Laurie Jimenez, SIS LLC Principal Lead for Construction Solutions
Today THESIS Q&A features Laurie Jimenez, SIS LLC Principal Lead for Construction Solutions and former North America Women in Construction (NAWIC) Regional Director, on the topic of women in construction. Women in construction is a widely documented conversation around many polarizing issues like personal protection equipment. In this article, we are going to take a fresh look at why only 3.9% of women are in construction and spotlight a new career path option. This is a positive view showing everyone has a part in empowering women to join this labor-stricken market.
Attracting and retaining more women in the workforce has significant economic benefits. A survey from Credit Suisse reported that construction companies produced 10% high cash flow returns when women make up half of their senior management. It is agreed that women bring increased creativity and improved communication and collaboration skills to the construction industry.
One unique way we look at it here at SIS, where 42% of our employees are women, is that the soft skills needed for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation in the construction industry, impacts the success of construction projects. Women looking to get into the construction industry do not necessarily have to wield power tools, they can use software tools to join the construction workforce.
Q: Laurie, tell us about how women in construction became an important topic to you and how you came to be at SIS LLC.
A: In 2003, I joined the Houston chapter of the National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) and was a member for 15 years where I became a Regional Director.
One thing I noticed right away was I needed to educate every time someone asked me what I do in the construction industry – explaining that I worked for the software implementation providers, whether it was Timberline or Microsoft Dynamics 365 – and not a contractor. Meaning, one of the qualifiers for this organization is that you must be employed with a general contractor or a subcontractor or a trade vendor supplier or a in a support type of role insurance banking rep or financing or construction industries. It was then I had to explain the software I implemented supports the construction industry. So even though everything we do is related to construction, there were no categories for software. It was then I learned that there was an expanded opportunity for women in software. Without ERP software in construction, buildings and roads would not be built. ERP software is just as much a tool as a backhoe or excavator for the construction industry.
When it comes to SIS LLC, and joining the company, I was at a NAWIC conference in Atlanta where SIS is based and was brought in to meet the team. I like to say it all came together here at SIS because of NAWIC.
Q: What can you tell us about NAWIC and what they bring to the table supporting women in construction?
A: It is about sharing what NAWIC brings to the table bringing women and supporting women in construction. The narrative is always that construction is a man’s world. And yes, there were times gender restrictions were a huge problem. Depending on what part of the US you are in, there are safety constraints not being addressed like PPE and safety. NAWIC addresses and educates about those issues and more.
In my mind, as women supporting women in the industry, it is important to have strong networking connections. For example, to help someone find a job in trades, in management, and the upper echelons, we would teach women business owners how important it is to be a WBE contractor. And if you are a veteran or a minority and woman that made it even easier to help with opportunities for business expansion or even job searches.
As a NAWIC leader at the time, I spoke at chapter meetings in Houston or other parts of the country from a leadership perspective about considerations on many topics, one being vendor compliance – how you can manage that through improving the ERP software process – what are the implications if you do not implement those in your process. Another aspect of leadership was encouraging the networking and connecting of people through chapter meetings – General Contractors to Subcontractors or Suppliers, or to other resources.
Q: How do you see men and women working together to bring more women into the construction industry?
A: It is a collaboration, men helping women, women helping men. We are all helping each other. We would be building something in common.
Q: You have mentioned women in the construction workforce and our history. Can you elaborate on that?
A: In our history, there was a time when everything was cooperative. If someone had a challenge everyone stepped in to solve the problem. For example, women started working outside of the home in the industrial age and Rosey the Riveter became the symbol of women working in the trades during WW2. But that experience and education was lost when soldiers came home and took back their jobs. Now we have massive labor shortages in the trades, and women can help fulfill those shortages. They just need to recognize the possibilities.
Q: There is a lot of focus on women in construction. Many times, it is a labor force topic and others it is an equality issue. Why do you yourself think it matters?
A: Women see the world differently than men. This is a shared experience as men see it differently than women. So why not complement each other and benefit from the efficiencies. There are efficiencies whether it is in the trades or in the board room.
It matters because there are so many opportunities and there are so many able women with skill sets up and down the construction spectrum. There is a need in the workplace in every role. It matters to have those roles filled by skilled workers.
As I mention the separate roles, I encourage women to get into software consulting in the construction industry. For example, here at SIS in our product management group, there are quite a few enhancements with our product, that I can claim I started this one or helped with that one. There are so few women in construction at that level.
Q: What would you say is the biggest take away from your work that you have learned about helping women get into construction?
A: Leadership skills. My own participation in organizations that promote the development of leadership skills has been invaluable. NAWIC is invaluable as was Toastmasters, another organization I recommend to women as they strengthen their skills, along with the Project Management Institute (PMI) for aspiring and current Project managers. When I was first getting started as a Solution Architect with Microsoft Dynamics, and I will admit, it was daunting walking into a PMI meeting room of engineers and architects from Mobil and Exxon. Through those organizations, and the support of my peers, I overcame those concerns and became a confident and well-spoken leader.
Q: What do we at SIS do to empower and attract top talent in construction software?
A: What I am so proud of here is we recruit regardless of gender – there is no bias here. If you have a skill set and you can prove it, you get the opportunity. The training related to our product SIS Construct 365 for Microsoft Dynamics 365 goes deep. Our consultants receive guidance when they are assigned to a project. For example, they need to understand the client background and rules of engagement. This type of preparation for client work helps everyone be better – mentorship for everyone – not just women.
Q: What is your ultimate THESIS Statement about the importance of women in construction and why it matters to everyone?
A: The value of women in construction is important for everyone and there are many roles. I believe that ERP software is as much a tool as a backhoe or excavator for the construction industry and the implementation process provides a strong construction career opportunity for women.
