Alison Laing: Give to Gain – Leadership, growth and backing women in construction

In this episode of Constructive Talk, host Daniel Carroll sits down with Alison Laing, Symal’s Chief People and Culture Officer, for an honest conversation about leadership, growth and supporting women in construction.Joining Symal at a pivotal stage of its growth journey, Alison shares how she sees her role at its core: building capability and managing risk, while protecting the culture and generosity that make the business special. Drawing on her experience in large listed organisations, including Coles, she talks about balancing governance and structure with agility and humanity as organisations scale.Alison reflects on a defining piece of career advice — “sometimes you’ve just got to close your eyes and jump” — and how saying yes to stretch opportunities shaped her leadership. She also speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, often being the only woman at the leadership table, and the importance of mentors, allies and asking for support.Aligned to International Women's Day and the 2026 theme “Give to Gain,” the conversation explores what meaningful support for women really looks like in practice. It’s not just policies or programs, it’s listening, inviting quieter voices into the room, acting on feedback and creating space for people to thrive.Practical, thoughtful and optimistic, this episode is a reminder that when we invest in people, with time, trust and opportunity, we all gain stronger teams and a more inclusive future.