Building Your Story
Welcome to Building Your Story, the podcast that shares the stories of successful women in the construction industry.
Building Your Story
Episode 21 - Cara Grant
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From Ballet Barre to Construction Site: Cara Grand's Journey
Cara Grand’s journey from ballerina to construction leader is a masterclass in resilience and purpose. Discover how her passion for learning fueled a career shift from dance to managing billion-dollar projects. Cara shares insights on leadership, balancing motherhood, and breaking barriers in male-dominated fields. Her story is a testament to the power of curiosity and perseverance in crafting a fulfilling career. Perfect for those seeking inspiration to transform passion into impactful careers.
Key Topics:
- Transition from ballet to construction
- Overcoming challenges and embracing new opportunities
- Balancing career and motherhood
- Lessons in leadership and authenticity
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
05:41 - Challenges in ballet
10:11 - Career shift to construction
19:06 - Leadership journey
31:42 - Work-life balance insights
43:46 - Advice for young women
Hello and welcome to Building Your Story, the podcast that tells the stories of successful women in the construction industry. My name is Diane and I will be your host. The construction industry may come across as traditional and male-dominated, making it seem daunting for women. For the last nine years, I've had the opportunity to work in value-setting and environments in this industry. From Ikalwit to Bermuda, from construction to design, from architecture to engineering, I have met amazing women. Women who are truly passionate about their work. It is their stories that I want to share today. From engineer to CEO, site superintendent to project manager, we'll hear from women at different stages of their career. Some are reserved, some are outspoken, but all are carrying out the space to be their authentic self. These women represent the diversity of our field. Despite their differences, one thing unites them all, their strengths and the power of their stories. Join us for a frank and open discussion as we explore the specific challenges that women face in their career, as well as the many opportunities that exist in our industry. Learn about the tactics and perspectives that have helped these women to confidently take their place in the field, including how to overcome the famous imposter syndrome. Building your story is also an opportunity to hear about your story. Whether you have a personal story to share, a burning question to ask, or a recommendation for guests we can bring a unique perspective to the table, your input is invaluable. Together, we can inspire change. Together, we can share amazing stories. Now, let's hear how our guests build our story. One step at a time. Hi Kara, and thank you for joining us today. How are you doing? I'm well, thank you. Thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER_00I'm super excited to be here.
SPEAKER_01I'm super excited to hear about your story. Could you share a little bit about yourself to start? So we'd love to know your name, how old you are, where you're from, and what do you do for a living?
SPEAKER_00Sure. My name is Kara Grant. I am 44 and I live in Oakville, Ontario. I was born in Calgary, um, but I moved to Toronto when I was about nine or 10. And I am currently a construction manager at Elliston.
SPEAKER_01Wow, that's amazing. So I think, especially in your case, I would love to know what was your childhood dream when you were a little girl. What was Kara dreaming about?
SPEAKER_00Kara was dreaming about being a ballerina.
SPEAKER_01And fast forward a few years later, Kara became a ballerina, which is what we want to hear about. So tell us about like how did that dream, like how did it begin? Were you always interested in dancing? Did you start really early? Was it something in your family?
SPEAKER_00Um, so I think like a lot of young girls and boys, um, there, my parents put me in dance lessons recreationally when I was three. And I think they always put me in good ballet schools. Um, so there was a certain pedagogy or a way of teaching ballet that was led to a classical ballet training. So I was always put in those types of programs. And I think I got to a certain age, I lived in Calgary, Edmonton at the time, and I got to a certain age with this ballet training program where I think I was nine or 10, and I had to be 16 to do an exam. It's called uh RED, it's a Royal Academy of Dance from London, England. And at that point, my teachers, who were ex-dancers from the Royal Ballet in London, England, suggested to my parents that perhaps I was talented enough that I could audition for the National Ballet School in Toronto. And so what happens is that the school goes around and does auditions to different cities across Canada, now very much from around the world. And there's a small handful of students that get accepted to the summer program. So I was one of the lucky students. I went to the summer program in Toronto for four weeks. The first two weeks, I don't think you're allowed to see your parents. And the first week, you're not allowed to speak to your parents on the Wow, and you're nine years old, ten years old. Yeah, nine, ten years old.
