In the second episode of the "Stronger Together" podcast series, Women Talk Construction co-hosts Angela Gardner and Christi Powell sat down with Giovanna Carchidi of Kohler to explore her inspiring journey in the construction industry. This episode expands on the themes of Episode One, reinforcing the message that women are critical to the industry every day, not just one day a week.
The power of perseverance
To kick off this episode, Giovanna highlighted the lessons of a perceived “failure” and the power of perseverance. She recounted a story of losing a major historical renovation project due to price.
“I fought harder than I think I've ever fought to win a project, and I lost the project.” – Giovanna Carchidi
The story could end here; however, months later, she received a call from the client because her (cheaper) competitor, who initially won, had overlooked a critical detail in the installation process. Giovanna, being a consummate sales professional, was happy to save the day and the project.
“I came up with a creative solution for how I could save them millions of dollars and months and months of delayed reconstruction and delayed opening.”
This story underscored the value of expertise, problem-solving and attention to detail—qualities that women bring to the table.
“I'm not a plumber. I don't know how to construct 52-story buildings, but I can help solve problems, and I can help drive solutions. And I think that is what women naturally do.”
“If I give myself the courage to fail but wake up with a desire to succeed, I'll continuously grow.”
Exploring diverse career paths in construction
The podcast also addressed the misconception that construction is limited to physical labor on job sites. Giovanna and the hosts explored the diverse career paths available within the industry, including trades, marketing, technology, supply chain and general contracting. She even shared some of the more surprising roles at Kohler, such as engineers who test new product ideas and those focused on sustainability.
“[At Kohler] We have a team of people, a team of engineers that just test crazy, bold ideas… We have people who literally flush toilets to test the strength of the flush engine… We have people who take scraps from toilets that maybe didn't meet our strict quality standards and make beautiful tile out of some of that waste.”
The power of mentorship and networking
Drawing a parallel to the first episode's emphasis on the power of connection, Giovanna stressed the importance of mentorship and networking for women in construction. She shared a personal story about a crucial mentorship with a colleague, highlighting how these relationships can provide invaluable support and guidance for women entering the construction industry.
“I have to give a shout-out to one of my dearest mentors and inspirational people. Her name is Marla Kor… Until I got promoted, she was the only female in a sea of men… And then I came into the mix, and literally the first meeting we were in together, she texted me immediately and said, ‘Oh my God, it's so great to see a female face’. We bonded, and [she] helped mentor, guide, inspire and troubleshoot in a way that [we know] we will be lifelong friends.”
She also encouraged women to actively build their networks and seek out mentors through social media and industry events.
"I think social media, like LinkedIn and industry networking events. Just putting yourself out there to reach out, to ask for help, to lean into people that you see on social media that are doing things that are similar and that demonstrate that they're like-minded is critical."
Looking ahead: A bright future for women in construction
To wrap up the episode, Giovanna touched on her excitement for the future of women in the construction industry–with growing job security, technological advancements (especially AI) and the strong network of strong women in the field all coming together to create a highly enticing career field for future generations. Finally, she concluded with a powerful message of encouragement for women to pursue their construction, emphasizing that the industry is theirs to conquer.
“The wealthiest people I know. They do not have a degree. They are not doctors and lawyers. They are plumbers, they’re electricians, they’re mechanics, they’re business owners. They're entrepreneurial, and they're building America. And some of them happen to be women.”
Watch more episodes of the Stronger Together podcast
As the world of construction evolves and modernizes, women are playing (and will continue to play) a pivotal role in our industry. If you’d like to stay informed about the latest resources, podcast episodes and learning opportunities to advance your career, check out our Women in Construction resource page.
