As with every year, Gilbane business units throughout the country are holding events, webinars, discussions, and celebrations focused on highlighting the many contributions of women to our business.
However, given the unprecedented events of the past two years, the ongoing fall out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the “Great Resignation,” does Women in Construction Week look the same?
A Changing Workforce
Women are leading the “Great Resignation.” According to the Labor Department, a record 4.4 million people quit their jobs in September 2021 and women have exited the labor force at twice the rate that men have; their participation in the paid labor force is now the lowest it has been in more than 30 years.
Additionally, a recent Qualtrics survey revealed that women leaders are more likely to leave their positions, citing burnout and lack of appropriate support as the main contributing factors.
Given this post-pandemic workforce shift, employers are not only seeking new avenues to attract top talent but also re-thinking the means and methods of employee engagement and retention.
A Focus on Self-Advocacy and Equity
WIC Week aims to highlight the many opportunities for women in the construction industry, from field and trade positions, to legal, to accounting, and business development. However, this year also provided the stage for a focus on a more holistic approach to employee well-being and engagement, as well as economic inclusion. The programing scheduled throughout this week is driven by the members of empoWer, our internal employee resource group (ERG) dedicated to the advancement of women. This employee-led insight into appropriate and meaningful programming is invaluable as it ensures the greatest impact.
To kick off the week, guest speaker Ilhiana Rojas Saldana, founder and CEO of BeLive Coaching provided a workshop on Self-Advocacy with Confidence. Throughout the hour-long session, Ilhiana presented mind-shifting strategies to help participants learn to self-advocate with confidence and authenticity to raise visibility, increase influence, and achieve career advancement.
Tactics presented included:
- Set Your Vision – What does your future look like? Whether it be the next six months or five years, women are encouraged to think about where they want to go and what success looks like.
- Embrace Your Value – Sometimes, people struggle to recognize and articulate their value. Due to many factors, including societal influences and biases, this can be especially true for women. Take the time to self-assess and realize the value you bring to the organization.
- Elevate Your Voice – If you don’t elevate your voice, you become the best-kept secret!
- Expand Your Network!
To close out the week on Friday, the empower ERG is also hosting a panel of women small business owners from all over the country. This diverse group of women will discuss their business successes, challenges, and personal stories.
Panelists include:
Ana Diaz – President & Owner | Diaz Electric of NY Inc.
Rosemily Geyer – President & CEO | Geyer Fire Protection, LLC
Gloria Shealey – President & CEO | The Daniele Company
In keeping with the theme of self-advocacy and equity, as well as being an advocate for others, empoWer will be launching our mentorship program later this month. Stay tuned for more information!