SPEAKER_01That's crazy.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So um, so I did that, and basically at the end of that month-long program, they then distill the number of students that they accept to the yearly program. And so I was accepted into the yearly program. I've started when I was in grade seven, and then every year during my time at the ballet school, you would re-audition essentially into the next year so that they would re-evaluate the dancers and the students' development as classical ballet dancers, and they would decide whether your talent, your physicality, et cetera, would sort of develop in such in such a way that it was allowed to be the criteria. Exactly. So I ended up graduating from the ballet school. And there was probably I think 15 of us that graduated in the in the in the grade that year. So very small group. Um, I think there was only a small handful of us that had made it from grade seven to grade 12 through the program. And then out of the 15 that had graduated, I think there was only a very small handful of us after that that got professional jobs.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so very, very hard to to make it through. And and when you're a teenager, I guess going through that, were you so focused on just becoming a dancer that you were not thinking about anything else? Or did you have other stuff coming to mind and be like, hey, if I can't make it to dancing, I'll be an engineer, doctor, a lawyer, whatever?
SPEAKER_00No, yeah. So the the program is so focused that there was no other thought or focus other than achieving a dance career. And so I think for people who didn't make it through the program, it's probably very it was very devastating because you're you're so it's such a highly focused and highly dedicated program. And your outcome is to become a professional ballerina.
SPEAKER_01And I guess thanks to your hard work, I know at some point you say you were a lucky girl, but probably a lot of hard work, a lot of discipline. You became a professional ballerina. I guess you were a dancer. So tell us a little bit about that that first career.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I was a dancer with the National Ballet of Canada. I did train as well between graduating from the school and starting in the ballet company. I did go to Germany. I was trained in Germany as well for a little bit, a couple months in the summer as part of an exchange program with the schools. I came back to Canada. I got a job in the ballet company. I danced in all their major productions, Swan Lake, Giselle, Nutcracker, Sleep and Beauty, Balanchine programs. We toured across Canada. I did spend most of my summers traveling by myself in Europe. I was always super fascinated with the art and dance world in Europe and super curious about it. And at the time there wasn't a lot of like social media and mag like it was it was very difficult to sort of understand what was happening in other countries and unless you physically went there and saw it. So I spent my summers in Europe by myself in France and things like that, touring around, training, taking classes elsewhere in the world, and just being exposed to different different things, different cultures, different countries, different trainings, different teachers, anything I could get my hands on.
SPEAKER_01Although you were really focused on that goal of I guess becoming and then being a professional ballerina, I guess your mind was always interested by more. And I know we'll we'll go to the curiosity because I know it's something that's important to you, but it started kind of early.
SPEAKER_00I was inspired. It was inspiring for me. I think dance allowed me to look at architecture, allowed me to look at art, I would spend my time in museums, I would spend my time at the opera. Like it just there was a world of curiosity that it opened up, uh opened up for me and allowed me to. There's so many different things that are part of the dance world that it just opened my eyes to all the different curiosities that I wanted to see and wanted to be exposed to.
SPEAKER_01Amazing. Well, I guess 20 years later, you're a construction manager. So you're gonna have to help us a little bit of how how was the move from being a professional ballerina to to I guess finding the construction?
SPEAKER_00Um, I would I think it was it was a huge identity shift to leave the dance world. Um it was a decision I made on my own, and I feel very grateful to be empowered to make that decision. I did have a a fairly devastating injury that sort of confirmed my decision, I suppose. But I think initially I sort of said, okay, I I think there's other things in the life and in my world that I'd like to explore. And then I, you know, literally fell in the driveway of my house and I fractured my pelvis. And so there was then forced to move on with life. But I think in my mind and in my heart, I was ready to sort of see what else was out there. I think it it takes a lot for dancers because you embody so much of the training and the life, and your body is your physical art form. It's hard to look at life differently. And so I think it was a big transition of just identity of like, who am I? What do I want? What is my next goal? How, like, I'm still very young, what am I going to do with myself? And I think I spent about a year or so just trying to figure that out, trying to go back to school. I don't think in the dance world, we were given a lot of support in terms of secondary, sort of academic university training. And so it was very much on my own trying to figure out how do you get back to college, how do you get back to university, just technical things like that. I think part of my time that I had spent in Europe, I was always fascinated by architecture, building. And that was, and I remember as a kid like watching this old house, this TV show, this guy would repair old historic houses. And I love, love watching that and spending time in my dad's like workshop in the basement soldering metal. And I love doing that. And just like I was a bit of a tomboy from that perspective. So I think it was just taking a chance and deciding, okay, I need to go back to college. I need to go back to university. I'm gonna study something that I'm I'm again curious about. It's still very creative for me. It's design, it's architecture, it's interior design. Went back to school and then finished school and thought, okay, I really don't want to. It's not something that interests me, but I think I've I think I've told this story before of walking down the street and looking up at a building being built and go, I want to learn how to do that. And it was this very clear question that I had, a very clear curiosity that I had. And I went and sought how to answer that question. And I was very lucky and I knew someone who had a contact at WSP, fresh out of college, knew nothing about anything, and got an interview at WSP. And it was basically a favor that I got hired. It was like, I had no business with what I was doing, but it was a favor, and I started and I just put my head down and I learned. The thing that drove me was my curiosity. I wanted to learn. I found all of this so fascinating that I just wanted to learn, I wanted to experience. And so I spent 10 years with WSP.
