Celebrating Women Who Shape the Future of Making
March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize and honor the women that have blazed a trail in the decades and centuries past. We think it’s also a great time to recognize and honor women who are helping to shape the future of making today, especially those in the AU community.
After all, while women comprise only 9% of the workforce in construction (3% on the construction site itself), 13% in engineering, 25% in architecture, and 29% in manufacturing, signs are trending toward greater equity. And with the persistent shortage of skilled labor in construction, it’s more important than ever to attract women to the field.
Organizations like the Society of Women Engineers, Women in Construction Operations, and many others are focusing on mentorship, mobilization, and modeling for the next generation. And private companies are getting in on the action as well, such as Miron Construction’s Build Like a Girl day and the more manufacturing-focused Girls Garage program, supported in part by Autodesk.
"I used to not like being called a 'woman architect.' But I see an incredible amount of need from other women for reassurance that it can be done, so I don't mind anymore." —Zaha Hadid, Iraqi-British architect and first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize
So as we celebrate what’s been achieved, let’s not forget to look forward to a better future were diversity is welcome and equity is expected. Check out a few related AU classes:
Inspiring the Next Generation: The Future of Women in Technology
Women are smashing institutional barriers every day. But there’s still work to do. Check out our AU panel on mentoring the next generation of women in technology.
Why Diversity and Inclusion Is Important for Your Business
Discover real-world solutions for growing diversity and inclusion in this compelling AU 2018 conversation featuring Minette Norman, Jennifer Suerth, and 4 co-speakers.
And while we’re at it, let’s hear from a few of our popular AU speakers who are women.
AutoCAD Electrical Avengers: Implementing AutoCAD Electrical
In this top-rated instructional demo, Tiffany Bachmeier walks you through some AutoCAD Electrical best practices and methodologies.
Beyond Clash Detection: How General Contractors Can Use BIM on Any Project
Check out Kate Kirwan’s industry talk on bringing the construction industry on board with BIM.
Future of Project Risk Management for GCs
Explore how adopting next-gen BIM 360 can give you a competitive advantage in the construction industry with Maryam Rezvani.
