2020 Women in Construction: Katie Gibbs, Project Executive at Shawmut Design & Construction

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? I was promoted to Project Executive about three months ago. I have put in a lot of hard work to get to this level in my career, but the best part of the promotion was hearing from all my peers along the way as I celebrated this achievement. It was especially great to hear from the younger women—who I know benefit from having a woman in the executive role to look up to. 

When I’m not working I am… Spending time with family, traveling, skiing, and winemaking!

What are you doing differently in 2020 that has had a positive impact on your career? Networking! Striking up a conversation with a stranger can be hard, but I have tried to attend industry events, volunteer, and accept lunch invitations so I can meet new people outside of my immediate circle. Sharing knowledge and experiences with new people has brought me so much joy—I recommend people give it a try.

What trends are you seeing in your field this year? Overall, I have noticed a greater focus on the employee. There is a war for talent in this industry because business is so busy. As a result, employers need to keep their employees happy and engaged. I am seeing a big focus on diversity and inclusion, work/life balance, and training. In the field, technology is key. We no longer use paper drawings for building—everything is online or in an app. 

Who or what inspired you to join the construction industry? My family built an addition on our home when I was 12 years old. I loved watching the work take place and decided to start taking drafting classes, which was where I discovered I loved engineering and problem-solving.