SPEAKER_01So, what was your first job when you started with WSP?
SPEAKER_00I was a project coordinator on a number of Canada Post sites across the province. So doing yeah, slab replacements in sorting facilities, retail fit outs and upgrades across the province for Canada Post. And also I did a lot of work with uh Ryerson University and their capital builds for a decade.
SPEAKER_01Cool. And so I guess that's one of your first experience of being on site. So, what does it feel like? I'm sure like being on site is somehow probably very different from being on the stage, but maybe it is some similarities. Like, how did it feel the first time you went on site? Like, was it what you expected?
SPEAKER_00I mean, I was always lucky to work with people who sort of took me under my under their wing. And so I never felt uncomfortable. So I was always very lucky to be in a very good environment from that perspective. I think I was just so open to whatever I was gonna experience, like and so focused with getting the job done and learning and realizing that I knew nothing or I didn't know a lot and I'd be better sit here and figure out how to do this stuff. And so I think I was just highly focused. And I think that I got that from my dance career, where you don't have room for a lot of distraction. You don't have room to like you've gotta stay focused and you've gotta, and your mind as an athlete gets trained in a certain way. And I think that I've seen that over the years translate into what I do and how I am today. But I think I was when I'd walk on these construction sites, boots on the ground, I was just focused and open to learning and experiencing things.
SPEAKER_01Amazing. I want to hold on to that thought and come back to it a bit later because I I think it does explain a lot about a lot of the things I read and heard about you. So I'm very interested. So tell us a little bit about the the 10 years at WSP. Is there like any big milestones? And then I'm also interested to understand like, why did you leave WSP to go and actually work for at least in the construction side?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I I mean I learned a lot at WSP. I was there for 10 years. I worked internationally in uh I worked on projects in London, England, and uh here in Canada. In Canada, I mostly worked on capital builds for university or for Ryerson University or TMU now and University of Toronto. And in England, I worked on some sort of fascinating projects in London. I think the experience I got with WSP is project management discipline, the discipline of project management. I think I also learned and had exposure to the full life cycle of projects. So writing RFPs for architects, doing project charters, like the very project initiation that you do with clients, design management, procurement, tendering, construction, commissioning, furniture. Like I really had the full, the full life cycle experience on many, many large, complex types of projects with multidisciplinary teams. So that was like a huge, huge win for me to be able to have that experience and have that experience with a mentor who sort of taught me a lot of what I know today and the discipline that I've learned over the years from a project management perspective.
SPEAKER_01Very interesting. And then so tell us about the move. So one day you're like, okay, now that I kind of messed out the PM stuff, I actually want to understand how it's built, right?
SPEAKER_00So kind of, yeah. What was that move? I think it was uh WSP at the time had gone through a lot of acquisitions and it just wasn't quite the same company for me anymore. And I think I had just felt like I had learned all that I was gonna learn and me being a very curious person. I really enjoyed the time I had with working with Ellis Dawn in a few projects and wanted to know how that side of the business worked and how that side of the project worked. And so I was very focused again on wanting to work with Ellis Dawn and finding my path to that company. And so I managed to do that. And it was really just a growth opportunity, a curiosity that led me to move from WSP to to Ellis Don.
SPEAKER_01So then that was on to the next challenge. So I'm sure you arrived there. So you were a PM, right, when you joined Liz Don. So probably very focused again, just knowing that you were just gonna continue to learn. So I was there anything that felt different because now you were on the construction side, or was it just kind of like, hey, I'm just gonna take my PM skills and just apply them to what I have to do in the next challenge?
