As part of Women in Construction Week (March 2-8, 2026), IMAGINiT Technologies is profiling members of our team who work in the Construction part of our business.
Danielle Lucas, Construction Engagement Engineer – Preconstruction, has worked for IMAGINiT Technologies for approximately one year. Prior to joining IMAGINiT, Danielle worked for several years in the construction sector in roles ranging from construction project administrator to project engineer and project manager to AEC software consultant and director of construction solutions.
In this blog post, Danielle shares her experiences in construction and offers advice to others interested in joining this field.
What inspired you to pursue a career in construction?
I didn’t grow up thinking I would work in construction. I was really drawn to it because I love problem solving and the fact that you get tangible results from projects. Construction is one of the few industries where you can point at something and say, “I helped build that.”
Early on, I enjoyed the coordination side of things. Drawings, budgets, schedules, and how people all have to align. It’s very complex, but it’s also super satisfying when it all works. Over time, I got interested in preconstruction because that’s where so many of the most important decisions are made, before a shovel ever gets near the ground.
Working in construction technology now, I am still solving problems. It’s just at a different level. I’m helping teams build better before they even get started physically.
Can you share your journey getting started and did you face any obstacles?
I started out in operations as a construction administrator. I worked with both an HVAC specialty subcontractor and a general contractor. That’s where I got a ground-level view of what really happens on projects and got my feet wet with the daily realities of submittals, RFIs, and change orders.
From there, I moved into project management and then over into construction technology, which eventually led me into leadership roles like director of construction solutions. Now as a construction engagement engineer with a specialization in preconstruction, I work closely with firms to improve how they approach estimating, takeoff, and collaboration.
Career-related obstacles usually aren’t technical; they’re related to credibility. When you’re young and a woman in construction, people sometimes assume you’re there to take notes, not to lead the meeting. I had to learn how to speak clearly, own the expertise I have, and not apologize to anyone for taking up space.
Have you faced any gender-related challenges in the industry? If so, how did you navigate them?
Sometimes gender-related challenges are subtle – like being talked over or having a suggestion ignored until someone else repeats it. Being the only woman in the room is happening less and less, however.
I learned to navigate the waters by being prepared. That means being confident in the data and my own knowledge. When you know your numbers, workflows, and systems, it completely changes the dynamic. When you stop trying to blend in and act like everyone else, you can be highly effective.
Construction is unique in that people in the industry can tell if you’re authentic or genuine from a mile away. Building strong relationships matters a lot. When people get to know you as competent and consistent, it becomes less about gender and more about your performance.
What changes have you seen in the industry regarding diversity and inclusion?
Today in 2026, there’s a lot more awareness and visibility around diversity and inclusion. Job sites are more welcoming for women and PPE has been redesigned for the female body, so women can be safer in the field.
In addition, there are many more women in project management, preconstruction, executive, and technology roles. I think companies are being much more intentional about recruiting women and retaining them on their teams.
With that said, representation can still be pretty uneven – especially in areas like field leadership and executive decision making. The biggest change I’ve seen personally is that conversations about diversity are happening more often and they’re more open. That’s a start, but sustained mentorship and opportunity are what’s needed to make this a reality on a day-to-day basis.
What advice would you give to young women considering a career in construction?
I would love for kids in elementary school to know that you don’t have to be an engineer or come from a construction family to belong in this industry. There are a lot of career paths like operations, preconstruction, technology, project management, finance, and more.
The best thing to do is ask questions. Get really curious about how things are built. Never shrink yourself. If you’re in that room, you earned it. The most important thing is to find mentors. Whether they are men or women, the right allies will make a huge difference in how quickly you grow in this industry.
How can companies better support and encourage more women to enter and thrive in the construction industry?
The first thing is that representation matters. When women see other women in leadership, it really changes what feels possible. The next thing is mentorship and sponsorship programs. Those have to be real – not just fluffed up on a website.
Women benefit from having advocates who put their names forward for stretch opportunities. Flexibility is also important. Traditionally, construction has been pretty rigid around roles and schedules. Modernizing career paths and work structures and making them more flexible will help companies retain talent across the board – not just women.
What do you think the future holds for women in construction?
The future is looking much stronger today than it did 10 years ago. As construction becomes more technology-driven, the need for skill sets like systems thinking, data analysis, collaboration, and communication is really expanding.
These are all areas where a lot of women are already excelling. We’re moving forward toward a more integrated industry where technology expertise and interpersonal skills are equally valued. That’s creating space for more diverse leadership styles.
At the end of the day, construction shapes the world that we all live in. It’s super meaningful work. If you’re a woman, know that you belong here, and your perspective adds value every day for the industry. The goal shouldn’t be to simply get more women in the door. Companies need to create environments where women can build long, influential careers.
