Name: Eileen Flanagan

Postion: Project Manager

Company: G. Greene Construction Company, Inc.

Education: B.A. University of Notre Dame; HBX | Harvard Business School Core: Credential of Readiness

What was your first position/job in the A/E/C Industry? Owner’s assistant project manager in London, UK

Why the A/E/C Industry? I stumbled into the construction industry by accident, stayed for the paycheck, and thrived because of the dynamic challenge of the industry. My first exposure to construction was a college dormitory project in London. I spent each day on the jobsite enveloped in a swirl of organized chaos. Construction is a combination of strategic, tactical thinking blended with a practical application, resulting in a tangible accomplishment. Saying, “I built that,” is incredibly fulfilling.

If you had to choose one word to explain why you do what you do, which one most suits you? And why? Ambition is the word that best illustrates my career choice. To enjoy solving unknown challenges daily requires ambition. 

Advice/Keys to Success: Your success will be judged not on your talent, but your resiliency in the face of adversity. You will make mistakes. Repair them if possible and endeavor never to repeat them. There will be things you do not know. Embrace them. Learn them. Your abilities may be unfairly doubted. Proceed with confidence anyway. Work hard, even if no one notices.