SPEAKER_00Agreed. I think it was taking the PM skills that I had learned, but then also being open to learning everything that you had to learn with construction and how you manage that side of a project. Um, from a contracting perspective, risk management perspective, financials perspective, to bidding on work to executing work. Like it's just it's a whole other world of exposure that you you get that obviously you don't get when you're that I didn't get when I was working at WSP, and then the different types of complex projects and the way design build projects, P3 projects, CM projects, like the the list goes on and on in terms of the different types of projects and contract types and exposures and experiences that you can get. So it was and Aliston's a very um entrepreneurial company, and so there's a lot of freedom to navigate through your your individual as an individual in the company, and and that's very much what I seem to align with and my personality. And so I've had a fascinating career with Aliston. I think I've been with the company, I think it's coming on nine or nine years, something like that, or 10 years this this fall. So, and uh it's never boring.
SPEAKER_01Well, and it's probably also never boring because you went from being a project manager to a project director to a construction manager. So I'm sure like it was a lot of different challenges, and you continue to challenge yourself. Looking back, what would you say, what would you say like really fueled that growth? And how did you feel like you were able to go one step after the other so fast? Because it's quite fast to move from one role to the other.
SPEAKER_00It was, I think again, opportunities, understanding where I wanted to grow and what I wanted to see and experience within the company. And so I did transfer, I was part of the services department when I first started with the company and said did more project management, construction management type opportunities as well, to moving into the Toronto Buildings area where I focused primarily on construction and construction management. Not to say that there wasn't other sort of aspects of project management that came into it, but was able to move into different departments with within the organization. Um I'm currently with Toronto Buildings right now, and so more focused on construction. But yeah, no, it's been a great, great experience so far.
SPEAKER_01So tell us a little bit about your role today as a construction manager. What does your day-to-day look like? What type of project are you working on?
SPEAKER_00So over the last several years, I've been at St. Michael's Hospital, a redevelopment project since probably before COVID. Have done a number of renovations there. We took over the a bankrupt P3 on that property itself and transitioned that into a construction management project, got through COVID and turning over a significant, it was a patient care tower that we turned over to the province and to the city during COVID, which was a huge milestone during that time. Um, and wrapping up a large portion of the work right now at St. Michael's Hospital. We just got occupancy on the new shooter tower and some other phases. So I think I've been there for seven or eight years or something like that. And it's just such an incredible milestone to finish. And right now, working on some other pursuits and things like that with the company. So again, just happy to be exposed to new projects and new complexities and new teams and and things like that. We still have about a year left at St. Mike's, but um, large portion of the work is is finally finished.
SPEAKER_01You've mentioned opportunities a few times. Would you say like it's it's something that has worked well for you to just say yes to anyopportunity.com and do like different projects, work with different teams, try different things.
SPEAKER_00I think I've been lucky over the years where I have a bit of a not a choice, but I think that things that have come to me have aligned with what I want to learn and what I want to be exposed to. I don't think I've ever been shy of asking for responsibility. And I think that comes part of asking for responsibility, asking to be a part of things, asking to be exposed to things because I'm curious, because I want to learn, and then being given those opportunities. I think that's that's important. I think and asking in the appropriate way is important to learn. So I think I've been respectfully vocal on what it is that I want to do and what it is that I want to accomplish, and then being given those opportunities and then taking advantage of any opportunity that I'm given to learn for sure.
SPEAKER_01And I think something that you're mentioning that's interesting is like you don't necessarily have to ask for like a promotion or a raise. You can ask to be exposed to different things, you can ask to learn about different things. There's so many other ways that you will show that you are interested, but you're not just you're hungry, but like in the right way, and you understand that you have some learning to do to get probably to the next step.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. I met with somebody who who really um taught me that. And I asked how this person grew within their career. And the one of the biggest takeaways I took from that discussion was asking for the work, asking for the exposure, asking for the experience. And when you and then everything else comes with it. You don't walk in there necessarily asking for the promotion and asking, I want this, I want that. It's it's how do you gain that experience? How do you have that experience? How do you be exposed to the role, be exposed to the job, do the work, and then it all comes after?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I think that's helpful because sometimes we feel like you know, there's two types of people, the people that work hard, keep your heads down, and it will come to you. And sometimes people don't fully understand that because they're like, well, but I feel if I don't say anything, then I'll get nowhere, I guess.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01One thing I want to talk to you about, because I know in in other podcasts you've mentioned that, you know, for you being a woman in the industry was was not a big deal, but you've also like totally acknowledged that that was just your personal experience. And that's one of the things I wanted to mention when you mentioned earlier, like that you are very focused. So I'm wondering if maybe like the two are related and you're just so focused on what you have to do that you just don't have the time to think about being a woman or what other people might think, or like the fact that you should or should not be in the room. I guess question for you like how like how has it feel to be a woman in the industry and how does it feel today?
