Women In Construction – Brittney Norwood

What drew you to a career in construction, despite it being traditionally male-dominated?

It probably sounds cliché, but the design aspect initially drew me to this career. I was awed by the large custom homes I would see in the neighborhoods in my area and wanted to learn more about creating them. Pair that with having an engineer grandfather and uncles who dabbled in construction, I guess you can say that it was in the blood.

What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?

Public speaking/Networking! It seems so simple, but there is a right and wrong way to approaching it. With it being such a vital part of business, you definitely want to brush on those skills as much as possible because there is always room for improvement.

Share an example of how you effectively led a team on a construction project, including managing diverse personalities.

I personally like to lead with trust and respect, where every role and person is equally important. Everyone brings unique strengths and knowledge, and I like to utilize that as much as possible. Whether it’s dividing tasks or solving problems together, I ensure everyone has a chance to contribute. I believe this approach truly allows for each team member to really take ownership over the project, which produces better results because they are more involved in the process.

What’s the coolest project you’ve worked on? How did this impact your career?

The coolest project thus far would be the Universal Dockside Inn Resort. It was the first project that I got to work on truly from documents through construction. Outside of it just being fun due to it being a themed hospitality project, I got so much hands-on design, construction, and early management experience from that project.  That experience has really empowered me to be able to move with confidence through every project that has come after.