International Women’s Day is a global campaign recognized annually on March 8th. Today and everyday, we proudly acknowledge the remarkable achievements of women within our organization, and across our industry. International Women’s Day signals an important call to action to advance gender parity. This year’s campaign theme is “Inspire Inclusion.”
In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating by shining a spotlight on some of the incredible women who play such an integral role in our success as a company. We asked them to share their experience navigating the industry as well as their advice for younger generations looking to enter the field. Here’s what they had to say.
Jenna Hendrix is a Sheet Metal Lead working at Modern Niagara. She was motivated to pursue a career in the trades from an early age. “I always knew that the trades would be a good option for me. I grew up on a farm and I always enjoyed the physicality of the job,” said Jenna. 
She detailed her experience working in the trades and at Modern Niagara as being positive and rewarding. “From my experience, anyone who is willing to work and shows up putting their best foot forward will fit right in,” she added.
Jenna’s hope for the future is that more women start to see the trades as a viable option for a career.
“We are finally starting to see more women come into the trades. The best advice I can give is to work hard and do your best. Also, stick with it. The longer you’re in the trades, the more interesting and manageable it gets,” she explained.
Kayli Tan is a Purchaser (Mechanical) who joined the industry by chance but has quickly adapted to the ever-evolving nature of the field. She points out that though the industry has taken significant strides towards gender diversity and inclusion, there’s still more to be done. “There is still many stereotypes and prejudices that the industry needs to overcome,” noted Kayli. 
Furthermore, she explained that in order to further foster and advance a culture of inclusion in construction, education is the first step.
“Education, first and foremost. Partner with educational institutions such as high schools and universities to introduce younger generations to the industry and defy the stigma of working in the trades, particularly as a woman. In addition, there’s an opportunity to engage men as allies to advance women in the workplace. They are our supporters, not our enemies,” said Kayli.
Her advice for young women interested in a career in construction is to remain focused despite the various obstacles that they might face. “Find what you are good at and be great at it,” Kayli advised.
Kirsten Meyer is an Electrical Estimator at Modern Niagara. She recently marked her 20-year anniversary of being a licensed electrician. She was influenced by various factors to consider a career in construction including her love for working with her hands. “I didn’t like the idea of working in an office-cubicle situation and I enjoyed building and making things so it made sense,” she said. 
She recalls her experience over the span of her career as being varied and especially challenging in the initial stages.
“I am personally proud of being a certified Electrician and Senior Estimator. My current experience as an estimator has gained me more respect than I had in the field and I have acquired vast amounts of knowledge.
Her hope for the future of the industry is that it continues to encourage everyone, regardless of gender to enter construction. “If you have the desire to be creative, solve problems and work hard then this could be for you. My advice to women electricians is to lean on your network. Stand up for yourself. I did it and so can you. It will be worth it,” she added.
For Estimation Manager Mahsa Barazandeh, her family background accompanied with her innate desire to make a meaningful impact on her communities heavily influenced her interest in working in construction. While acknowledging the disparity in gender equity, she noted the shift in recent years to build a more inclusive environment for everyone to thrive. 
“Fortunately, one of the biggest changes is simply that gender diversity and inclusion are now widely recognized topics compared with previous years. While perfect gender equity is far from achieved, companies and organizations are far more likely to acknowledge these issues and state a commitment to addressing them. The discussion has shifted from simply increasing the number of women in the workplace to creating an environment of true inclusion and equity. This means focusing on combating systemic biases and creating an environment where women and other underrepresented groups can thrive on an equal footing,” she added.
In outlining what she believes is required to have a long-lasting career in the field, she noted passion and perseverance as key character traits to have.
“As a person that likes to grow and not remain stagnant, I always set my short term and long terms goals to bring positive and inspiring impact on my working atmosphere and among my colleagues. I truly believe that working in construction despite differences in gender it takes education, skills, training, and personal capabilities to be successful,” she said.
Health and Safety Specialist Megan Studd thrives on the dynamic nature of the industry with each day being an opportunity to leave your mark. “I enjoy the diversity and complexity of the construction industry. I enjoy that every day is different and that you get to interact with many different people from all walks of life. My experience overall has been a positive one, I have learned so much and continue to learn and be challenged every day,” she mentioned. 
From the time she first joined the industry 10 years ago, she noted the increasing number of women entering the field in recent years. “When I started there were not many women in the construction industry in the field nor in the office. I felt out of place as I was sometimes the only woman in the room or on site. Every year, however, I see more and more gender diversity in the office, project management and leadership teams as well as in the field,” she commented.
When asked what advice she would give to young women entering the industry, she outlined the below:
- Believe in yourself, have confidence in your abilities and believe that you deserve to be in the industry just as much as anyone else. Your skills and qualifications are valuable.
- Look for mentors, who can provide guidance, support, and advice based on their experiences in the industry.
- Cultivate relationships with supportive colleagues and allies who champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- Don’t get discouraged, you will still run into people with biases, don’t let their opinion dictate who you are and what you can achieve.
Amanda Fortes, a Project Coordinator, has always dreamed of working in the construction field as the idea of seeing the tangible result of your efforts in the form of a building or a project is something she finds quite satisfying. 
“In the past, we used to see only men in the workforce. Nowadays, we see both men and women, and the number of women joining the industry is increasing each day,” she commented.
She remains optimistic about the future of the industry and encourages women to pursue their dreams.
“If you wish to enter the industry, go for it. There is no longer this idea that men are stronger than women and therefore construction is not a place for women. My hope is that we will have gender equity in the industry, that many stereotypes will be broken and that no one will be afraid to work in the field they desire,” said Amanda.
Charlotte Graham works as a Health and Safety Coordinator here at Modern Niagara. Her previous work experience in the hospitality industry was interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic and she yearned for a new challenge. She recounts her experience in the construction industry so far as being fulfilling. 
“As part of the health and safety team, it’s been encouraging to see how the women in my circle have built up their careers in construction. We have strong female leaders and I think having those role models in place really makes a difference in creating inclusion for women,” she says.
She describes the highlight of her career in the field as being able to benefit from continuous learning opportunities that has propelled her growth. “For me, it’s been the opportunity to learn so many new things in such a safe space,” she added.
Charlotte further went on to explain that her hope for the future of the industry is to continue seeing women being supported.
“My advice for women looking to enter the industry is to be confident and don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions. Show up every day and be a good team member, take ownership of your role and listen to others. My main hope is that women across this industry can find supportive role models and team members like I have because it makes such a difference,” she says.
Modern Niagara is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment as we continue our work in building and maintaining Canada’s infrastructure. If you’re interested in joining our team, check out our current career opportunities here.