SPEAKER_00Um, I think it's evolved over time. I think when I first started, I was young. I don't think the conversation around um women in construction was as strong and prevalent as it is now. And so when I was younger, I think I had Because I was so focused, it didn't bother me. It didn't, I didn't really notice. And it didn't time I felt insecure about what I was doing or confidence that I had was not because I felt like I was the only woman in the room. Yeah. So I think I was very lucky that, and because I was in an environment that was quite supportive. And so I didn't ever feel um like somehow shy or or insecure about that. So I never I never noticed. And then I think as everything's evolved and there's much more discussion on it, it is very important. And I'm a huge believer in like see it to be it and the idea of like if you see something and you can imagine it and you can see it, and then maybe you can see yourself in that. And so you know, there's not a lot of examples of women in senior leadership roles in construction. And I understand the importance of that presence and I understand the importance of the see it to be it. I think I still don't pay attention to it.
SPEAKER_01It's good. I think it's great for you.
SPEAKER_00I think because I and I think this with anything is like if you compare yourself, if you look sideways, if you if you start looking at what other people are doing around you, you're gonna get derailed. You're it's gonna destroy you. And so I've I think I've had to, and it's not to say that I haven't ever felt that way or questioned myself or been a little intimidated, but I think I've always tried to get back to like I've had a very clear vision about what I want my life to look like, what I want my career to look like, and driving towards those goals and not being so worried about some of the stuff happening around me and just kind of being able to put my blinders on and I want to say, like keep my innocence a little bit and just you know, but also note of like being, you know, representative of who I want to be in this in this industry as a woman. Like I think that's important. I actually I put thought into like the type of woman I want to be in this industry, and it's it's purposeful.
SPEAKER_01It's yeah, and I think it's you know, with a lot of the women, I have I have this same of similar discussion, and there's that almost that two phase where like you start and you just work hard, and if you're scared, it's because you're young, and there's also young men that are scared, like the same way. And then after like 10, 15 years, you're like, okay, it's not exactly the same. So what do I do with all that now? And then there's almost that feeling of like, it's not so much about being a woman, it's about being myself, it's about being able to be who I truly am. And yes, part of me is being a woman and probably it influenced who I am as a person, but like it's just like trying to find comfortable being who you are is probably the hardest part.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. I'm I'm definitely not trying to be like anyone else in the company. Like I'm I am who I am, you know. If I want to walk on site and I want to wear my pearls, I'm gonna wear my pearls. No, I just it's you just have to like believe in yourself and you've gotta be yourself, but you also have to be, you gotta understand and be aware of what your presence means to others and how your presence is amongst others. And I I have thought about that a lot and I value that a lot. And so I am myself, but I'm very aware of and purposeful in how I present myself in terms of like being the woman or being a woman where I am today.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I think it's it's important to say that you can, it's not because you don't care about what people feel about you, like or think about you, that you don't care about how you make people feel and we you want to be like in the room, in a group, in a company, in your community and and everything, right? So it's it's two different things. And I guess going back to the ballet world where I'm sure there's a lot of competition, you've mentioned like you know, every year you have like new auditions. Like, do you think maybe that's also where you'll learn that comparing yourself to other was kind of useless because at the end of the day, like it's just you against you, and it doesn't matter what the competition is, you have to give your best.
SPEAKER_00Yes, and it's funny, I'm the least competitive person out there. Like, I like you ask me, I'm I can't compete against someone else. Like, I just won't. I'll shy away. I'll say, no, no, no, I'm fine, I'm fine. I don't like I just can't go there. So, yes, it's more a competition with myself and more just again, just being curious and having a clear vision of what I want to accomplish in my life. I have a very clear set of goals, I have a very clear set of the person I want to be, and and just I keep moving towards that and and not and try not to be distracted about anything else that's going around me that may not contribute to where I'm heading.
