Hickey, P J and Cui, Q (2024) Tracing the career trajectories of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) women leaders. Construction Management and Economics, 42(4), pp. 289-306. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
This study delves into the professional trajectories of 20 women leaders Vice President (VP) and above in the U.S. Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector. These accomplished women, carefully selected from Engineering News Record’s (ENR's) Top 400 firms, shared their personal stories, discussing both triumphs and challenges influencing their journey to senior corporate positions. This collection of experiences provides valuable insights to identify the root causes of women’s underrepresentation in the industry. Moreover, this investigation aims to create a career roadmap that supports early and mid-career women in their pursuit of success within AEC. Success factors contributing to these women’s rise include a supportive partner, receiving early mentoring and possessing a genuine passion for their projects. Companies seeking to stand out and benefit from innovative outcomes that diversity offers should consider implementing diversity programs and fostering the growth of women throughout their careers. This may involve actively recruiting young women and providing funding for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs and scholarships for pre-college girls. Identified initiatives hold the potential to increase the number of women entering the industry and reduce the rate of early departures, thus helping to close the workforce shortage gap in the construction sector.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | gender; diversity; career path; leadership |
| Index terms: | career, program, construction sector, mentoring, science, success factor, funding, women, investigation, girl |
| Subjects: | specialized education, data collection methods, economic analysis, health monitoring assessment and metrics, training, professional development, software systems, industry analysis, sociology, demography |
| Topics: | Education, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Human Resources, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here