2024 GWIC Conference Agenda

Age & Authority

Mackenzie Dias has managed hundreds of subcontractors on a 125,000-square-foot wine facility and $30 million in interior scopes for a 42-floor luxury tower – high-pressure jobs that would challenge the most experienced project manager—and she has done it as a woman in her 20s. Join her lunch table to explore how to wield authority in an environment often dismissive of younger women—including what to challenge, what to ignore and how a certain style of jobsite humor can get you through the rough spots.

Beyond Balance: Embracing Integration

Join the discussion of how embracing the power of integration can lead to better overall work-life management for women. Learn how to blend your professional and private lives and explore strategies to harmonize your career and personal aspirations, unlocking newfound fulfillment and success.

Blueprint for Success: Personal Branding Strategies for Women in Construction

Ever found yourself tongue-tied when asked, “What do you do?” It's time to transform that awkward moment into a captivating story! Join me us for a thrilling where participants unearth the power of your personal brand and learn to craft an elevator pitch that sparks interest and leaves a lasting impression.

Building a Coaching Culture

Engage with industry leaders as we explore strategies for empowering women in construction through mentorship, skill development, and leadership coaching. Discover how fostering a coaching culture can drive innovation, diversity, and excellence in the construction industry.

Career Moves: Opportunities and Challenges in Work Relocation

Discover how to navigate career transitions, the empowerment of change, and the resilience needed to thrive in new environments. Whether you’re considering a move or have already taken the leap, this is your platform to connect, learn, and grow.

Career Path Mapping

Organizations are justifiably concerned about the ability to retain talent in an environment where the availability of workers is so scarce. Additionally, the changing needs of today’s workforce require employers to reassess their employee development programs. Career path mapping brings clarity to an otherwise cloaked path of progression and helps the employee understand the opportunities within the firm while engaging in creating, and owning, their own map.

Creative Ways to Get Your Teams Started with AI Tools

Andra Kidd, CEO of Spheros Environmental, will share with new and prospective artificial intelligence users best practices for AI in project engineering and management and how to reduce risk and achieve more productive outcomes

Data and Paving the Path for the Future Construction Workforce

As construction projects continue to burgeon, there is an unprecedented demand for a skilled workforce to facilitate the robust development of these expanding projects. The implementation of technology to capture needed data offers a solution to monitor the retention, progression, and services rendered of the construction workforce. This discussion will delve into a few examples of innovative strategies for addressing the workforce requirements of the construction industry.

Forward on Fusion

Join Valerie Roberts, COO of California-based Longview Fusion Energy Systems and Lisa Davies, Fluor Design Engineering Director, for leadership insights on challenges and potential of their firms’ pioneering effort to develop a prototype for scaled up fusion power in the US.

From Myspace to TikTok

Four generations (Boomers, X, Millennials, Z) with varied communication styles, comfort with technology & decision-making ability comprise the teams on today's jobsites. Let's figure out together some best practices on bridging gaps, addressing conflicts and being successful while doing it. Special points for bringing a funny meme to this collaborative lunch table! And this discussion might be particularly helpful if you don't know what a meme is.

GSA New Priorities: Up Close on Federal Real Estate

Join Stacey Yee, GSA Region 9 Design & Construction Director, to learn more about U.S. General Services Administration initiatives impacting design and construction in California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and the Pacific Island, as well as nationally—with a focus on sustainability, community impact, DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility), workforce development and innovation.

How To Be "Seen" In A Room That Doesn't Look Like You

Women are often afraid to use their voices to make themselves heard in the workplace—especially when we don't "look like" many others in the room. Hear five proven tips to make sure you are "seen" on the job. Whether you use one or all of them, the key is to practice: the more you use your voice, the better you will get; and the more confidence you exude, the more receptive your audience will be to your message.

Leadership Coach's Corner

Leadership Coach Randy Goruk will provide advice and insight on your leadership questions, challenges and concerns. Enjoy your lunch while gaining wisdom to illuminate and inspire your leadership journey.

Leadership Lessons Learned in Preserving the U.S. Capitol

Discover the intersection of history, leadership and monumental challenge in an enlightening discussion with Christine Merdon, former U.S. Capitol Acting Architect and Deputy Architect on restoring its iconic dome. She will recount the significant restoration and leadership principles that steered it to a successful completion—on time, on budget and with zero lost-time injuries. Participants will discuss the impact of leadership skills such as self-awareness, emotional intelligence, teamwork, communication and the mindset needed to run organizations and deliver large-scale projects.

