Women Thriving in Construction

Women Thriving in Construction (Ep 19) | Dr. Helen Lingard Discusses AUS Case Study

I'm so grateful to our collaborative partners, the Australian Constructors Association (ACA) and NAWIC Australia, and to Dr. Helen Lingard of RMIT and SHINe and her co-author Dr. Michelle Turner for sponsoring and authoring our first country-specific white paper, which highlights several initiatives to support women in construction in Australia. Helen joined us on the Women Thriving in Construction podcast to share insights from the paper, things she said even she wasn't aware were happening. Given her extensive industry experience, Helen has many insights to share that are relevant throughout the world.

Women Thriving in Construction (Ep 18) | Sam Clark

Sam Clark, CEO of Clark Construction in Lansing Michigan, candidly shares his organization's six year diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Would you like for your organization to have a 99% engagement score? Or to grow from $200 million to $500 million in three years? Understanding "dominant culture" and learning how to build an inclusive organization has women and minorities beating down their doors and has significantly contributed to these business results. As Sam states, this isn't "white male bashing". It's understanding the barriers to success that people outside of the dominant culture face, addressing these barriers through inclusivity, and unleashing the tremendous innovation of diverse organizations.

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.