Celebrating Women in Construction on International Women’s Day
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women account for just one out of every 100 workers in the construction field. Women in Construction (WIC) Week aims to raise awareness of this and to highlight women as a viable component of the industry. WIC Week also provides an occasion to raise awareness of the opportunities available and to emphasize the growing role of women in construction.
To mark the occasion last year, HPM hosted HPM Talks: Women in Construction, a webinar that brought together a panel of HPM women leaders to discuss why they pursued careers in the industry, and the successes and challenges they have experienced along the way. The panel explored the power of mentorships, managing work/life balance, and why having a seat at the table as a woman matters now more than ever. A recording of the webinar is available here.
Looking to the Future
If we wish to encourage women to seek opportunities in construction, it is essential that we challenge career stereotypes and share the stories of those who are succeeding in the industry. This year, we’re highlighting two of our newest female HPMers. Project Controls Engineer Anusree Saseendran joined our team full-time after completing a project controls internship with HPM and receiving a Ph.D. in construction management from Texas A&M University in 2021. Project Engineer Chloe Russell-Vernon joined us after completing a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Alabama in 2021. Anusree and Chloe are excelling in their roles and leading the way for more young women to follow. Keep reading to hear their take on how the industry can continue to attract more women in the future.
What led you to a career in construction program management?
Anusree: I love the service aspect of construction program management. It is rewarding to see the real-time impact of your work in terms of the value you are providing the clients. I get to use a broad range of skills from data analysis to communication and no two days are ever the same!
Chloe: I began college with the dream of becoming a structural engineer. During my sophomore year, I accepted a co-op position with a general contractor. I wanted to explore my options and see what the construction industry had to offer. During my second and third co-op rotations, I worked with project management teams on large industrial projects. These projects are where my love for construction grew. This was also where I gained my first exposure to HPM and was able to see the value program management provides for clients and construction projects. Ultimately, this exposure led to my decision to pursue a master’s degree in construction engineering and a full-time career in program management.
What is the best advice a female mentor or colleague has given you and how has it motivated you in your career?
Anusree: Don’t hesitate to seek help when you need it. My mentor in grad school told me this when she realized that I had been struggling quietly with something in my research for a while. She told me that there are always people willing to help us and that it is up to us to take the initiative to find them and ask them for help. As someone who is relatively new to the construction industry, asking for help has led to facilitating my development and improving my resilience by finding better strategies to cope with challenging situations (which I couldn’t have done on my own).
Chloe: It sounds cliché, but the best advice a female mentor has given me is to never give up. There were so many times during my college career that I didn’t perform as well as I wanted and wanted to quit engineering school. However, this advice always kept me going and got me through to the finish line. I would not be in my current career without this valuable advice.
How do you think the industry can attract more female candidates?
Anusree: This is something that I have extensively researched during my master’s and doctoral education. Having a positive role model in the industry that they can relate to has been found to be the most impactful strategy to attract more women. This is highly effective in undoing the stigmas associated with a construction career. I have found this true on a personal level, too. Seeing women not just surviving in this industry, but thriving in it has been invaluable in motivating me to enter the construction industry. To this end, it is also important to mentor those who are just starting out or who may be considering a career in construction.
Chloe: I believe that the continuation of female spotlights throughout the industry will help to attract more female candidates. It can be difficult for a young woman to visualize herself in a field where there are not many female role models. I also think that providing a more welcoming environment for women may help in recruiting female candidates. Inclusion is a problem in the industry. Women don’t always get invited to the golf outings or fishing trips that often come along with working with a project team. I think it is vital to include women on any form of team bonding in order to provide a more welcoming environment.
What is one piece of advice you would share with another woman who is interested in starting a career in the industry?
Anusree: Track your accomplishments and own your accomplishments! Women often tend to minimize their contributions, most likely because they have been socially conditioned to do so. It is important to trust yourself and be conscious of the value that you bring to whatever you do.
Chloe: One piece of advice I would give to a young woman starting her career is to be confident. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you have an idea, put yourself out there if a new opportunity arises, or take accountability for a job well done. If you want to wear a pink hard hat in a field dominated by men – do it! Always be confident and be yourself!
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