2019 Women in Construction: Elizabeth Cagle, Senior Inspector at CBI Consulting, LLC

Years in Current Field: 2.5

What are you doing differently in 2019 that has had a positive impact on your career? As my role has shifted into assistant project management, I have had incredible new challenges and learning experiences every day. Trying new organizational tools, though it might seem trivial, is making a noticeable difference in my success and in maintaining my sanity. I have switched from a paper to a digital to-do list, and I have started viewing my weekly planning tasks as a strategizing opportunity, rather than just a required organizational procedure. I am developing a reputation for never forgetting anything (but the key is actually to always know where to find the information you need.)

What was your first job and what did you learn from it? As a high school student, I was a part-time receptionist at my martial arts school. I learned that it is more important to engage with people than to check the tasks off my list, no matter how long the list might be! 

Which project, deal or transaction was the “game changer” in the advancement of your career during the last 10 years? A historic restoration project I currently have under construction at an Ivy League University in Boston. I have had the privilege of working under a project manager who is invested in my professional development and with clients who are excited to see me succeed. I have been involved from design development through construction documents, buy-out, and now well into construction administration over the last two years, and as an emerging professional, it is huge to have this under my belt.

Who are three women – living or dead – that you would like to have drinks with and why? To me, any woman who is killing it at her job and still raising a family in a loving home, whatever that looks like for her, is a role model. I have had the privilege to work with several such women. From my observation, moms tend to develop a grace and empathy that positively impacts their work life, and I think that’s admirable.

What were your biggest fears when you started out in your profession? I think the most daunting thing for me has been the process of actually becoming a licensed architect. Five years of school, nearly four thousand hours of work experience, and six exams feels impossible at the beginning. Now, nearly two-thirds of the way through, I am learning to focus on just the next step and celebrate milestones completed.