2026 Women in Construction: Emily Clark, Columbia

What do you wish more women knew about the opportunities available in the construction industry today? It’s easy to look at construction and think of men on-site, with hard hats on, swinging a hammer. I wish there was more talk around how many different roles are really involved in bringing a project to fruition. We miss out on bringing talented women into the industry by forgetting to highlight the different roles available, ranging from project managers to marketing to photography to legal and so much more. I started working in construction as an administrative assistant and found my way into project management after a couple of years of gleaning knowledge from everything going on around me.

What is one piece of advice or perspective you would share with women beginning their careers in the construction industry? It can be very intimidating when first starting in the AEC world. The industry is filled with smart, talented, driven individuals who have many years of experience and may come from generations of builders. While it can be very easy to shy away from asking questions for fear of looking “green,” you should take as many opportunities as you can to ask all the questions. You’ll be surprised at how many people are willing to have a quick conversation and share what they’ve learned over the years.

What habit or routine helps you stay focused or motivated during a busy week? Lists! I keep a detailed list of my deliverables to stay focused, and I break it down into a micro list each morning.