Listening to Leaders—How AEC Women Grow Their Career Pathways
Publication: Construction Research Congress 2024
ABSTRACT
Through semi-structured interviews with 20 women leaders, vice president (VP) and above, from top architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms, researchers explored career path progression. This study sought to investigate root causes for women’s AEC underrepresentation by gleaning insights from the experiences, successes, and challenges during their climb up the corporate ladder. Understanding the richness of individual journeys, researchers selected narrative inquiry to explore underlying themes and generate a career road map for early and mid-career women. NVIVO software facilitated qualitative analysis of the resultant compiled corpus of information, identifying common topics and industry best practices to promote diversity. Sharing successful initiatives with firms throughout the industry expands the long-term focus from initial recruiting through long-term career nurturing for women. Study participants noted assembling a supportive personal network and identifying early career mentors as key success factors. Firms wishing to differentiate themselves and gain the proven benefits of diversity, highlighted by better business outcomes and greater innovation, should invest in diversity programs. Successful initiatives include creating a culture that nurtures women throughout their careers and tailoring more inclusive recruiting programs.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
REFERENCES
Alaa, A. M., Ahuja, K., and Van Der Schaar, M. (2018). A micro-foundation of social capital in evolving social networks. IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1109/TNSE.2017.2729782.
Archibald, M. M., Ambagtsheer, R. C., Casey, M. G., and Lawless, M. (2019). Using Zoom Videoconferencing for Qualitative Data Collection: Perceptions and Experiences of Researchers and Participants. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919874596.
Associated Builders and Contractors. (2022). ABC: Construction Industry Faces Workforce Shortage of 650,000 in 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.abc.org/News-Media/News-Releases/entryid/19255/abc-construction-industry-faces-workforce-shortage-of-650-000-in-2022.
Barth, J. M., Dunlap, S., and Chappetta, K. (2016). The influence of romantic partners on women in stem majors. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 75(3-4), 110–125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-016-0596-z.
Besen-Cassino, Y., and Cassino, D. (2014). Division of house chores and the curious case of cooking: The effects of earning inequality on house chores among dual-earner couples. AG About Gender-Rivista internazionale di studi di genere, 3(6). Retrieved from: https://riviste.unige.it/aboutgender/article/view/176.
Blickenstaff, J. C. (2005). Women and science careers: leaky pipeline or gender filter? Gender and Education, 17(4), 369–386.
Consoli, S. (2021). Uncovering the hidden face of narrative analysis: a reflexive perspective through maxqda. System, 102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102611.
Dierckx de Casterlé, B., Gastmans C., Bryon, E., and Denier Y. (2012). QUAGOL: A guide for qualitative data analysis, International Journal of Nursing Studies, Volume 49, Issue 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.09.012.
Hickey, P. J., and Cui, Q. (2020). Gender diversity in us construction industry leaders. Journal of Management in Engineering, 36(5). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000838.
Hickey, P. J., Erfani, A., and Cui, Q. (2022). Use of linkedin data and machine learning to analyze gender differences in construction career paths. Journal of Management in Engineering, 38(6). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0001087.
Kanter, R. M. (1981). Power, leadership, and participatory management. Theory into Practice, 20(4), 219–224. Retrieved from: https://www-jstor-org.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/stable/pdf/1476662.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3Aa26bf0bd6631811f7bc17c22fb72fa77.
Kanter, R. M. (1993). Men and women of the corporation (1993rd ed.). BasicBooks.
Knowles, J., and Mainiero, L. (2021). Authentic Talent Development in Women Leaders Who Opted Out: Discovering Authenticity, Balance, and Challenge through the Kaleidoscope Career Model. Administrative Sciences. 11(2):60. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci11020060.
Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., and Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45(1), 79–122. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1994.1027.
Lent, R. W., and Brown, S. D. (2019). Social cognitive career theory at 25: empirical status of the interest, choice, and performance models. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2019.06.004.
Madsen, S. R., Townsend, A., and Scribner, R. T. (2020). Strategies that male allies use to advance women in the workplace. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 28(3), 239–259. https://doi.org/10.1177/1060826519883239.
Miles, M. B., and Huberman, A. M. (1984). Qualitative data analysis: A sourcebook of new methods. Sage Publishing.
Poletti-Hughes, J., and Briano-Turrent, G. C. (2019). Gender diversity on the board of directors and corporate risk: a behavioural agency theory perspective. International Review of Financial Analysis, 62, 80–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2019.02.004.
Polkinghorne, D. E. (1995). Narrative configuration in qualitative analysis. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 8(1), 5–5.
Prior, M. (2018). Accomplishing “rapport” in qualitative research interviews: Empathic moments in interaction. Applied Linguistics Review, 9(4), 487–511. https://doi-org.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/10.1515/applirev-2017-0029.
Pritchard, S., and Miles, E. (2018). “Where are the Women in Major Projects Leadership?”, Association of Project Management, September 2018.
Ross, M. S., Huff, J. L., and Godwin, A. (2021). Resilient engineering identity development critical to prolonged engagement of black women in engineering. Journal of Engineering Education, 110(1), 92–113. https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20374.
Saldaña, J. (2021). The coding manual for qualitative researchers. The coding manual for qualitative researchers, Sage Publishing.
Seibert, S. E., Kraimer, M. L., and Liden, R. C. (2001). A social capital theory of career success. The Academy of Management Journal, 44(2), 219–237. Retrieved from: https://www-jstor-org.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/stable/pdf/3069452.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A0cf9a8e57b4c837d79126f52411d2e1a.
Turner, M., Holdsworth, S., Scott-Young, C. M., and Sandri, K. (2021). Resilience in a hostile workplace: the experience of women onsite in construction. Construction Management and Economics, 39(10), 839–852. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2021.1981958.
Verniers, C., and Vala, J. (2018). Justifying gender discrimination in the workplace: the mediating role of motherhood myths. Plos One, 13(1), 0190657. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190657.
Wadia-Fascetti, S., and Leventman, P. G. (2000). E-mentoring: a longitudinal approach to mentoring relationships for women pursuing technical careers. Journal of Engineering Education, 89(3), 295–300. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2000.tb00528.x.
Williams, D., and Wade-Golden, K. (2007). The chief diversity officer. Cupa HR Journal, 58(1), 38. Retrieved from: https://drdamonawilliams.com/wp-content/uploads/DAW_KWG_CDO_What_IS.pdf.
Zhang, R. P., Holdsworth, S., Turner, M., and Andamon, M. M. (2021). Does gender really matter? A closer look at early career women in construction. Construction Management and Economics, 39(8), 669–686. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2021.1948087.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
History
Published online: Mar 18, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.