What do you enjoy most about working on our CHoP project?
I love thinking about the impact this new hospital is going to have on the community once it’s completed. I’ve had friends take their children to a CHoP campus and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about their experience. Delivering this hospital for families and future generations to come is a great feeling.
What is the proudest moment of your career?
On my last project—Inspira Leading Edge Cancer Center in Mullica Hill, New Jersey—we had to turn over a LINAC vault two months before substantial completion so that Inspira could begin moving in their equipment. We worked directly with the physicist to hit our deadline and actually received a signed letter from her “blessing” our work. That was a great feeling.
What does success look like for you?
To me, success means delivering high-quality work on time and within budget with a top-notch team. Coming to work and enjoying what you’re doing and who you’re working with is so important.
Do you see more women entering the construction field today?
Yes. The first two or three jobs I was on, I was usually the only woman on the jobsite. There was maybe one other female trade worker. Today, we have five women in our CHoP field office and many more on our jobsite.
What led you to pursue a career in the construction industry?
I was going to school for architecture and was working for a construction consulting firm. I realized that, despite my love for design, I needed to be involved in construction. I’m sure watching This Old House as a kid probably had some influence over my career choice as well.
What advice would you give young women interested in joining the construction industry?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take advantage of opportunities to be out in the field. Internships and working in the trades is a great way to start.
How is Skanska creating a culture of diversity in the construction industry?
Skanska is striving to bring diversity to all of our teams and subcontractors. Through their outreach to minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE), mentor programs, and their D&I program, Skanska is continuously opening their doors to new ideas and individuals.
What does success look like for you?
When a project is complete, and the owner and end-users are happy with the result, I consider that a huge success. Success can also take the form of small victories, like when a plan works or you’re able to truly learn from a mistake.
What do you enjoy most about working on our CHoP project?
I enjoy that CHoP consists of both new construction and renovation work. Being next to an active facility creates logistical challenges, but seeing the CHoP patients, parents, nurses and doctors also provides daily motivation.
What do you enjoy most about working in construction?
It’s probably cheesy, but learning something new every day. There are so many things that I never learned about in school that I’m challenged by in my job. I’m constantly absorbing new things throughout the day from my teammates, the crews and the design team.
Have you overcome any specific challenges working in a male-dominated industry?
Besides cutting through some initial comments—like shutting down the “dears” and “sweethearts”—I believe the same challenges are presented for any newcomer starting out in construction. In this industry, I’ve found that age and experience carry more weight than gender.
What does success look like for you?
Having positive, trusting and respectful working relationships with my Skanska teammates, subcontractors and clients.
What do you enjoy most about working in construction?
The people you meet. I’ve only worked on two projects so far and some of the people I’ve gotten to work with are great. They have the wildest stories, and it’s always really interesting to see where someone started out and the journey they took to get where they are now. It shows there’s nothing but opportunities out there.
Have you overcome any specific challenges working in a male-dominated industry?
I’ve had to remember that my age doesn’t mean that I don’t have something to add to the conversation. Sometimes when you’re in a room full of people who’ve been doing this much longer than you have, it makes it hard to speak up out of fear or nervousness. In those moments, I remember the phrase “closed mouths don’t get fed,” and that applies to pretty much everything. Most of the people I’ve met are very generous with what they know and what they’ve seen, so I have to remind myself to take advantage of their experience.
What advice would you give young women interested in joining the construction industry?
Construction may seem daunting because it’s so male dominated, but there’s always room for young, smart women in this industry. We bring a different mindset and perspective to the table that’s sometimes lacking because it’s such a one-sided industry gender wise.
How is Skanska creating a culture of diversity in the construction industry?
We’ve been working on rolling out new and improved vendor diversity programs, which is an excellent way to attract and work with new subcontractors we don’t have much experience with. Within our Blue Bell, Pennsylvania office, we’ve created a focused D&I team to expand the ways we talk about and consider those topics. I think especially over the last year and going forward the importance of both those initiatives will continue to grow.
What is the biggest benefit of having a diverse project team?
Having a diverse project team with different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences can be really helpful on a jobsite. Everyone can learn from one another, which can lead to unique solutions and a great environment.
What advice would you give young women interested in joining the construction industry?
To young women out there who are interested in pursuing a career in construction: have confidence, ask a lot of questions and just be yourself.
What does success look like for you?
To me, success means achieving all the goals I set out to achieve for myself.