SPEAKER_01So you had two carriers. Your first one is a professional dancer, and now in the construction industry, I know you've stayed very involved in the ballot world. I was looking at your LinkedIn post and like half, like probably more than half are about ballot and like the other half about constrictions, and actually a few about goals and and mindset. So it kind of like it all works out. But why was it important for you to stay involved in the ballot world and how is that helping you today to continue grow as a professional in general?
SPEAKER_00So I think it's my first love. It's still so inspiring for me. Ballet and art and dance. It's it's so beautiful. The athleticism, the beauty, the poetry in it, it's it's it's still just it's is so inspiring for me. And I I feel like when I have moments in my life when I don't feel inspired, I don't feel my best self, just personally. And so I I like to find moments of inspiration, whether that's going to an art gallery, whether that's watching a ballet, whether that's listening to music, it's it's always important to find inspiration. And so for me, I think it's my first love, and it's still very inspiring for me.
SPEAKER_01It will be your first love forever, right? So I feel like it's gonna be in your life forever. And I like that. Did you feel like it brought something specific to you, like now as the construction manager, you as a professional, you are in the construction industry?
SPEAKER_00There are so many skills that I learned uh as an athlete and as a dancer that I've brought with me. I think um nerves are one thing. You you learn how to manage nerves, you learn how to be like present yourself in a certain way, especially if you're in a presentation or in a meeting or in whatever sort of environment that you kind of need to put that on. I think um it's taught me to focus, it's taught me discipline, it's taught me resilience. I think that's a huge thing. I've never given up. I think my resilience piece has been a huge part. And I also think like as an athlete and as a dancer, you were in moments of discomfort, like you had you were injured or you were stressed or or whatever, and you've you were in these discomforting moments, and and your relationship changes with those moments. And so you you have those challenges today and in life and in the world and in construction, and you're not so scared of them. Um, you've learned how to manage through stress and how to manage through different scenarios, and you've got that resilience and that determination to get you through those moments.
SPEAKER_01I love that. Do you still dance today?
SPEAKER_00No, no, no, no. Okay, so I I I run. I try, but I I mean I had hip surgery five years ago. Yeah, it's not it's not something I ever I actually want to do. I feel like I've closed that chapter and I'm like, I'm good, I don't need to do that again. But I I mean, I love watching it, I love physicality. I still try to, you know, run and push my body athletically as best as my body will let me these days, but no, I have not tried to dance again.
SPEAKER_01As you moved, I guess, from more like, you know, project manager role to more like leadership role, like is there anything that's important to you in terms of like the culture and the environment that that you want to build in your company?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I I've for sure I talked to my team. So I I think I'm I'm very focused on team development. I'm very focused on building high performing teams and helping the team sort of synergize in a way that gets it gets them into this opt type of performance and helping individuals kind of get to that point as well. Um, definitely heavily interested in shaping the culture of the organization and being able to participate in that. I um I participate in the employee engagement committee in the Toronto Buildings group, and that's been really satisfying to meet a lot of people in the company, but also being able to influence or be part of an influence to how the employee engagement happens in the in the company. I was also part of a group that helped change the benefits package for maternity and paternity leave in the company and had some large changes with with that uh committee that I worked on. And as I continue to be in part of the company, being part of business decisions, cultural decisions, being at the table to help influence and make those decisions or at least watch those decisions happen is something I I try to do whenever the opportunity allows me to.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I think that's really good to note because it kind of it's the this year, the the theme of International Women Day was uh give to gain. And one of the ways we were kind of like highlighting it within my company was to say, like, you know, like all these little things like being part of a subcommittee, being part of an employee resource group, like volunteering for your social committee or whatever. Like, yes, it will take you like you know an hour and or two, like here and there. And sometimes like in a busy day, it's hard to feel that it's worth it. But like you will not just do that event or help bomb that, you will actually get so much more from that. You will get like connection, you will get a seat at a table, you will get vision from exposure from leadership and all that. So I think it's it's a good, like, as much as we're talking about like working very hard and being focused on project, all these side initiatives are like also a very good way to get to the table, I guess.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. Absolutely. I always tell my team, like any opportunity that you can ask for or that you are given, like take it because those opportunities can, you know, give you put you on a path that you might not otherwise be on. And you don't know that until you you take those opportunities and you meet someone, and then that person's like, oh, we need someone on this project, or are you interested in doing this? Like different avenues of opportunity open up. So I always tell my team, like, take those opportunities or ask for those opportunities.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think it's a good reminder. I always say, like, say yes unless you have a very good reason to say no. And sometimes there is good reason to say no, but even though just say yes. You've mentioned maternity leave and and parental leave. I think let's talk a little bit about that. Like, I know you you became a mom, and do you think do you feel that that shifted your your perspective on any of of this aspect of your career?
