Coinciding with the start of Women’s History Month, Women in Construction Week is an annual observance celebrating and promoting the role of women in the construction industry. As part of Pinkard’s mission to remove barriers and create paths to success for women in construction, we are focused on recruiting, mentoring and growing the next generation of female construction talent.
Isabelle Hardie is one of Pinkard’s newest and youngest full-time employees. Fresh off her graduation from the University of Colorado — where she earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, not to mention triple minors in structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, and construction management and practices — the Academic All-American was hired just last summer.
In her short tenure as a project engineer, she has helped Team Pinkard wrap up the massive, $83 million Willoughby Corner neighborhood development in Lafayette and is currently on-site full-time at The Irving at Mile High Vista, a $32 million, seven-story affordable apartment building in Denver.
On both those jobs she has impressed colleagues, clients and trade partners alike with her work ethic, attention to detail and capacity to learn, so much so that she is presently performing the duties of both a project engineer and a field engineer. “I can’t say enough about Isabelle,” says Construction Manager Joe Revielle. "She mows through any task you put in front of her and asks for more.”
Revielle continues: “Although the industry is becoming a more inclusive place, there’s still an ignorance about what women in construction are capable of, which forces them to prove themselves at a higher bar than their male counterparts. Isabelle makes it look easy. She's already won over everyone she’s worked with. She’s bound for great things in her career.”
Given her glowing reviews and fresh perspective on the industry, we sat down with Isabelle to chat about her experience as a woman in construction.
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What's your backstory before coming to Pinkard?
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Growing up I was always in a pool, whether that was swimming or playing water polo, I was always trying to escape the heat. I then continued both sports at CU Boulder where the weather was more to my liking. I moved to Colorado for school, did four years at CU, and graduated last spring with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering before starting at Pinkard in June.
Were you always drawn to engineering?
I was always gearing towards that. In Texas, my grandfather was a civil engineer who designed and built schools. He got me to appreciate the idea of building things that people actually need. I was inspired by how that type of work has a fulfilling purpose and wanted my career to do the same.
How did you end up working for a construction company?
The plan was to become a civil engineer and design infrastructure. I did one road design internship and decided that was not the career path for me. There was very little collaboration in that role, and realized I wanted a career where I could interact with people daily. After testing the waters with a few internships, I realized construction was the field I wanted to go into.
Did you have any reservations about entering a historically male dominated industry?
I was already going into a male dominated industry [engineering] when I went to college, so I was kind of used to the idea. I went through four years of understanding that dynamic within group classwork and realized that it wouldn't be too big of a hurdle. If you can interact with people as an equal, that is generally how you are perceived.
What’s the secret to navigating the construction world as a woman?
It’s just a matter of proving yourself. Certain people might doubt you at first, but as soon as you prove what you can do, you gain their respect, and the disparity lessens after that.
Because women in the field are still a novelty, people will talk about you and know who you are before they even meet you. The phrase “your reputation precedes you” is very much a reality and you just have to learn how to accept that. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to sticking out and you just have to create a reputation that is positive.
What do you do as a project engineer?
I am a mediator between all levels of responsibility within a project. I translate the wants and needs of our owner through the design team and ensure our crew in the field executes them to everybody’s standards. I do a lot of document and quality control, making sure the architect’s design is what's actually being built, and confirming that our finished product is what the owner is paying for.
What's a “day in the life” for you?
A day in the life is gathering information about why a detail in the design won't work as specified, taking it to the architect, trying to figure out a solution with them, and then ensuring that every problem gets resolved in a timely manner so that our building can be completed on time. Daily meetings and site walks ensure that what is on paper is actually translated to the work on site.
What's your favorite part about the job?
Building connections. I love talking to people, and to be good at this job you have to create trusting connections with everyone you work with, so they believe you when you say you’ll spend their time and money wisely. Creating those relationships is both the hardest and most rewarding part of the job.
What's hard about it?
Telling people things they don't want to hear. You might have to tell them that something is going to take longer than they want, or that it will be more expensive than they were expecting. It’s not easy or fun accepting that you can't solve every issue that arises, but it’s a crucial skill to have in this industry.
Any highlights from your time at Pinkard so far?
When we first put up the crane at The Irving, I got to climb to the top of it. It was scary, and I was clinging to the rails for dear life, but I got to send a picture of me letting go for 3 seconds to my mom, who of course freaked out, so it was worth it.
What is it like entering the industry as a woman today?
I’ve been lucky to have a good mentor. My Construction Manager, Joe Revielle, is very open to inviting women to this industry and he's helped prepare me for the hardships that I could face and coached me on how to overcome them. But honestly, it hasn't been that bad. I haven't faced much adversity and I’m surrounded by an extremely respectful project team who always supports me.
Did anything surprise you about the real world of construction?
You cannot get extra-small safety gloves anywhere. They only come in giant sizes, and it took me a lot of searching on Amazon to find ones that fit my hands. It’s a minor struggle, but a real one.
How would you say the culture at Pinkard compares to the industry at large?
Pinkard is extremely inviting and familial. The company definitely makes you feel welcome and supported in any way you need. I have friends in different companies who feel like they're just a number or some random name on an employee list and I have never felt that way here.
What would you most like to see change in the industry?
Honestly, I just hope that one day it's not a rarity to be a woman in construction. I’d love to see the day when it’s just another job that women can go into.
Any ideas for how we could encourage that?
I mean, it's trending that way. A lot of companies are still cultured to men, but I appreciate how [Pinkard] is more geared toward inclusivity, and not in a way that singles you out as different. The goal is to create a culture that respects you for your talents and your ability to do the job, not about whether you’re male or female, and that’s been my most appreciative experience with Pinkard.
What advice would you give to women considering a career in construction?
Don't be afraid to speak or be curious. You won't be considered weak if you ask questions. It does not mean that you are clueless, you are simply trying to grow your knowledge base so that the next time it comes up, you can be the expert.
