In this episode, Dr. Giovanna Brasfield (Popularly known as Dr. G), the CEO and Principal Consultant at Brasfield Associates, discusses her journey in the construction industry, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Dr. G is an award-winning diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) advocate and changemaker with over 18 years of experience in leadership consulting and DEI program development, training, education, and outreach for the construction industry and construction-related trades. At Brassfield & Associates, she offers inclusive strategies for large infrastructure projects ..read more

In this episode, Beth Tubbs, the Chief Fire Protection Engineer at ICC, shares her journey of growth, both personally and professionally, within the construction and engineering sectors.  She delves into the significance of building codes for public safety and energy efficiency, her role in developing these codes, and how she finds purpose in her work.  Beth also discusses the impact of attending an Ambition Theory workshop, which catalyzed her to take bold steps towards leadership within her organization and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.  Her story is a testament to ..read more

In this episode, Kathryn Payne, a Project Executive with LeChase Construction, shares her inspiring journey in the construction sector. Kathryn fell in love with the field early on at Clemson University, and her passion for problem-solving and creating has driven her career. Sponsors have played a crucial role in Kathryn's growth, facilitating opportunities for her and others. She believes in investing in and empowering future leaders through sponsorship. During our conversation, Kathryn delves into the launch and impact of the Employee Resource Group for Women at LeChase. This group actively ..read more

Getting more women into leadership roles is important for every industry but especially for manufacturing. The sector lags behind others in terms of representation, particularly in the C-Suite. What does it take to attract women to the industrial space? What can companies do to retain these women? What guidance do current women leaders have for the next generation to improve their chances for a successful career in manufacturing? Kristin Graybill shares the results of the Manufacturers Alliance Research report called In Her Own Words: Breaking The Glass Ceiling Is Good For Business.   ..read more

Sponsorship is one of the most powerful tools to advance women in the construction industry. Once you learn about this concept, it’s easy to want to implement it. But it isn’t always straightforward. There’s no sign-up sheet or 3-step plan; it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Rachael Ferrera from Zachry Construction unpacks how sponsorship has shown up for her over her 15-year career - even though she couldn’t recognize it then. She shares how she’s intentionally leveraging these relationships and sponsoring the next generation of leaders.  Highlights  How sponsorship creates ..read more

There’s a labor shortage in the construction industry today, which has started a trend of companies wanting to attract more women. While the motivation may have started with getting more people in the door, the truth is that women bring a ton of value to the industry. Today, much of this value is untapped and isn’t leveraged. Dr. Tim Taylor from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) talks about the findings of their research report In her own words: improving project outcomes.  Highlights  The value that women bring to the job site.  How women ..read more

The best way to start implementing sponsorship as a tool to advance women is to start by modeling sponsorship behaviors. Cultural transformation is really about behavior change, and all it takes is one person to start, and others will follow.  This episode is an excerpt from Ambition Theory and the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Building Better Report.   Highlights:   The mindset shift from mentorship to sponsorship  What sponsorship behavior looks like  The quick wins companies can get when they start implementing thes ..read more

Investing in your women employees' leadership development is an excellent retention tool. But knowing what kind of training you should invest in can get overwhelming.  Andrea Janzen reads a Forbes Coaches Council article in this episode to show you the difference between 1:1 and group coaching.  Highlights:   The difference between coaching and traditional leadership training   The outcomes you can expect when you invest in coaching  How to set up employees for success in a coaching program  Links:  Download the Building Better Report htt ..read more

Transactional leadership involves providing direction, giving praise, and offering critical feedback. On the other hand, transformational leadership involves sharing a vision and inspiring people to contribute to that vision. In the construction industry, you need to leverage both styles of leadership.  Andrea Janzen reads a Forbes Coaches Council article in this episode to show you how to leverage your transformational leadership skills to motivate your team.  Highlights:   Why do employees not take initiative  The difference between internal and external motivat ..read more

In 2019, Andrea Janzen wrote a series of articles in the Forbes Coaches Council about the difference between sponsorship and mentorship. The hypothesis then was that sponsorship, not mentorship, would become the answer to advancing women in the construction industry. Fast forward to today, and Ambition Theory and the National Center for Construction Education and Research have quantitative research that validates this. In this episode, Andrea Janzen shares how you can start implementing sponsorship at your company.  Highlights:   The difference between sponsorship and mentorsh ..read more