Leadership Training for Women in Construction Helps Build A Career Roadmap

Grow your career. Build a personal development plan. Join the next NAWIC Leadership Academy cohort.  

The construction industry is a dynamic field where careers can develop rapidly in both the trades and the administrative sides of the business. Opportunities abound but for many women the climb to leadership roles can be daunting. Outdated stereotypes and attitudes create significant roadblocks. Fortunately, there are options for women looking to expand their horizons and grow their careers in construction.  

But what steps are the best for women in construction to grow their leadership skills? One career strategy is to start with the end in mind. Chantel Bartlett is the Assistant Director of Programs and Events for NAWIC, the National Association of Women in Construction. She heads NAWIC's Leadership Academy efforts to provide leadership development course, focused on women in construction. 

"Probably the best feature of our leadership course is that it's for women in construction and by women in construction," Chantel explains, "meaning the context of our learning is realistic and similar to what our participants will encounter in their professional lives." 

NAWIC's Leadership Academy is an 8-week course, designed to develop skills for career advancement and build a leadership foundation, create a personal brand and visibility, and chart a career pathway. Communication and influencing skills and how to negotiate for advancement are also part of the instruction. This program benefits participants by reinforcing strategic intentionality. A significant component of the program is that each participant writes a career leadership development plan, which allows them to set a course for their career growth and success. 

Chantel is enthusiastic about how the leadership plan helps women become leaders. "I think having a career roadmap and building a community is key—a lot of people never map it out. They just move from job to job. This is a more intentional and focused strategy for growth."  

Rita Brown, the current president of NAWIC, commented that, "the Leadership Academy program is focused on women in the greater construction industry and its ecosystem. At NAWIC we have worked hard to bring in experts and standouts in their field as well as panelists who can speak from their own experience within the industry and share success strategies with attendees that inspire and ignite next level success. I recommend this program to any woman seeking to grow their career in construction." 

The NAWIC Leadership Academy has existed for several years, with this latest iteration of the Leadership Training program being infused with more content and added industry-specific instruction. "It's Leadership 2.0, "says Chantel, "and has taken into account the needs of the industry today." 

Every person who finishes the program receives a certificate of completion. But the Leadership Academy doesn't stop there. There are follow-ups after 6, 12, and 36 months to monitor and provide sustaining reinforcement as participants progress in their careers.  

The course segments are taught live online each week for 8 weeks. Recordings are available but Chantel strongly encourages that they be taken live. "It allows participants to ask questions and receive direct input from our instructors," she notes. 

The NAWIC Leadership Academy is one of a cadre of strategic practical education initiatives designed to accelerate careers.  Cohorts begin classes on January 27th and 28th this year. With two cohorts already on the books for 2026, NAWIC plans on another round in the fall.  Stay tuned for industry-specific professional development programs which will be announced in the weeks to come.