Leading a Team Over 3,000 Miles Away

This table will discuss leadership styles commonly found in the construction industry and behaviors and working styles of remote or hybrid employees. Examples will be shared of intentional leadership changes to overcome remote and hybrid challenges in the workplace.

Managing Difficult Conversations for Successful Outcomes

Navigating difficult conversations is a crucial part of advancing your career path and supporting your team members. Emotions can quickly fester into larger problems if left unaddressed. This discussion will serve as a guidebook with tricks, tools and techniques to support proactive resolution for conflicts, toxic behavior and difficult or uncomfortable conversations.

Leveraging AI and Analytics to Address Workforce Challenges in Engineering & Construction

With 40% of the workforce predicted to retire over the next ten years, the engineering & construction industry faces long-term workforce and skill shortages. E&C companies can leverage AI and analytics to address these gaps and enable a more diverse, more agile workforce. Join Ellenwood and Michelle Meisels, Principal with Deloitte Consulting to discuss how AI and analytics can be applied to improve the productivity and efficiency of workforce processes – ranging from hiring, diversity, and retention activities to shaping employee experience and enhancing career development.

Navigating Career and Skill Development for New Moms

New moms face a unique challenge at work. In construction, navigating your career takes on a particular significance, especially if your role is in the field or requires occasional long working hours. This delicate moment for new mothers requires comprehensive consideration that cross three crucial aspects: self-care, employer support and family dynamics.

Please Don't Go: Why Women Engineers Leave the AEC Workplace

Dr. Kara Boyles will share her new research on retention barriers for women engineers that has some surprising results related to professional identity and workplace belonging from a veteran manager who is passionate about building women's careers as long term leaders. She will update how the city has already implemented key research takeaways and how other employers can also do so.

Shaping the Future: The Impact of Mentorship in Construction

Mentorship programs, whether formal corporate initiatives or informal professional relationships, are instrumental in developing and engaging employees at all levels. Join the discussion of how to develop, structure and implement mentorship programs to ensure participants gain maximize benefits. Share personal experiences on how being a mentor or mentee has benefited you or peers, with pointers on challenges and successes.

Subcontractor Prequalification 101

How prequalification combined with risk management tools such as surety bonds and/or subcontractor default insurance can further protect project profitability.

Successfully Delivering Strategy

Discover the intersection of history, leadership, and the monumental challenge of restoring the U.S. Capitol Dome in an enlightening speech by the former Acting Architect and Deputy Architect of the U.S. Capitol. This speech is not merely a recount of the restoration but an immersive journey through the leadership principles that steered this globally significant project, the Nation’s beacon of democracy, to its successful completion—on time, within budget, and with zero lost-time injuries. With a unique insider perspective, the speaker will unveil the profound impact of leadership skills such as self-awareness, emotional intelligence, teamwork, communication, and a growth mindset on running organizations and delivering large-scale projects.

Taking the Lead & Embracing Opportunity

Join a conversation focused on discovering and unlocking your true leadership potential. We will discuss how to assume leadership roles in an organization and uncover effective strategies to develop key skills, influence others and have a lasting impact. You will leave feeling empowered to embrace leadership opportunities and make a difference in your workplace and industry.

The Future of AI: What's Possible by 2030 and Beyond?

Don't miss GWIC keynoter Sarah Buchner, Trunk Tools CEO and founder, as she takes a deeper dive into how AI will change construction practices and your jobsite and workplace over the next decade.

The Impact of Your Authentic Self

We as women tend to bifurcate the various selves that we are as daughters, wives, friends, mothers and professionals. This bifurcation of the self allows others to know us fractionally and can leave us feeling unfulfilled and limit our ability to inspire others in our professional lives. I would like to share my experience in bringing all the parts of self together and encourage others to do the same.

Thriving at Work & Home

Managing a construction career and nurturing a family is an intricate dance -- one that Stephanie McDonald knows first-hand. Through personal narratives and professional insights, this discussion will unpack challenges faced by women in construction and develop strategies to enable them to thrive at work and at home.