Women Thriving in Construction

Women Thriving in Construction (Ep 17) | Howard Ross

In this episode, we’re joined by Howard Ross — author, activist, and longtime leader in the field of diversity and inclusion — to explore unconscious bias and what meaningful inclusion looks like in practice. Howard challenges organizations to consider a powerful question: What if inclusion were approached with the same rigor and accountability as safety in the construction industry? Drawing from decades of experience, he shares insights on recognizing bias, strengthening leadership responsibility, and building cultures where inclusion is embedded — not optional. This conversation offers practical perspective for leaders committed to driving lasting cultural change.

Women Thriving in Construction (Ep 16) | Denise Burgess

In this episode, we’re joined by Denise Burgess, a respected construction leader and recent inductee into the National Academy of Construction, to discuss her 30-year journey as an African American woman in the industry. Denise shares candid reflections on often being the only woman of color in the room, navigating bias, and persevering through intense scrutiny — including 1,200 audits on a major project that ultimately found no wrongdoing. Her story is one of resilience, integrity, and staying grounded in your values. This conversation underscores why listening to lived experiences matters. It builds empathy, exposes unconscious bias, and strengthens leadership. Denise’s advice is powerful and practical: be true to yourself, truly hear others, and actively practice allyship.

Women Thriving in Construction (Ep 15) | Mortenson Construction Leaders Discuss Their Long-Term Investment in Women

"Start with the attitude that it's possible." Such great advice from three extraordinary leaders in the construction industry. While each of us wants to be known simply as a leader who is good at her craft, women thriving in construction requires a long-term investment in women—a vision that supports women not at the expense of men but in support of everyone—to make it work. And it requires out-of-the-box thinking. When Elizabeth came back to work thirteen years ago part time in the field it was unheard of, but it worked. The vision for this podcast began when I saw a picture of the all female Mortenson Construction winning proposal team for the Denver Summit women's professional soccer program. Men will lead and thrive on this team as well, but a long-term investment in women made it possible. Many thanks to Maya Erickson, Elizabeth Erfling, and Jessica Ostoyich for sharing your wisdom with our audience.

Women Thriving in Construction (Ep 14) | Faye Allen discusses her book, "Building Women: How Everyone In Construction Can Win."

How exciting to be joined by co-host and fellow author Brent Darnell for this amazing podcast with UK construction industry leader and author Faye Allen to discuss her book, "Building Women: How Everyone In Construction Can Win". This book is a gift to the industry.  Faye speaks from experience when describing an industry that is "not great for men either," as evidenced by UK construction suicide statistics. Two male construction workers die by suicide daily, four times the national industry average. We discuss how our culture and project pressures contribute to this staggering mental health challenge, and the importance of allyship as an "active role" in shifting this culture and supporting the success of both men and women. You can learn more here - https://fayeallen.co.uk/ [https://fayeallen.co.uk/]

Women Thriving in Construction (Ep 13) | Steve Davies and Cara Robb

In this episode, we explore how one moment of leadership accountability sparked lasting change in the pipeline industry. At an industry conference, APGA CEO Steve Davies publicly acknowledged the absence of women on a senior leader panel — and challenged the industry to do better. That moment led to the creation of the APGA Women’s Leadership Development Program, modeled after a similar initiative at the American Gas Association. The program, designed to retain and advance women in the pipeline industry, sold out its first cohort in 24 hours. Seven cohorts and 175 participants later, 90% report increased confidence, and many have experienced measurable career growth. This conversation highlights how courageous leadership and intentional investment can drive meaningful progress in inclusion and workforce development.