Women in Construction: Leadership, Bias, and Breaking Barriers

What if the labor shortage in construction could be solved by tapping into a powerful, often overlooked workforce? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin talks with industry leadership expert Dr. Gretchen Gagel, CEO and Founder of Greatness Consulting, about why bringing more women into construction isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s essential for the future of the trades.

Dr. Gagel shares her incredible journey from being disowned for studying engineering to leading multimillion-dollar construction projects and now authoring a groundbreaking book: Building Women Leaders. She opens up about unconscious bias, microaggressions, and how businesses can transform their culture to be more inclusive, respectful, and productive…for everyone.

If you’re serious about building a sustainable workforce and evolving leadership in the trades, this episode is your blueprint.

Episode Takeaways:

• [00:16] Why Gretchen left a Harvard acceptance to study engineering and never looked back.
• [02:01] What inspired Building Women Leaders, and why it’s not just for women.
• [04:47] Understanding unconscious bias and how it shows up on job sites and in hiring.
• [08:36] Tips for recognizing and reducing unconscious bias in your company.
• [14:31] Is construction getting better for women? Here's what the data says.
• [16:52] What makes women in the trades feel exhausted and how leadership can change it.
• [17:27] The small ways male allies can make a big difference in workplace culture.
• [20:38] Advice for aspiring women leaders entering the trades.
• [24:28] How construction businesses can take real steps toward inclusion and representation.

Connect With Dr. Gagel:

Website: https://gretchengagel.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-gagel/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Building-Women-Leaders-Blueprint-Construction/dp/1394251386

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