I realized that early on, what intrigued me was taking things apart and trying my best to put them back together again. In general, problem solving was very prevalent in my DNA. I was always good at math and science and in high school, I chose to go into engineering when I went to my career center to try to figure out what I wanted to do. I went to UCLA for mechanical engineering because I felt that mechanical engineering was the broadest and I figured it would allow me to go into so many different types of industries, from aerospace to automotive.
Going to UCLA and studying engineering taught me to be a problem solver. None of my classes were construction related, but I was able to apply that frame of mind, the problem-solving technique, and the thought process to my current work. I still stand by my decision to major in mechanical engineering because of the opportunity to stay broad. Most of my college career was spent not knowing what I wanted to do. Even though I actually did not study construction management in college, my major still allowed me to enter the construction management industry. There was a time when I thought I would transfer to aerospace engineering because I was fascinated by airplanes. I was intrigued by how these huge, heavy pieces of metal could get up into the sky and fly all over the world. While I was interested in that at the time, I am still glad that I did not make the switch because I feel like I kept my broad opportunities by staying in my major. I was also involved in SWE and got more involved toward the end of my college career as the Social Chair for the UCLA section. A lot of my friends were guys and SWE really opened up the female relationships that I was able to cater and have in my life. I really appreciated that community.
Most mechanical engineers do not end up in construction. Between my junior to senior year, I had an internship with the city of San Francisco. I worked at the San Francisco International Airport in their Bureau of Design and Construction. I loved the people aspect of construction. I was still able to problem solve, which is what engineering is all about. However, I felt that with construction, I would not get stuck behind a desk running calculations all day, which wasn’t necessarily for me. To me, construction deals with the business of people, which really drew me to construction management. I remember coming back from that summer and starting my senior year knowing that I really wanted to work for either a construction management firm or a general contractor. Now, I have a love for airports in addition to my love for airplanes. There’s so much complexity that goes into designing and building an operational airport. Just imagine starting construction at an airport that already has so many people and planes moving in and out. We had to make sure our construction did not interfere with all of the operations at the airport.
Once I graduated college, I joined Turner Construction and I have been with the company for 14 years. I knew I always wanted to be a project manager when I first started in construction. However, I didn’t realize how much it involved the managing of people over the managing of day-to-day problems. What drew me to construction was the hands-on aspect, seeing tangible results to the things I am building, but as I have progressed my career with Turner, I have had to look at the people side while working with different personalities, managing styles, and techniques. Having to manage folks and aligning a team to get a project done has been its own challenge.
My current role is as a pre-construction manager. I help set up projects for success and hand them off to the operations team. What I really like about this role is the flexibility that I have. I am also a relatively new mom, since I had a baby at the end of 2019. Before I got pregnant, I prioritized my career and focused so much on work. Now that I have a baby and a family, my priorities are different, which was expected. What I am so lucky and grateful for is to have the opportunity to find a role within the same company that fits my current needs and allows me the flexibility to give more time to my family.
Recently, I’ve been working with a lot of pharmaceutical companies. These companies manufacture drugs that save lives, so it is important that the construction we manage does not interfere with their operations. As a pre-construction manager, I have to put together an entire estimate throughout the construction process. What started as just a napkin sketch has grown into a full set of drawings that require their own permits. There is so much information going in but we still have to meet a certain budget. Even in a small way, I am also contributing to extending and saving the lives of the company’s patients, which has been incredibly gratifying.
To any high schoolers out there, I recommend finding what your passion is. I have also interviewed lots of students for entry-level positions and what I am always looking for is that spark in somebody when they know what they want to do. It is easier said than done. I didn’t know what I wanted to do in high school, but I worked to find something that sparked something inside of me and I stuck with that. That extra drive and ambition is what will set you apart from other people, especially when it comes to starting a career or landing a job.
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