The New York Building Foundation, the charitable arm of the New York Building Congress, has launched a Women’s Professional Development Series pilot program.
Produced in conjunction with the New York Building Congress’ Council of Industry Women, the series aims to foster professional advancement for women in the building and construction industries.
As part of the series, made possible by a grant from Investors Foundation, women in the industry will help build their skills by participating in educational workshops, including sessions dedicated to improving public speaking, leadership and influence skills.
“The building industry is filled with incredibly talented women, and we’re working to open up more opportunities for them,” said Carlo A. Scissura, President of the New York Building Foundation. “Our new Women’s Professional Development Series will give women the tools they need to further their careers and continue to excel.”
“The New York Building Foundation’s mission is to support the long-term growth and well-being of the city’s building industry, and fostering the development of its workforce is vital to achieving that goal,” said Jennifer Stone, Secretary of the Building Foundation’s Board of Governors and Partner at Robert A.M. Stern Architects.
“Along with identifying the challenges women in the building industry face and providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to overcome them, this series creates a unique forum for like-minded women to engage with others, create meaningful relationships and build the networks necessary to advance their professional careers.”
Currently, women represent nine percent of the construction workforce, and only 7.5 percent of construction managers. The Women’s Professional Development Series seeks to increase female representation at the highest levels in the industry and bring more equity into the field.
The first workshop featuredDeena Baikowitz, Chief Networking Officer of the Fireball Network, who gave an interactive seminar on critical skills for career development.
The series is free for members of the New York Building Congress.
