Marcellia KempAssociate Project Manager| OCMI INCGaithersburg, MD, United States
Working in the construction field, we know that this is a male dominated field. I am looking back at my early career in Construction remembering that I was the only female sitting in a trailer at the site. I was working then as a Contract Administrator/Customer Operations Specialist for a three year contract at a Federal Government campus. I processed entrance of all the crews and found once in a blue moon, a female will appear. At one time, the Fed Safety Manager, our prime contractor's Safety Director, and my company's Regional Safety Manager were all women. Tears flowed and history was made!
Today, employed by another company and working as an Associate Project Manager at a healthcare organization, I find not too much has changed. Most of the women are Project Coordinators doing more administrative work. On the Capital Maintenance team upon my arrival, there was only one female Project Manager. The Capitol Construction Team to my surprise had a mix of women and men.
What's your opinion, do you see more women than men serving in Project Management? Not just for construction, I wonder how it looks in the IT Industry and others. Either way, let's celebrate what women have achieved thus far and where we are going in the future! Let's share our truths. Saving Changes...
I think this is industry and region-specific. If I look at the big 5 Canadian banks, there is a significant percentage of women in senior delivery roles ranging from PMs to PgMs to executives.
But as a counterpoint, I'm training a group of PMs in the road building domain and all 15 of them are men...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Marcellia
I’ve been working in Construction Management for more than 17 years and during the past 5 years, I’ve seen a significant increase in the number of females working in this industry from site labour in different capacities/trades, safety officers, contract admin, to project managers so from my point of view, things are improving in this regards.
It has to do with demographics as well. Anyway, I do agree. There is an increase.
...
1 reply by Marcellia Kemp
Mar 16, 2022 1:56 PM
Marcellia Kemp
...
Agree! Thanks for responding.
Saving Changes...
Valerie WelbournChief Operating Officer| Ed Holmes & AssociatesHendersonville, Nc, United States
Marcellia,
Thank you for sharing your experiences in the past of being the only woman on site - I know the feeling! For some reason, it's comforting to hear that others experienced it too. Yes, progress has been made and should be celebrated. But, my current direct experience is that I still work with all men (in construction project management). I have seen women project managers in other capital projects departments though. Just adding a little information to the anecdotal data pot.
...
1 reply by Marcellia Kemp
Mar 16, 2022 2:26 PM
Marcellia Kemp
...
Thank you so much for responding. I don't miss all the cussing and cleaning behind the guys.
Saving Changes...
Stephen RobinProject Analyst Trainee| Ministry of Works and TransportArima, Ari, Trinidad and Tobago
Marcellia,
Like Kiron said it is industry and region-specific but progress is being made. If I use my country as an example, out of the 12 board members in my local chapter, 8 members are female with a high level of qualifications, expertise, and experience. The current president is currently a female by the way.
It is not uncommon to see women in the project management field. This may be due to the fact that women make up nearly 55 percent of the workplace in my country.
...
1 reply by Marcellia Kemp
Mar 16, 2022 2:27 PM
Marcellia Kemp
...
Wow, that is very interesting. Thanks so much for sharing.
Saving Changes...
Marcellia KempAssociate Project Manager| OCMI INCGaithersburg, MD, United States
Mar 02, 2022 7:32 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
Marcellia -
I think this is industry and region-specific. If I look at the big 5 Canadian banks, there is a significant percentage of women in senior delivery roles ranging from PMs to PgMs to executives.
But as a counterpoint, I'm training a group of PMs in the road building domain and all 15 of them are men...
Kiron
Thanks for sharing :)! Saving Changes...
Marcellia KempAssociate Project Manager| OCMI INCGaithersburg, MD, United States
Mar 02, 2022 8:11 AM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
Marcellia
I’ve been working in Construction Management for more than 17 years and during the past 5 years, I’ve seen a significant increase in the number of females working in this industry from site labour in different capacities/trades, safety officers, contract admin, to project managers so from my point of view, things are improving in this regards.
RK
You bet they are, thanks for sharing! Saving Changes...
Marcellia KempAssociate Project Manager| OCMI INCGaithersburg, MD, United States
Mar 02, 2022 9:24 AM
Replying to Abolfazl Yousefi Darestani
...
It has to do with demographics as well. Anyway, I do agree. There is an increase.
Agree! Thanks for responding. Saving Changes...
Marcellia KempAssociate Project Manager| OCMI INCGaithersburg, MD, United States
Mar 03, 2022 3:01 PM
Replying to Valerie Welbourn
...
Marcellia,
Thank you for sharing your experiences in the past of being the only woman on site - I know the feeling! For some reason, it's comforting to hear that others experienced it too. Yes, progress has been made and should be celebrated. But, my current direct experience is that I still work with all men (in construction project management). I have seen women project managers in other capital projects departments though. Just adding a little information to the anecdotal data pot.
Thank you so much for responding. I don't miss all the cussing and cleaning behind the guys. Saving Changes...
Marcellia KempAssociate Project Manager| OCMI INCGaithersburg, MD, United States
Mar 13, 2022 2:22 PM
Replying to Stephen Robin
...
Marcellia,
Like Kiron said it is industry and region-specific but progress is being made. If I use my country as an example, out of the 12 board members in my local chapter, 8 members are female with a high level of qualifications, expertise, and experience. The current president is currently a female by the way.
It is not uncommon to see women in the project management field. This may be due to the fact that women make up nearly 55 percent of the workplace in my country.
Wow, that is very interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. Saving Changes...
Community Champion
