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As a senior director at Washington, DC-based construction consulting firm MGAC, Kristina Leighty wears many hats. In her more than 30 years as a project manager, Leighty has experience tracking budgets and schedules, managing design and construction teams, and developing solutions to mitigate project risks.
Leighty graduated from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in 1990 with a degree in interior design and began her career as a junior designer at an architecture firm in Anchorage, Alaska.
“At that time, it was common to see more women in interior design rather than architecture or construction,” she said.
As his career progressed, he discovered that he enjoyed the technical and construction phases of the jobs he worked on. When a client approached her about launching their project management division, she jumped at the chance.
Now, with decades of experience, he has led projects in the commercial, government, corporate, technological, scientific, educational and industrial sectors. Customers a MGAC they range from Freddie Mac to Microsoft and language immersion preschool CommuniKids.
Kristina Leighty
Authorization granted by the MGAC
Here, Leighty talks to Construction Dive about changes in the industry, opportunities for women and trends in project management.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Immersion in CONSTRUCTION: How has the industry changed over the past 30 years?
KRISTINA LEIGHTY: When I first started, it wouldn’t be unusual for me to be the only woman in an all-male workplace. Today it is the opposite, there are many more women with jobs or projects.
You’ll also find more women working in trades like electricians, superintendents, mechanical contractors and wire installers than years ago. Jobs that were once thought only for men are now on the cards for women, and it’s amazing to see. It’s great to walk into a workplace and see women in an industry that used to be predominantly male.
What are the benefits of working in construction?
The benefits are countless, especially when it comes to project management. It’s exciting to take an idea and see it come to life. We interact with a range of different people who have wonderful experiences and talents, and you learn something new every day.
It’s not the kind of job where you’re behind a desk, but one where you’re in a place and an office with a lot of camaraderie and teamwork with the whole project team. Not a day goes as originally planned; every day comes with surprises and changes.
What are some of your favorite projects to work on and why?
Over the past two years we have been working on several projects with our preschool and early childhood education client, CommuniKids. In addition to these, we are closing two projects with Microsoft and another confidential technology client.
Each project is rewarding in its own right and has its rewards through teamwork between the architect, general contractor, engineer, subcontractors and clients. Projects involving children and families can be particularly rewarding; seeing a child’s face light up with excitement will make anyone’s day.
What advice would you give to young women considering construction as a career?
My advice would be to definitely consider becoming a project manager or construction manager if you are interested. Regardless of your industry or field of study, if you are someone who enjoys working in a team, is a good leader, a good listener and communicator, organized, reliable, trustworthy and dedicated, you have all the ingredients to become a PM. .
I have found this career to be one where you learn confidence and how to communicate effectively and be a good team member. You don’t need to know everything, but a little about many different things.
Trust those experts to teach you what you don’t know and be the glue that holds the project team together.
