“The most effective way to do it, is to do it,” Amelia Earhart said. As the first female aviator to make a solo trans-Atlantic flight, Earhart knew a thing or two about breaking barriers as a woman.
Today’s generation of women are making their mark in numerous traditionally male-dominated fields, including construction. The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWC) has compiled some eye-opening statistics about women in construction from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2016):
939,000 Number of women working in construction industry
9.1 Percentage of construction industry workers in the U.S. who are women
45 Percentage of women in construction industry working in Sales & Office positions
In honor of Women’s History Month, we are proud to highlight the women of Construction Pros:
NAME: Paula Soares
POSITION: Controller, Finance, and Accounting
YEARS EXPERIENCE: 15
EDUCATION: BA in Education
Why did you get involved in construction?
I was offered a position in a relatively young company at the time and welcomed the growth opportunities as well as the challenges it brought.
What are some of the challenges you face as a woman in a predominately male field?
Luckily, I haven’t encountered gender-based challenges in my career, even though I work in a very predominantly male field. I credit my education at an all-women college.
What advice would you give to young women considering a field in construction?
To go for it—with each generation barriers are knocked down and women are succeeding in non-traditional career paths.
What are your interests (hobbies) outside of work?
Spending time with my dog and nieces. I also enjoy reading and traveling.
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