2021 Women in Construction: Brittany Corbett, Project Manager, Columbia

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? My greatest professional achievement has been working my way up from an assistant project manager to a project manager. Besides managing my projects these days, I’ve gotten to oversee and assist others with their projects. I enjoy teaching others and working to help them achieve their goals.

What are you most looking forward to post-pandemic? In-person social interaction! While I think we’ve adapted well to going virtual, there is nothing better than that an in- person conversation with someone. Getting to see and experience their body language makes all the difference.

How have you adapted and changed in the last 12 months? I recently became a first-time mom, so that has brought on a whole bunch of new changes. Besides the obvious, I’ve had to learn how to maintain a healthy work-life balance which is especially hard when we work where we live these days. I set new limits for myself that I thought would set me back at first, but they have challenged me to do more and be better.

What steps have you taken to ensure the continued success of your firm? After COVID hit, it became truly obvious to me how life can change in a matter of an instant. From then on, I realized how much a difference it made just reaching out to both new and old clients to see how they are doing, whether professionally or even personally. I think doing that helped clients realize I/Columbia was there for them.

Why should women consider a career in construction? Being a woman in construction has challenged me in so many ways. And while that sounds overwhelming, it’s exhilarating. Every day brings a new challenge that I want to work to overcome. There is nothing more satisfying than tackling a challenge headfirst and being successful!
Starting out in the construction business, who or what empowered you? Working alongside some of the women who have paved the way for other women in construction empowered me. They are such an inspiration and empower me to continue to help pave the way for many more women to come!