When I joined the construction industry it was considered an unusual career choice for women – especially those from my ethnic background. After all, the misconception that women can only succeed in certain job roles is centuries old. That being said, we must acknowledge that workplace culture in the construction industry has improved over the years and there is more opportunity now than ever before.

Particularly at BAM, I feel encouraged and empowered to voice my opinions. There are still times when I can be the only female in a meeting, but I never feel I have to shy away and always make my presence known. My input is valued and respected - as are my skills and knowledge of my field.

I am also grateful to my senior leaders for believing in me and providing equal opportunities and my male colleagues for never making me feel I didn’t belong. The inclusiveness I have felt has complemented my personality. This positivity motivates me to grow in the industry and achieve my aim of reaching the top level.

I am a member of the minority ethnic resource group ME@BAM. There is also an active group dedicated to women called WISE@BAM. These support networks have helped me in my journey. BAM has created these platforms to bring together people from different backgrounds and genders to conduct awareness sessions and work on key issues like pay gaps and culture - while supporting solutions from the bottom up.

I’d say that BAM has a very inclusive and respectful culture and I take pride in being part of this organisation.

I believe in leading by example. When I share my success stories of working on large and complex projects with others, I can see the change in their views about women advancing in the construction industry. My advice to all women is that in addition to working hard, always keep your eyes on the prize and make sure that you get recognised for your contributions!

I reciprocate the positivity that I receive by everyone at BAM by sharing my support and knowledge with other women around me. This International Women’s Day, I challenge everyone to support one woman and for them to support the next. Whether at work or home, we can create a chain of empowered women! I can proudly say that I have inspired many girls in my circle of family, friends and workplaces to look beyond traditional career choices and step up the ladder to become leaders in the construction industry.

There are now amazing women capably running influential organisations across the world - but in construction there is still a long way to go. We don’t have enough diversity in leadership roles.

We need female directors, board members and CEOs who will be role models for younger generations. And we know that diversity in leadership is good for business. Women bring a whole new mindset to strategies and transformational ideas. Different background bring more diverse physical, mental, and emotional experiences.

There are ongoing challenges and biases, not only in our industry but across society. We need to break the bias by challenging the status quo and establishing our presence. Women are here and we’re here to stay! We need to acknowledge our differences, and that includes our shortcomings, accept who each of us is, as an individual, and work together to bring out our best.

Fly higher, the sky’s the limit. Let’s come together to break all biases!

#breakthebias

Afsheen Ul Haq March 2022