Building Your Story

Επεισόδια

• Episode 21 - Cara Grant 16.06.2026 43λ

  Send us Fan Mail From Ballet Barre to Construction Site: Cara Grand's Journey Cara Grand’s journey from ballerina to construction leader is a masterclass in resilience and purpose. Discover how her passion for learning fueled a career shift from dance to managing billion-dollar projects. Cara shares insights on leadership, balancing motherhood, and breaking barriers in male-dominated fields. Her story is a testament to the power of curiosity and perseverance in crafting a fulfilling career. P...
• Episode 20 - Nancy Weinman 13.05.2026 46λ

  Send us Fan Mail From Shyness to Leadership: Nancy Weinman's Journey in Architecture Join Nancy Weinman as she shares her inspiring journey from a shy child to a leading architect and construction manager. Discover her experiences in a male-dominated industry and her dedication to mentoring future women leaders. Key topics: Early influences and dreams in art and architectureOvercoming challenges as a woman in architectureCareer evolution from federal work to founding her own firmBuilding clie...
• Episode 19 - Laura Korte 11.02.2026 47λ

  Send us Fan Mail An Unplanned Path to Construction Leadership In this episode, Laura Korte, Vice President of Construction at VR Mechanical, shares her unique career journey. Starting with aspirations of becoming a doctor, Laura's path changed drastically after taking a temporary job in construction. Discover how her background in health sciences unexpectedly led to a passion for construction and project management. Laura discusses her early career challenges, the importance of as...
• Episode 18 - Nour Hachem 07.01.2026 48λ

  Send us Fan Mail Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women in Male-Dominated Fields with Nour Hachem In this episode, Diane interviews Nour Hachem, President and Founder of the national not-for-profit 'Build A Dream'. Nour talks about her background and childhood and moving from Lebanon to Canada. She shares her journey from aspiring to be a human rights lawyer to discovering her passion for the not-for-profit sector, leading her to establish Build A Dream. Nour discusses the challenges and success...
• Episode 17 - Dianne Finnigan 15.10.2025 36λ

  Send us Fan Mail Empowering Women in Skilled Trades: Diane Finnegan's Journey In this episode, Diane Finnegan, CEO of The Dirty Seahorse, shares her inspiring journey from being a retail sales manager to founding a company that makes women's workwear for skilled trades. Diane describes how her daughter's challenges in finding suitable workwear sparked the idea, leading her to create a business focused on durable, functional, and comfortable workwear for women. Diane discusses overcoming obst...
• Episode 16 - Pat Duggan 30.09.2025 40λ

  Send us Fan Mail Breaking Barriers: Pat's Journey in Construction and Leadership In this episode, Pat, shares her inspiring journey from Southeast London to becoming the VP of Major Projects for Bird in Vancouver. Starting with a childhood dream of becoming a policewoman, she pivoted to the construction industry, building a successful 35-year career spanning multiple countries. Pat discusses her early challenges, including her entry into the workforce, and navigating a male-dominated industry...
• Episode 15 - Renae Sams 15.07.2025 49λ

  Send us Fan Mail Renae Sams: Building a Path for Women in Construction In this episode, Diane interviews Renae Sams, founder and executive director of Build-Her.org, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women in construction. Renee shares her journey from dreaming of working for NASA to becoming a leader in the construction industry. She details the challenges she faced, including overcoming imposter syndrome and navigating a career without an initial exposure to construction from site adminis...
• Episode 14 - Jessica Luczycki 02.07.2025 49λ

  Send us Fan Mail Jessica Luczycki: Redefining Construction Administration Through Part3 In this episode, we meet Luczycki, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Part3. Jessica shares her journey from aspiring teacher to tech entrepreneur in the architectural and construction industry. She discusses her educational background, initial career at EllisDon, and transition into architectural contract administration. Jessica reveals how frustrations in her job led to founding Part3, a software s...
• Episode 13 - Chelsea Fenton 17.06.2025 48λ

  Send us Fan Mail Chelsea Fenton: Pioneering Women in Construction In this episode, Chelsea Fenton (@thatunionlaborer), a 32-year-old union laborer from Western Massachusetts, shares her inspiring journey from aspiring to be a firefighter to excelling in the construction industry. Chelsea discusses the challenges she overcame, including being denied entry into the apprenticeship program twice before finally being accepted. She explains how her father’s support and the invaluable mentorship fro...
• Episode 12 - Mercedes Byers 03.06.2025 52λ

  Send us Fan Mail The Journey of Mercedes Byers: From environmental science to co-founding a thriving sustainability consulting business. In this episode, Mercedes Byers shares her inspiring journey from her early dreams of becoming an actor to establishing herself in the sustainability consulting field. She talks about her childhood, academic pursuits, and how a serendipitous environmental science class at the University of Toronto pivoted her career from medicine to environmental science. Me...
• Episode 11 - Dee Durant 20.05.2025 51λ