SPEAKER_00So, yes. Yes and no. So I have two young boys, two and a half and three and a half. I went on very short maternity leaves for both. I think I was six months from my or six, I think six months from my first maternity leave. I think I was pregnant when I went back to work. My boys are 14 months apart, and I think I can't remember how many months I worked, and then I went on my second maternity leave. I think I was off for six months again. Um and I started back working with like a seven-month-year-old in a, I don't know, I can't do the math right now, but it was two very young boys.
SPEAKER_01There were two, they were young and they were boys. That's all you have to say.
SPEAKER_00I think uh it is taught me to fly by the seat of my pants most days. Everything is unexpected, nothing is planned because you plan and then you know your kids got a fever, yes, whatever, right? So it was hard because it was very frustrating because I wanted to to have a plan and then it got derailed.
SPEAKER_01Focused and there was just getting in the way of your pockets brain.
SPEAKER_00So I think I think you know what, I I thought about this that every so I was super lucky because I was I was actually able to go back to work with two young boys and and be able to get back to work. And so I have to say I'm super, super lucky that I had a company and I had a team that was incredibly supportive and allowed me to take that journey. And so I had like it was super, super lucky. I think I would say that I was more for I asked people to be more forgiving of me than I allowed myself to be forgiving of myself. I was very hard on myself when things when I couldn't juggle as best as I wanted to. I was very, very hard on myself, and I struggled a lot with that. Um, it was very frustrating for me. But I think um I figured it out. And I think every day it's like, you know, something happens and you look at your calendar and you go, okay, I, you know, I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna do this, and I'm gonna manage it this way, and I'm gonna be here for that, and then I'm gonna have to put the kid down for the nap on here, and like you just like you figure it out, and you can't figure it out until that moment happens, and then you just get really good at figuring it out. And so after a while and of being frustrated, I just kind of embraced the I'm just gonna figure it out in the moment, and I'm gonna do my best. And I I think through that became a little bit more forgiving of myself than I was allowing it to begin with. And I think at this point with the boys' ages, I feel I was saying I was thinking this the other night. I mean, I do most of the, if not all, the drop-offs, the pickups, the appointments, all the rest of it. And I thought to myself the other night, like, how lucky am I to be able to put my kids to bed every single night and feed them dinner every single night, and then be able to go off during the day and have this amazing career that I can still drive and pursue and accomplish and achieve and live my dream, but then be able to put my kid to bed every night. Like that's just to me, that was so special to be able to, you know, lay next to him in bed and kiss him and singlebies and know that day I was gonna get up and like do something crazy at work. Yeah, I mean it's been a it's been such a I mean, most days I'm not as punishive about the whole experience. I'm more frustrated, but I'm trying to find the like, you know, there's such beauty in it. And I think you just gotta forgive yourself once in a while when things don't go as planned.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and tip you're right, like take a step back and look at look at everything you're doing, right? Like it's just like sometimes, as you say, like there's day you're just frustrated and you're like, okay, well, it doesn't sound so great to have Dina with my son today. But when you step back and you think about what it is, it is pretty cool. Um, so you've mentioned, I guess, obviously being a mother, you've mentioned like having your your career that you love. A few times in the episode, you've talked about setting your goals for yourself. How do you find time to set these goals? And is there anything that you do where you've talked about being inspired and continuing to do stuff for yourself?
SPEAKER_00Like I think one step at a time, one day at a time. Sometimes it's a minute at a time, an hour at a time. I think the thing that drives you through that is that goal and that purpose and that and that accomplished vision of what you want your life to be that drives you through all those little moments. But it's it's crazy, it's hectic, but it's one step at a time, one day at a time. Opportunity you get, you take.
SPEAKER_01How do you set that vision of oh that goal of the woman you want to be like?
