Helen Robinson, branch manager and senior project manager at GEI Consultants in Exton, is one of the young leaders working to bring a more diverse workforce into the construction field, according to a report in the Engineering News-Record.

The construction field is currently struggling to recruit and maintain people, making the efforts of Robinson and others like her extremely important. However, inspiring the next generation to commit to construction requires changing their perceptions of what construction workers actually do. According to Robinson, this means that current practitioners also have to become ambassadors for the industry.

Entering a classroom of young students “in heels, you create a perception, so that image is in their mind and they know industry careers for women are an option,” said Robinson.

“That’s powerful,” she said.

In addition to changing people’s perceptions, companies have to adapt to the changing business environment while raising the bar to attract and keep the best talent. Managers must also work on improving the amount of respect given to all members of the workforce.

“Understanding people’s personalities and traits can help you lead them,” said Robinson.

Read more about Helen Robinson in the Engineering News-Record here.

[uam_ad id=”80503″]

.

[uam_ad id=”80502″]