Celebrating Female Leaders and their Impact on the Industry

I was 25 years old when I earned an editor title, which was roughly half the age of other managers on the team. That same year, I was also the second highest ranking female in the company and often found myself the only woman in leadership meetings. I knew at this early age that I’d have hurdles to face head on.  

I had to fight to be both heard and seen. I had to prove myself over and over. There were times when it was hard, but every experience was worth it because it made me who I am today. Like so many successful women before me, and those younger professionals that follow, we are continuing to make change for the better.  

This was top of mind as we planned this particular issue. To honor Women’s History Month, we are showcasing seven successful female building service contractors in our cover story. Many of them joined the industry as a child and/or in an entry-level role but rose through the ranks to serve as president or CEO today. As minorities in this male-dominated industry, all seven of these women have had to overcome stereotypes and adversity not faced by their male counterparts. But these hurdles only molded them into stronger leaders.  

To them, being a woman isn’t a disadvantage. They’ve used their maternal instincts to create strong teams. They used their inherent ability to multi-task both work and life. And being small in numbers was a great reason to seek out others to band together to help everyone achieve success. 

When Congress designated March as Women’s History Month in 1980, President Carter said, “The achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was vital...” It’s only right that we recognize them for the fantastic individuals they are and the contributions they make to the industry. 

The women in our article represent everything President Carter referred to so many years ago. Their achievements in business are remarkable. Their certifications, awards and business acumen are admirable. These women are true superstars and I’m honored to know and learn from them.