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Overview""In the decades I’ve known Gretchen, I have watched her grow and excel as a mother, a civic and business leader, and an influencer in the construction industry. We are so fortunate that Gretchen carved out the time to write this seminal book on women’s leadership and I am confident that all will benefit from the knowledge she shares. Gretchen is a remarkable leader and role model who cares deeply for the construction industry, and her passion for helping women thrive helps us build a more inclusive industry."" —Mary K. Rhinehart, Chair, Johns Manville Corporation. Practical leadership guidance, inspiring stories, and actionable strategies for women and their male allies to elevate their careers in construction Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction is a guide to becoming a successful female leader in the construction, engineering, mining, and energy industries. Featuring real-world case studies, inspiring stories of successful women leaders, and actionable strategies, this book serves as a catalyst for transformation, enabling organizations to harness the untapped potential of their female talent and drive innovation and growth. Leveraging the author’s 40-year industry career as a construction industry executive, female trailblazer, and advocate for women empowerment in the workplace, Building Women Leaders includes information on: Techniques for navigating a male-dominated industry, including understanding “dominant culture” and unconscious bias The qualities of successful leaders in these industries, including what it means to lead versus manage and how Grounded Self-leadership is critical to authenticity Guidelines for building strong relationships and leading a diverse team with confidence, courage, and humility Ways to handle difficult conversations and conflicts, and the role of trust and vulnerability in these situations How to build support via professional organizations, networking groups, and training and development opportunities for women leaders Building Women Leaders is a timely, essential, up-to-date resource on the subject for leaders of all genders and at all levels and occupations in the engineering, construction, mining, and energy industries looking to harness the power of women in the workforce. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Gretchen Gagel (Southern Methodist University; University of Denver; Regis University; Colorado State University)Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Inc Dimensions: Width: 14.50cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 22.40cm Weight: 0.567kg ISBN: 9781394251384ISBN 10: 1394251386 Pages: 368 Publication Date: 08 May 2025 Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Available To Order ![]() We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately. Table of ContentsAbout the Author xiii Foreword by Janice L. Tuchman xv Foreword by Hugh L. Rice xvii Preface xix Acknowledgments xxiii Testimonials xxv Introduction 1 Part I ""Me"" - The Lived Experience of the Construction Industry 7 1 Exploring Unconscious Bias and Dominant Culture 9 Part II ""Me"" - Grounded Self-Leadership - Introduction 27 2 Defining Leadership and Your Leadership Aspirations 31 3 Living Your Life Purpose and Value 45 4 Feeling Courageous and Confident with Humility 57 5 Thinking Critically, Learning, and Reflecting 75 6 Telling Your Leadership Story 93 Part II ""Me"" - Grounded Self-Leadership - Conclusion 105 Part III ""We"" - The Supporting Cast - Introduction 107 7 Learning from Mentors, Sponsors, and Coaches 109 8 Experiencing Allyship 123 9 Building Powerful Networks 135 Part III ""We"" - The Supporting Cast - Conclusion 143 Part IV ""We"" - Building Strong Relationships - Introduction 145 10 Being Present, Listening, and Asking Great Questions 149 11 Utilizing Power to Influence 159 12 Leveraging Emotional Intelligence 167 13 Building Trust and Psychological Safety 179 14 The Three ""C’s"" - Communication, Collaboration, and Conflict Resolution 193 15 Clarifying Expectations and Providing Feedback 211 Part IV ""We"" - Building Strong Relationships - Conclusion 223 Part V ""Us"" - Leading and Influencing Teams and Organizations - Introduction 225 16 Defining Purpose, Goals, and Objectives 227 17 Building Organization Culture and Values 237 18 Executing Strategies and Tactics 247 19 Utilizing Team Norms and Social Contracts 255 20 Attracting, Hiring, and Retaining Diverse Talent 271 21 Creating Agile Teams and Organizations 283 Part V ""Us"" - Leading and Influencing Teams and Organizations - Conclusion 301 Part VI ""Us"" - Leading an Inclusive Construction Industry 303 22 Leading an Inclusive Construction Industry 305 Conclusion 321 Appendix A Construction Industry Leaders Interviewed for This Book 325 Appendix B Greatness Podcast Guests Included in This Book 327 Index 329ReviewsAuthor InformationGretchen Gagel, PhD, an influential leader in the construction industry, overcame discouragement from her father to study mechanical engineering and forge a successful executive career. She has advised some of the largest corporations on effective construction execution and in 2021 was inducted by her peers into the National Academy of Construction. The last chapter of Gretchen’s career is dedicated to driving inclusivity in the construction, engineering, mining, and energy industries as founder of Women Thriving in Construction: A Global Institute. In this book, Gretchen brings together research and insights from over 120 global thought leaders to empower women and their allies. She candidly shares personal experiences — balancing executive leadership with motherhood and caregiving — while providing actionable strategies to accelerate the success of women and transform workplace culture. Connect with Gretchen on LinkedIn or visit www.gretchengagel.com. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |