To celebrate this year’s Women in Construction Week running from March 3 through 9, Minnesota Real Estate Journal is running profiles of some of the women who are thriving in the construction industry throughout the state.
This year we are highlighting the career of Tatiana Murphy, project manager with RJM Construction in Golden Valley, Minnesota.
Here is some of what she had to say about building a career in the still mostly male-dominated construction industry.
What led you to pursue a career in construction?
Tatiana Murphy: I really fell into it. I was a financial analyst moving from California to Minnesota, and my brother-in-law mentioned Watson-Forsberg was looking for a controller but not for five years. They wanted me to fill a role as a project coordinator to learn how the industry worked. When it was time for me to start training to be the controller, I asked if I could move into an assistant project manager position instead. Ten years later, I still love what I do every day.
What challenges have you faced in building a career in a male-dominated industry like construction?
Murphy: I actually haven’t felt that being a woman has affected my career all that much to date. The biggest thing I have noticed is the subcontractors that I have not worked with in the past are less responsive until they realize I am running the project and I know what I am doing.
Have you noticed an increase in the number of women entering the construction industry? If so, why do you think that is?
Murphy: Yes, I just mentored my first woman and it was exciting! I think we have opened our eyes and realized that we can do a difficult job just as well as our male counterparts in the industry and have something to prove. Why should men have all the fun in this exciting industry?
What do you find most fulfilling about working in the construction industry?
Murphy: Solving the big problems. Digging into the root of the issue and knowing the right people to get together to solve them. I don’t always offer the solution, but I always make sure it is resolved and will not affect the project timeline.
What advice do you have for other women interested in pursuing a career in construction?
Murphy: If you are in this industry, you are a strong woman, so be sure to build and lift up strong women while mentoring. Make your own project management style by taking the best qualities from the people you learn from and finding your own rhythm that works for you. Also, take responsibility for your actions (don’t ever throw your team under the bus), and don’t take credit for things you didn’t do. Always give credit where credit is due.
