expresso 14 - en

Many of our most effective people happen to be women, so the need for an expresso on this issue surprised me at first. But a little research on my part revealed that women enrolled in undergraduate engineering programs has been relatively stagnant over the past two decades, less than 20%. In another study, I discovered that as many as 38% of women leave the profession, citing the work climate and conditions. My entire career has been devoted to growing architectural and engineering professional service firms. I’ve spent over four decades navigating seemingly endless changes in marketing, technology and how we do business in this industry. I’ve learned that how we manage change, and create opportunities along the way, directly affects our success. That kind of experience is important, because we can only learn from the past. The future is unknown, and developing new leadership talent to navigate that unknown is our ongoing challenge. I believe that the effectiveness of the board, and the company, is driven by the knowledge, commitment, diversity of talent and communication skills of everyone involved. It’s refreshing that the composition of the EXP senior management team and board members is nearly half female. Together, we’re a very effective team. It’s our responsibility to ensure equal opportunity and foster a working environment and culture that stimulates personal growth, rewards excellence and treats everyone equally. Finding a balance in life means something different for everyone. For me, it means making good use of my time off, travelling and making time for personal adventure.” Donna Floerchinger (pictured left) Creating and sustaining cultural shifts often start at the top, by providing support and leading by example. Two of EXP’s board members happen to be women, so we asked for their unique perspectives.

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As a lawyer, and Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Allston Holdings LLC, I have had the opportunity to advise many boards of directors and C-suite executives, often at critical times for their businesses. That’s how I came to be involved with EXP. Because my background is in law and financial services, rather than engineering and architecture, I can view EXP’s culture from an outsider’s vantage point. I believe that boards function best when their members have diverse viewpoints, and it helps to have both women and men. I have generally worked in male-dominated fields, and I know that having even one close woman colleague can really make a difference, particularly for junior women. Personal mentorship and sponsorship are very important. When a person knows that leadership sees her professional potential, it goes a long way to instilling confidence, whether that leader is male or female. Technology allows us the flexibility we need to fulfill all of our roles. We’re a bit less tied to the office than we used to be. Also, there is a growing appreciation for the fact that work/ life balance is not just something that women are interested in. The important thing is to find a system that works for you and to realize that you will have to be flexible and, at times, put in extra effort to accomplish all of your goals.” Nancy Stern (pictured right)

welcome to expresso

In this issue, we tackle some of the bigger questions surrounding our industry, such as what it’s like to be a woman in engineering, what a career in engineering can offer, and how to find the elusive work/life balance. To find some answers, we went straight to the source, asking 21 of our female colleagues from across North America, to discover how they found their path and what advice they would offer to others.

Emmanuelle Landry Corporate Communications Director

From both of us, to the next generation, the future is as bright as you want to make it. You can do and be anything you want to be. Develop a solid work ethic. Develop people skills as strong as your engineering skills. Demonstrate your leadership. Speak up. Be heard.”

Donna Floerchinger (left) and Nancy Stern attend a board meeting at EXP’s operational headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.