Episode #163 – Actions Leaders Can Take to Attract, Recruit, Retain Women in Construction with Andrea Piering, President, Sun State Builders

In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, host Randy Goruk sits down with Andrea Piering, President of Sun State Builders, to explore how leaders can better attract, recruit, and retain women in construction. Listeners will learn: How Andrea Piering went from working job sites as a teenager to becoming President of Sun State Builders Why construction can be a fulfilling and creative career path for women, even if they didn't grow up around it  How schools and industry messaging can change misconceptions that construction is only dirty, outdoor, "in the hot sun" work  The wide variety of roles women can have in construction Common misconceptions women have about entering construction and how ongoing learning makes the industry accessible  Common misconceptions male leaders have about hiring or promoting women, and how those are changing with new generations of leaders  Practical ways to help women succeed in the field  How companies fall short when they don't provide a spectrum of entry points for women  Why equal pay and feeling valued are critical to retaining women in construction  How flexibility and empathy for family responsibilities impact retention  Concrete ideas for leaders to attract and recruit more women  How to retain women by simply asking them directly about their challenges, listening for blind spots, and making fixable improvements  The importance of women in the industry seeing each other as allies, not competitors and growing together  That there is a clear, needed place for women in construction, and how leadership development programs can support their growth  Website: https://sunstatebuilders.com/ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-piering-55b14880/