Did you know that only 13% of the workforce in our building and construction sector is currently made up of women? 2% work in the field whilst 11% work in support and administrative positions.

Whilst efforts are being made to encourage more women in the construction industry, there’s no denying that it’s still mainly male-dominated. 

 

Strong and innovative women represent

One of these efforts includes women who are challenging the status quo with our boss lady CEO Remonda at the forefront of those making a difference. 

Allow us to briefly tell you why 😉

Apart from being the CEO, our fearless leader works with engineers, designers, and suppliers. She reads plans, studies different pool concepts, and designs pools. At times, she sits down and takes calls from our clients. She is basically everywhere. In 2020, she took the Blue Haven brand to new heights by making it the first company in the world to sell pools online, setting new benchmarks in the industry. 

So clearly, our CEO likes being involved in every aspect of the business. She deals with challenges on a day-to-day basis but also makes sure to leverage problem-solving skills to overcome those challenges.

Remonda’s father and Blue Haven’s founder, Mr Ray Awadallah, used to say that design has always been part of our CEO’s DNA. In every aspect of her life – be it professional or personal, she seems to can’t help but incorporate design into it in every way possible. 

Imagine if Remonda chose NOT to pursue a career in construction because of the stereotypes and biases against women. What a waste of talent for the construction industry, don’t you think? So here we are adding to the discussion by putting an end to the myths about women in construction: 

 

Putting an end to myths surrounding women in construction

• Women need to work twice as hard 

There’s a common misconception that to lead a construction company, you need to be tough and work twice as hard to get what you want. Generally, women in the construction and building industry feel that they have to work harder to prove themselves and this should stop because if they either got the promotion or the job, then this should be a sign they are enough. 

• Construction is only for men

The construction sector requires multitasking abilities, leadership, analytical thinking, and creativity – all of which are naturally in every woman’s DNA. A woman prioritises harmony in design so it’s natural for them to excel in creating a pool that seamlessly blends with the current surroundings on time, on budget, and on point. 

“I would love to see more women stepping into the construction industry to see how practical the design process actually is,” Remonda said. As someone who worked across all aspects of the pool business before becoming the leader of Sydney’s largest pool construction company, she wants women to know that reading plans, elevations, and structural details is not hard so don’t be afraid and just put in the hard work like always. “If I can do it, there’s no reason why you can’t do it too,” she adds. In fact, Remonda is leading over a hundred team members and dealing with business challenges alonsigde being a loving, present mother. Women are powerful, responsible, loving, and caring all at the same time. 

Remonda would also like to see women monetise their incredible multitasking skills by taking on project management roles in the industry. You should know that the success of construction heavily relies on scheduling, organising trades, grouping areas, and matching trade skills to projects. 

Remonda also looks forward to seeing more women in higher leadership roles which means more construction companies to provide them with clearer career path promotions and ongoing mechanisms to enhance their skills and knowledge that can lead to the mastery of their current jobs. 

• Leadership needs to be authoritarian since it’s a male-dominated industry.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Remonda found that it’s actually through leading with lots of compassion that she attracts more bees with honey. She understands that men are human beings who also need care, compassion, and understanding. And this is something that her mum has taught her. Mrs Mary Awadallah raised her to be a strong yet gentlewoman.

• Construction jobs for women pay less

Fact: In Australia, the average annual wage for construction workers is $99,555, or $51.05 per hour. Most experienced workers can earn up to $153,013 per year, while entry-level occupations start at $72,967 annually. However, there is a misconception that being a woman in the field means getting paid less than what men usually make. 

To make sure this won’t be the case, the Construction Industry Culture Taskforce has created a revolutionary Culture Standard to serve as the catalyst for the transformation of the industry’s culture. Clients and contractors can collaborate within the scope of the Culture Standard to enhance working conditions for those employed in the construction sector. It suggests a set of guidelines be added to the procurement procedures to enhance employee well-being, diversity, and inclusion.

The gender pay gap is one of the major issues that the Culture Standard focuses on. The Culture Standard aims to overcome the largest gender pay disparity in any industry. Organisations are urged to find and publicise gender pay inequalities across job roles as well as to create and carry out a plan to close them. Eliminating gender wage gaps will make it easier for the industry to recruit and keep women by creating a setting where they feel valued for their contributions and respected as a whole.

 

Saying yes to more women in construction

Think about the impact of hiring more women in construction. Imagine more women becoming project managers, contract administrators, estimators, consultants, and engineers – there are just so many diverse careers in construction, all of which have great potential for success. It would benefit the industry. It would be more robust, effective, and collaborative.

And as her own way of encouraging more women to dip their toes into this exciting industry, Remonda is launching a Sales & Mentoring Program for ladies who are interested to learn more about pool design, sales, customer services, communication, personal presentation, and self-confidence.

“I am positive that this program can open doors to women who are considering a career in the construction and building industry. But of course, no matter what career path they decide to take, the program aims to help them empower themselves and be more confident in their skills and capabilities,” Remonda said. 

We still have a long way to go but with the likes of Remonda at the forefront of the change, we know we are on track to removing gender barriers and stereotypes in the industry.

So, for those women reading this – here is your sign to consider a career in construction. Reach out to Remonda directly on Instagram for a prospect guide @bluehavenpools_