What were your biggest fears when you started out in your profession? Failing and not being able to grasp all aspects of my position. I overcame these fears by asking questions and accomplishing small tasks, rather than getting overwhelmed by the big picture.
What are you doing differently in 2019 that has had a positive impact on your career? In 2019, I am making the conscious decision to not ask for permission to do the right thing. Whether it’s making a definitive decision in the field or setting up a training session with junior staff, I’m just doing it. “See a need, fill a need.”
What was your first job and what did you learn from it? I worked for a masonry contractor in Boston, where I quickly learned how few female voices there are in this trade and how important mastering a clear, deliberate, informed voice is when striving for success. Establishing my voice didn’t happen overnight—especially as a newly-graduated project manager—but once I found it, it was a serious game changer.
What are you doing differently in 2019 that has had a positive impact on your career? I think one of the most important things you can do to maintain a successful career is to keep learning. I have made a big effort over the past few years to learn about a new technology or system on every project.
How many years have you been in your current field? 13
What are you doing differently in 2019 that has had a positive impact on you...
What were your biggest fears when you started out in your profession? My biggest fear when I started out was failing because I was going into a field I had never worked in. Erland really took the time to foster my learning and allowed me to embrace all of the future opportunities that were presented to me in this role. Having that support has made me truly successful in my position.
What are you doing differently in 2019 that has had a positive impact on your career? I think really taking the time to acknowledge your personal wins has a huge, positive impact on your career. It’s not that you need to humble, brag, or toot your own horn, but you should never downplay your success at work.
What was your first job and what did you learn from it? My first job out of Wentworth Institute of Technology was working with a concrete contractor in Staten Island. It was not my ideal career choice, but the market was weak at the time. After working in the trailer for a few months, I was let go and scrambling to find a new job.
What were your biggest fears when you started out in your profession? I think, like most women in construction, I feared I wouldn’t get the respect I deserved and that in this male-dominated industry, I wouldn’t be taken seriously. I also feared that becoming a mom three times over would somehow interfere with how I’d be looked at by some of my peers.
What was your first job and what did you learn from it? I started working in my family’s construction business at a young age. I would work on miscellaneous residential and commercial projects with my dad and my papa, whether it be brickwork, tiling, framing, or demolition.
