b'CONSTRUCTION PRIORITIES: WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIPTHE INDUSTRY IS BECOMING A PLACE WHERE THE QUALITY OF WORK IS THE CURRENCY, NOT BIOLOGY.- KRYSTAL DAVEYMERRILL FUNG, KRYSTAL DAVEY, Now she is paying it forward, serving VICE PRESIDENT OF ARCHITECTURESENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTORin mentorship programs to help bring AND DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT,OF CORPORATE OPERATIONS,capable women and other under-CADILLAC FAIRVIEW BOTHWELL-ACCURATE represented groups forward. I always CORPORATION LIMITED Ive been lucky enough to meet moresay to young women, Step forward! Go Merrill Fung is vice president ofthan a few of the women leading andand talk to people! Dont just look at your architecture and design, developmentmanaging work in our citywomen phone! I also tell them this is a path; at the Cadillac Fairview Corporationwho have helped build, design and its not a straight line. Do not aim for the Limited; she likewise expresses the ideafund some of the most impressivetitle. I didnt aim for the title; I aimed for of leading through a combination ofprojects in Ontario, says Krystal Davey,the results to get the respect. The title strong values and a gentle approach. who is the senior vice president andwill come.director of corporate operationsThe construction industry is not forat Bothwell-Accurate. Davey says that deeply ingrained societal every woman, Fung says. If I look backnorms are still sometimes holding from where I am now, I do think there arePeople outside our industrywomen back. When it happens, do your characteristics you have to have in orderoften assume that women injob, she advises, and do it well, so no to grow, like perseverance. I have seenconstruction must be demanding andone can excuse you fromsome women try too hard in meetings,uncompromising to succeed in a male- the conversation.and that doesnt work. You have to havedominated environment. But in my a soft touch, but with determination.experience, these leaders are almostNonetheless, Davey says, Equity is You need a softer personality, but alsoalways the opposite, Davey says. advancing because companies are determination to get things done in She adds, They dont try to fit into abeing intentional, working hard to create this industry. traditionally masculine mould. Instead,clearer pathways for advancement, they show up authentically, bringing aopening space at decision-making tables Earlier in her career, she says, she triedwhole new set of tools and skillsfreshand challenging old assumptions about different approaches in leading maleideas, perspectives and approaches thatwho belongs in construction leadership. colleagues but learned that coming ondrive innovation and real progress. TheyMen are creating space for women,strong wasnt effective. I didnt get thealso have been the odd man out (punand women are mentoring women.look from people that we are a team.intended!) in more than one room, andThe industry is becoming a place where Now I have a higher position, I have morethat experience has made them resilient,the quality of work is the currency,power, but I still use a softer touch. emotionally intelligent and deeplynot biology.supportive leaders.Fung says she found she could get theWomen in leadership are a big part of job done by presenting a tough image,HOW WOMEN LEAD the picture, she says. They are pushing but that it didnt win her the respectIN CONSTRUCTION for clearer advancement pathways, fair of her team. Do you want the resultsMore and more women are stepping intohiring practices and cultures where without the respect, or do you want theleadership roles in construction, partlywomenwhere all peoplecan bring respect? she asks. Im looking morethrough the efforts of male leaders. Wetheir real selves to work. Their visibility long-term. I may not get the results now,have not achieved equity, but peoplesends a message to young women: but I know Ill get the results later. Thewant it to happen, says Fung. I didntyou belong here, and you can lead results plus the respect are way moreget the position by fighting for myself; Ihere. Every woman who steps into a important than getting the results butgot the position because a lot of men leadership role makes that step a little burning all my bridges. supported me. easier for the next. BUILDERSDIGEST Quarter 4202517'