As part of its Women in Construction Week celebration, Touchplan recently hosted a webinar featuring MOCA/Touchplan CEO Sandy Hamby and President of the National Association of Women in Construction, Doreen Bartoldus.
Hosted by NAWIC member and podcast host Angela Highland, Sandy and Doreen had an engaging conversation about their experience and insights into how women can change the construction industry and advice for younger women in construction and how they can best grow their careers.
Some of the key takeaways from the event include:
- As a woman in construction, don’t be afraid to speak up. If you have something to say, say it. If people dismiss it, it will come back around later, and they’ll know you were right. Put yourself out there and respect yourself and all the talented people around you. You deserve to be in this profession just as everyone else, so don’t be afraid to be direct and who you are.
- For women to tap into construction, we must be able to both have and receive support for our work. Construction is just as important as anything else out there, and it’s not a default career. Especially for women, we have to find a way to show it’s an honorable, profitable line of work where a trade is as equally valuable as working in the office.
- As a woman, when someone underestimates your ability, you don’t need to explain yourself, your experience, or your background. In other words, you don’t need to read them your resume or credentials. They will figure it out; the best thing to do is move on because you know you belong there. Stay calm and let it blow itself off. Remaining calm and listening is critical but also understanding that everybody wants each other to succeed- so communicate that. If they are willing to listen, you can both learn from each other and get something out of the conversation.
If you want to listen to the entire webinar, you can find it on our website. Additionally, be sure to tune into Build.Lead.Succeed., the official podcast of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