  Send us Fan Mail Dee Durant: From Electrical Apprentice to Trade Advocate - A Journey Through Challenges and Triumphs In this episode, Dee Durant, a 24-year-old electrical apprentice from southern Ontario, shares her inspiring journey from childhood aspirations of becoming a meteorologist to finding her calling in the electrical trade. Despite facing challenges like severe anxiety and ADHD, Dee sheds light on how she navigated her academic struggles, supported by her loving family and mentors...
• Episode 10 - Amy Marks 06.05.2025 43λ

  Send us Fan Mail Beyond the Nickname: Amy Marks' Journey of hard work, perseverance and kindness. In this episode, Diane welcomes Amy Marks, Senior Vice President of Innovation at Compass Data Centers, often known as the 'Queen of Prefab.' Amy shares her journey from a turbulent upbringing in a construction family business to becoming a leading figure in the construction and prefabrication industries. She details her academic background, early career challenges, and eventual rise to prominenc...
• Episode 9 - Ashleigh Kaliszuk 22.04.2025 38λ

  Send us Fan Mail Ashley Kalizuk: From Crane Operator to Advocate for Women in Construction In this episode, Ashley Kalizuk shares her journey from a crane operator to a photographer and an instructor in the construction industry. Reflecting on her career's challenges and triumphs, Ashley discusses her early days working in construction, the unexpected path to her Red Seal endorsement, and her transition into full-time photography and instructing at NAIT. She underscores the importance of repr...
• Episode 8 - Annik Forristal 25.03.2025 49λ

  Send us Fan Mail Annik Forristal's Journey from Engineering to Legal Expertise in Construction In this episode, Diane welcomes Annik Forristal, a Toronto-based lawyer specializing in municipal and construction law. Annik shares her inspiring journey, from her early fascination with engineering during a 'Take Your Kid to Work Day' experience, to her career in the law industry. She discusses her experiences working with various industries during her co-op and her eventual gravitation towards th...
• Episode 7 - Lindsay Chester 12.03.2025 43λ

  Send us Fan Mail Empowering the Next Generation: Lindsay Chester's Advocacy for Young Women in Skilled Trades In this episode, Lindsay Chester, the Young Women's Initiatives Program Manager at Skills Ontario, shares her journey and mission to promote skilled trades as viable career options for young women. Starting as a dream to become a teacher, Lindsay shifted her career path and found her way to Skills Ontario.. Lindsay discusses various programs and events like the Young Women's Conferenc...
• Bonus - Women In Construction Week 02.03.2025 17λ

  Send us Fan Mail In this special episode for Women in Construction Week (March 2-8 2025), we highlight some of the inspiring stories shared by women on this podcast. Hosted by Diane, this episode brings together past guests including Leslie, Gelare, Mi, Morgan, Sabrina, and Lisa to share their unique journeys, experiences, and challenges in the construction field. They share their journeys into the construction industry, from childhood dreams that didn’t involve construction to overcoming cha...
• Episode 6 - Lisa Laronde 19.02.2025 46λ

  Send us Fan Mail Trailblazing Women in Construction: A Candid Conversation with Lisa Laronde In this insightful discussion, Diane interviews Lisa Laronde, Chief Transformation Officer for Ramudden Global, who shares her journey from finance to leading a major construction company. Lisa recounts her transition into the construction industry, the obstacles she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field, and how she overcame workplace challenges. She opens up about building a supportive communit...
• Episode 5 - Sabrina Walti 04.02.2025 40λ

  Send us Fan Mail Pioneering in Construction: From Rugby Fields to Infrastructure Projects with Sabrina In this episode, Diane interviews Sabrina, a civil engineer from Zurich, Switzerland. Sabrina, who works in consulting and project management for infrastructure projects, shares her journey from growing up in an architect family to becoming a significant figure in the construction industry. She discusses her educational path, influenced by her love for sports, and the challenges and opportun...
• Episode 4 - Morgan Bosch 21.01.2025 45λ

  Send us Fan Mail Breaking Barriers: Morgan Bosch's Journey as a Crane Operator In this episode, Morgan Bosch, a 28-year-old mobile crane operator from Edmonton, Canada, joins the podcast to share her inspiring journey. Starting in the industry at 18, Morgan transitioned from aspiring to be a teacher to thriving in a blue-collar role. She recalls the pivotal role her father played in introducing her to the field and discusses the initial challenges she faced, including overcoming stereot...
• Episode 3 - Gelare Danaie 17.12.2024 39λ

  Send us Fan Mail From Childhood Dreams to Architectural Mastery: An Interview with Gelare Danaie In this episode, Diane interviews Gelare Danaie, a Toronto-based architect originally from Iran. Gelare shares her fascinating journey from childhood dreams of changing environments to becoming a successful architect. She discusses her early inspiration, her diverse professional experiences across multiple countries, and her passion for designing human-centered spaces. Gelare also reflects on the ...