________________________________________________________________________________________________ Main
Interview in leadership conversations will help move the industry forward. My advice to industry leaders is to foster a culture of inclusion and flexibility, because representation matters. When women see other women thriving in leadership roles, it sends a powerful message that success doesn’ t have to come at the expense of family or well-being. The construction industry can be demanding, and at times it may make you question whether prioritizing family means sacrificing your career— but that simply isn’ t the case. Creating pathways for growth, supporting flexibility, and respecting that people have lives outside of work will not only retain talented women, but also build stronger, more committed teams and a healthier industry overall.
9. Did you have mentors or sponsors who helped you advance, and how important is sponsorship in reaching senior leadership in construction? Mentorship has played an important role throughout my career. Construction is an industry where experience and perspective are incredibly valuable, and having people who are willing to invest in your growth can make a tremendous difference.
I’ ve had several mentors along the way, but mid-career there was one supervisor in particular who truly invested in me and my development. To this day, I still say he was the best boss I’ ve ever had. He believed in my abilities, cared about me as a person, and encouraged me every step of the way. Although we only worked together for about a year and a half, the impact he had on my confidence and leadership development continues to stay with me.
Later in my career, I also chose to work with an executive coach as I transitioned into more senior leadership roles. That experience helped me grow both personally and professionally and reinforced how important self-awareness and emotional intelligence are in leadership.
Those experiences shaped how I approach leadership today. I believe strongly in mentoring others and investing in the development of the next generation of professionals. After all, our role as leaders isn’ t just to build projects, it’ s to build people.
10. Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest opportunity, and the biggest risk, for construction firms over the next five years? Looking ahead, innovation presents one of the greatest opportunities for construction firms. Technology, data, and more collaborative delivery models have the potential to significantly improve efficiency and create greater value for clients.
At the same time, workforce development remains one of the industry’ s biggest challenges. As experienced professionals retire, attracting and developing the next generation of talent will be critical. The firms that invest in people and innovation today will define the future of construction. ■
Neely K. Sadowski www. missnergroup. com
Neely K. Sadowski is President of Construction at The Missner Group, where she oversees both preconstruction and construction operations. With more than 20 years of industry experience, she is known for her strategic leadership and collaborative approach to project delivery. Sadowski is a LEED AP BD + C accredited professional and holds dual master’ s degrees in architecture and civil engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
construction-today. com 13