SPEAKER_00I think it's looking for like you look around at different people and different people that inspire you and different people that you kind of see, oh wow, this person is, you know. And and not a not from a comparison perspective, but just from again an inspiration. Inspiration. And it's not to say that there's one person I have in mind, but just like you look around and you kind of find inspiration with other women that inspire you. And then you go, oh wow, like yeah, I wanna that would be, yeah, that's that's cool. I wanna, I wanna do that. I want a line, I wanna, you know, find a way to be not be like that, but find my own way of of something similar. So I think it's again inspiration of other women and what they've accomplished, women who've come before me, and and just being able to think about what I want, what inspires me, what what challenges me, um, what I want to be part of, and then just taking it a day at a time in the chaos.
SPEAKER_01I love that because it also goes back to what we were talking about just earlier on like being exposed to different people, being exposed to different like teams, committees, just it will open windows to you, and then you will you will meet all these people that will be like every everyone is gonna be a little piece of inspiration. So I do, I do really like that. So now looking back at the last whatever you 20 plus years, like what is the the one thing that you're the the most proud of?
SPEAKER_00Oh goodness. Well, definitely my two boys. I can't, they're just little, I mean angels, but sometimes I know quotation marks. Yes. They're they're they're my definitely my pride and joy and the love of my life without question. I think I think the other part of it is that I've I have found or I've had the I've been lucky enough to experience and have two things in my life that I've been super passionate about and have have had two really phenomenal careers. And to be able to look back and look at the accomplishment I was as a dancer and as an athlete and the training that took me from even like a mental and physical training, I would say, is is just I still can't believe I did that. And then to be able to look at back of my career in construction, which is kind of close to if not over 20 years, it's been just like, holy shit, how did I do this? Like I don't know. Yeah, I think just being able to have two careers that I'm just very passionate about and still inspire, both still inspire me, um is something I'm most proud of.
SPEAKER_01I love that. So now what is your next dream? Well, I have it.
SPEAKER_00It's hard to articulate. Uh, I think I definitely have a dream. I definitely have goals. I think those closest to me know what those are. I think it's being able to continue to grow in the organization, to have greater influence over decisions and culture and and business than what I have today. And just being uh a thought leader and uh a team leader and a business leader and being able to just drive the industry forward and then continue to be a mom to my two boys and give them uh incredible experiences and and uh expose them to different inspir inspiring things and watch them grow into into themselves is just a huge privilege.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it is it is yeah, such a nice, nice dream and and nice expectation. So now if you could give one advice to a young woman that would start our career in the construction, what would that be?
SPEAKER_00Believe in yourself. I would say stay focused, be purposeful, find your way. I think no path is straight for anybody. Yeah, that's a good reminder. I think no path is straight. There's no straight line to anything. And if you want something hard bad enough and you work hard enough, the other piece you have to do is find your way and let no one step in your way or stand in your way. You you work around it, you move around it, you figure it out, you're resilient, and to keep living your dream. If that's really what you want, then just keep going for it. And after you know, resilience is a huge, huge part of learning and be kind to others and be kind to yourself.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, be kind to yourself. That's a good reminder. I think you've mentioned it before, like sometimes we're often like harder on ourselves than we are on other people. And I know I realized that as well when I came back from Met Leave and there was other young mom. I'm like, but you shouldn't do that. And then I was looking at myself, I'm like, but then I shouldn't do that to that. It's uh definitely a good reminder at any point of your career, not just at the beginning. If you had the chance to listen to anyone else on this podcast, who would you like to listen to?
SPEAKER_00Oh, Jody Becker.
SPEAKER_01Okay, yeah, absolutely. Cool. And then to end this podcast, what is the one song that makes you feel powerful?
SPEAKER_00Oh, geez, it's so funny because my team will just laugh at me because every time they they're like, Do you know this song? I'm like, no. How do you not know this? I'm like, guys, like, I just no, I just don't worry.
SPEAKER_01I might have faked sometimes when the guest was like, Oh, he has this song. And I'm like, Oh, such a cool song. I'm like, I have no idea what you're talking about.
SPEAKER_00I so probably the things that inspire me most are probably like classical music still. And uh and Vico Analdi is probably one of the best like pianists. I actually know this one. And it's just like you can't help but just yeah, yeah, inspire. So perfect.
SPEAKER_01Well, Kara, thank you so much for sharing your story. Thank you so much for sharing about like your two careers, but as well as like the stuff that makes you very happy today, your boys being a mom, and as well as being yourself leader and and bringing all that care to the industry as well. Like you're as well, like you're as focused as you care, I feel. And and I love like hearing about all that. So thank you so much for sharing your story, and I can't wait to see you fulfill your next dream.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed this.
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