for others to do the honor. If you want something, say something!

What advice would you give other women as they start out in the construction industry?

Work hard, be curious, and be confident. When you act confident, you feel confident. Women tend to believe their ideas aren’t worthy if they’re not perfect. Because of this, we often don’t speak up and put ourselves out there. Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts and observations, to be a different voice in the room. Speaking up will give you more opportunities to connect with others, ask meaningful questions, and take on new challenges.

What does it mean to you to be a woman in construction?

In construction, it's important to look for solutions from as many different angles as possible. Being a woman in construction has given me a different perspective than many of my coworkers, and I think the added diversity ultimately leads to more innovative solutions.