In honor of Women's History Month and Women in Construction Week, Senior Director Claire Natalie McPherson, leader of our Women in Networking group for Construction, Projects, Assets & Environmental Solutions in North America, reflects on her career journey as a working mother and woman in the construction industry.
How have you navigated workplace policies that supported your return to work and how did they contribute to a successful transition?
Claire: Although “adding the hat” of being a working mother and raising a young family has drastically changed my life, the flexibility of our parental workplace policies has helped me make my important life transitions as seamless as possible. Some of my hobbies, such as travel and photography, aren’t global anymore, but I still enjoy being able to get out on the (nearby) road!
What’s the best part of your job?
Claire: I come to work every day, and I am challenged to grow as a skilled professional and to utilize the breadth of my experience to support clients with complex projects. The scope of analyses, the caliber of our legal partners and the enduring pace forward in the construction industry combine to create a fascinating job.
How has your participation in women-centered industry associations influenced your professional growth?
Claire: The support and network of Women in Construction and the NAWIC Puget Sound have been pivotal in expanding my knowledge of our industry. I have found their mentorship and leadership advancing diversity in construction inspiring, and I am privileged to give back to those organizations!
In what ways do you believe site visits contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of construction projects?
Claire: Just like visiting a national monument or an awe-inspiring natural feature, site visits can be that fine edge of daily reality – from behind a computer screen to meeting the vast genuineness of our built environment around us that can be easily forgotten in the day-to-day.
#TeamFTI #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInConstruction
Project Manager at Control Air - TI and Special Projects
3wThank you all & thank you Control Air! love being part of the team.