Women in Construction: Insights from the WINC Live Podcast Event
There are events that look good on paper… and then there are events that do more. Our recent live podcast recording with WINC (Women in Construction) was the second. It was the kind of night that reminds you why community matters and why saying “yes” to the unknown often leads to the most meaningful conversations.
A Sold-Out Room
Earlier this summer, Masha Romer, a board member of WINC, reached out with an idea to do man-on-the-street interviews during the Artisan Home Tour. That plan shifted (as the best plans often do), and instead we landed on something even better: a live podcast event centered around the question so many professionals ask… How do I become someone’s go-to partner?
WINC handled all the heavy lifting: the logistics, the tickets, the promotion. I simply got to do what I love and curate a great panel to host a great conversation.
We gathered at the Roth Living showroom, which is already beautiful, but that night they pulled out all the stops. Chefs. Appetizers. Drinks. A room filled (literally) to capacity. Over 90 women in construction, design, architecture, and related fields, plus a handful of sponsors.
To help guide the conversation, I brought three people I trust deeply:
Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors,
Kristine Anderson of PKA Architecture, and
Amy Handel of Handel Homes.
Friends, colleagues, pros. The perfect trio.
Check out my conversation with Masha here!
The Power of Choice
The mission of WINC is to connect, equip, and champion women in construction and you could feel it happening in real time. Nearly 100 women showed up not only to listen, but to lean in.
We didn’t choose the topic, the WINC community did. When asked what they most wanted to hear about, the overwhelming response was around choice:
How do I get picked?
How do I become the preferred builder or designer?
How do I stand out in a crowded, relationship-driven industry?
Those questions aren’t gender-specific. They’re universal across the entire field of construction and design. But for women in construction, many of whom are building businesses in spaces where they’re still underrepresented, the question feels particularly relevant.
On stage, the panel unpacked the realities behind “getting picked”:
How to build trust.
How to enter established circles.
How to be the next best option when someone already has their go-to team.
How to show value without forcing yourself into the room.
Authenticity Wins the Long Game
If I had to condense the whole night into a single takeaway, it’s this: Be authentic. Be helpful. Be consistent.
You don’t win business with flash. You win it by showing up again and again, and not with a sales pitch but with genuine service.
Most people follow up once and vanish. But the ones who check in again and show up with a solution, connection, or insight are the people who get invited back to the table.
It’s the long game. Always.
What Makes Someone the Preferred Choice?
Every panelist echoed the same two things: Follow-through and authenticity.
Amy shared a great story about someone interviewing with Handel Homes who had memorized the firm’s core values. Not because they were trying to perform, but because they genuinely wanted to understand the culture before joining it.
That kind of intention stands out.
Stand Out Moments
There were some powerful leadership moments.
One panelist shared a story about firing a client who disrespected a team member. That moment of standing up for their people created a deep sense of loyalty within the company. You could feel the room shift. Respect creates safety, and safety creates excellence.
And then, of course, the fun!
I often tell people the three most emotionally charged, expensive experiences in life are building a house and planning a wedding. I asked the audience if I was missing anything. Without hesitation, 90 women shouted: “Having a baby!”
We all laughed, and quickly adjusted the rankings:
Baby
Home
Wedding
A perfect way to close the night.
My Biggest Takeaway
At the end of the night, I was reminded of something simple but important: I love doing events like this. Bringing people together, helping them tell their stories, watching the room connect in ways that will ripple far beyond a single evening, that’s why I do what I do.
If WINC is any indication of the direction women in construction are headed, the future of our industry is bright, collaborative, relational, and strong.
And I can’t wait to be part of more nights like this!
