BUILDING WOMEN LEADERS A BLUEPRINT FOR WOMEN THRIVING IN CONSTRUCTION (PB 2025)

"In the decades I’ve known Gretchen, I have watched her grow and excel as a mother, a civic and business leader, and an influencer in the construction industry. We are so fortunate that Gretchen carved out the time to write this seminal book on women’s leadership and I am confident that all will benefit from the knowledge she shares. Gretchen is a remarkable leader and role model who cares deeply for the construction industry, and her passion for helping women thrive helps us build a more inclusive industry."
―Mary K. Rhinehart, Chair, Johns Manville Corporation.

Practical leadership guidance, inspiring stories, and actionable strategies for women and their male allies to elevate their careers in construction

Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction is a guide to becoming a successful female leader in the construction, engineering, mining, and energy industries. Featuring real-world case studies, inspiring stories of successful women leaders, and actionable strategies, this book serves as a catalyst for transformation, enabling organizations to harness the untapped potential of their female talent and drive innovation and growth.

Leveraging the author’s 40-year industry career as a construction industry executive, female trailblazer, and advocate for women empowerment in the workplace, Building Women Leaders includes information on:

• Techniques for navigating a male-dominated industry, including understanding “dominant culture” and unconscious bias
• The qualities of successful leaders in these industries, including what it means to lead versus manage and how Grounded Self-leadership is critical to authenticity
• Guidelines for building strong relationships and leading a diverse team with confidence, courage, and humility
• Ways to handle difficult conversations and conflicts, and the role of trust and vulnerability in these situations
• How to build support via professional organizations, networking groups, and training and development opportunities for women leaders

Building Women Leaders is a timely, essential, up-to-date resource on the subject for leaders of all genders and at all levels and occupations in the engineering, construction, mining, and energy industries looking to harness the power of women in the workforce.

Gretchen Gagel, PhD, an influential leader in the construction industry, overcame discouragement from her father to study mechanical engineering and forge a successful executive career. She has advised some of the largest corporations on effective construction execution and in 2021 was inducted by her peers into the National Academy of Construction. The last chapter of Gretchen’s career is dedicated to driving inclusivity in the construction, engineering, mining, and energy industries as founder of Women Thriving in Construction: A Global Institute. In this book, Gretchen brings together research and insights from over 120 global thought leaders to empower women and their allies. She candidly shares personal experiences ― balancing executive leadership with motherhood and caregiving ― while providing actionable strategies to accelerate the success of women and transform workplace culture. Connect with Gretchen on LinkedIn or visit www.gretchengagel.com.