As part of TD’s ongoing recognition of Women's History Month and Women in Construction Week, we are excited to feature some of TD's female Partners.
We asked each Partner a few questions about her time in the industry and her thoughts on women in construction:
Ali Franklin started her journey with TDIndustries, Inc. (TD) in the summer of 2017 when she was interning with Dallas Special Projects. Since then, she has grown into numerous roles and contributed to several notable jobs. She is now serving as Project Manager I with Dallas Special Projects. Ali works hard to make sure that her customers are well taken care of throughout each and every process – this includes field Partners, subcontractors, vendors, general contractors and owners. She has a problem-solving mindset and enjoys taking on additional responsibilities to always find solutions that make the customer informed and happy.
Q: How did you land in the construction industry?
A: "My background is in mechanical engineering and management and I always knew that I wanted to apply technical concepts in conjunction with interpersonal skills wherever I worked and so the construction industry seemed to have that perfect balance. I also wanted to work in an industry where I really felt I could make a difference and contribute to the community on a daily basis so being able to look at the high rises on the skyline, hospitals, data centers, and say that I had a part in their construction is so unique and fulfilling to me.”
Q: What do you enjoy most about the construction industry and your role specifically at TD?
A: " What I like most about the construction industry is the variation of projects and the opportunities to advance and implement new technology on those projects. This industry drives change in so many different areas of the community which in turn affects a lot of people. Here at TD, I really enjoy being a Project Manager where I have the chance to implement my technical background, but also lead a group of people – this has offered me so much growth in developing my management skills early on in my career. You don’t see that very often in other industries until you are further along in your field or role and can prove yourself.”
Q: What can to be done to increase the percentage of women in construction? How can companies recruit more women and promote diversity?
A: "I believe that a focus on the implementation and practice of Servant Leadership can be a major driver in increasing the percentage of women in construction. Through Servant Leadership, current leaders can empower their female team members through increasing trust and collaboration. The main principles of Servant Leadership make way for a new type of leadership strategy that puts emphasis on the individual over the organization. The main characteristics of the servant leader are also reflective of women’s traditional leadership styles. Women tend to be good listeners as well as empathetic, both core principles of the Servant Leadership philosophy. The popularity and increased adoption of Servant Leadership in organizations has the ability to more frequently position women as potential successful leaders. With the percentage of women in construction hovering around 10%, and only a fraction of that in management roles, it is increasingly important that we empower and provide women the opportunities to step into leadership positions.”
"Companies can recruit more women and promote diversity through the implementation of diversity and inclusion programs, growing women in leadership positions, and through providing tools and continuing education resources to women such as professional development opportunities, scholarships, and leadership opportunities.”
Q: What barriers do women face in the construction industry? How has this changed over time?
A: "Women still face barriers in the construction industry mainly when it comes to industry culture as a whole. Women, along with other minority groups within the construction industry, have faced (and continue to face) barriers such as discrimination and stereotyping that lead to severe issues such as lack of trust, respect, safety, and more. I believe that individual companies within the construction industry have the most influence when it comes to driving changes in diversity and inclusion. Over time, more companies continue to adopt diversity and inclusion programs that aim to break down these barriers by providing the education and skills necessary to drive culture shifts from within. Through directing resources into recruiting more women to construction and by providing an increased focus on diversity and inclusion the industry has also seen the percentage of women grow over time.”
Q: What areas of the industry do you feel still have the biggest need for women? (such as skilled trades)
A:“I believe that the main areas of the construction industry that still have the biggest need for women would be within the skilled trades and field supervision positions. These positions have been traditionally held by men in the past with difficult barriers to entry for women. Through implementation of scholarships, technical training programs, recruiting, and a culture of inclusion, TD has placed an emphasis on providing women the knowledge, skills, and support necessary to successfully enter, and grow within these positions over time.”
Q: What opportunities are available for women to advance and grow their careers in the industry? Any professional networking groups where women can collaborate together?
A:“There are many opportunities for women to advance and grow their careers within the construction industry, namely professional networking groups such as GWIC (Ground Breaking Women in Construction), TEXO Women’s Committee, TEXO YCC Women in Construction, Women in ASHRAE, NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction), STOWIC (Structure Tone Women in Construction), and many more focused on collaboration, support, and increasing diversity within the construction industry and related industries.”
Q: What advice would you have for young women who are eager to join the construction industry?
A:“My advice to young women who are looking to join the construction industry would be to build trust through developing strong relationships, be confident but, ask questions, embrace opportunities, and above all to empower each other. Through encouraging women to empower other women we can increase collaboration and drive change that positively affects ourselves, those around us, and the industry as a whole.”