In honor of Women in Construction Week, which runs from March 3 through 9 this year, we are running profiles of some of the women who are thriving in the construction industry throughout the Midwest.
This includes Leslie Seppamaki, design phase executive at the Minneapolis office of Mortenson. Here are her thoughts on what it takes to build a successful career in what is still largely a male-dominated industry.
What led you to pursue a career in construction?
Leslie Seppamaki: In high school, I was interested in becoming an architect or engineer. My high school offered a mentorship program, and I was able to mentor with a friend’s dad who was an architect. During my mentorship, I met with a variety of disciplines in design and engineering.
The most inspiring meeting was with a female project manager for the architecture firm. We met on a project site where she toured me around the building that was in the middle of framing walls and MEP rough-in. I didn’t even know that project management could be a career path until I was on the jobsite and saw the possibility. From there, I went to ISU and majored in construction engineering in 2004 and have been in construction since.
What challenges have you faced in building a career in a male-dominated industry like construction?
Seppamaki: At the beginning of my career, I felt I needed to prove myself in my role and take as much responsibility as I could due to being one of a few females in the role. There were times where it was intimidating being in a room with all men leaders in design, ownership, trade partners and internal team members so I had to be confident in my abilities. Trusting in myself and learning from my past experiences helped me with my confidence.
Have you noticed an increase in the number of women entering the construction industry? If so, why do you think that is?
Seppamaki: When I started at Mortenson 20 years ago, there were very few females in the project management role and that has changed significantly in my career at Mortenson. I think companies like Mortenson that are open to bringing in female talent and making an effort to continue to recruit females in the industry whether it be architects, engineers or construction management is a major factor in the increase in talent we have seen in the industry. I also think there is more outreach in schools, with more females considering engineering as a career option, which has helped to bring in the female talent.
What do you find most fulfilling about working in the construction industry?
Seppamaki: What I find the most fulfilling about working in the construction industry is that each project is different for a variety of reasons and always has multiple challenges. There has continued to be growth and development of skills throughout my career, from being an integral part of the construction team, to being the lead project manager on a project and now being a leader for our preconstruction group and leading a team in developing its skills.
What advice do you have for other women interested in pursuing a career in construction?
Seppamaki: My advice for other women pursuing a career in construction is to try to get exposure to the industry through mentorship, internships or taking a class in school. Once you have chosen a career in construction, learn as much as you can from the leaders around you. Throughout your career, find the right times to take on challenging opportunities or new roles as you will learn and grow the most in those opportunities.