BOMA International is expanding its engineering footprint amid committee discussions to expand inclusion in all areas for its members. As data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates, the demand for engineering skills will grow faster than average for all occupations from 2023 to 2024. In conversation with Jen Peterson, Building Engineer, CBRE, she discusses this rapid expansion for engineers, as well as her journey to becoming an engineer in a male-dominated space. Peterson’s recommendations for companies to expand this inclusion are not only crucial for fostering a more inclusive environment but also enhance the bottom line. “Increasing a company’s workforce diversity generates higher revenues, up to $570 billion in profit across the technology industry alone,” according to the Intel Dalberg Decoding Diversity study. Their research suggests initiatives for improving diversity in technology, such as:
1. Building toolkits that attract women into the recruitment pool;
2. Recognizing meritocracy while establishing basic guidelines for interaction that counter unconscious bias; and,
3. Building on existing mentorship programs to formalize sponsorship programs for highly qualified underrepresented talent.
Read Peterson’s insights below to learn more about her journey:
What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a Building Engineer?
Coming into a much larger field where I could still feel competent and relevant was the biggest challenge in my career transition. But I’m very much a believer in fake it till you make it, so I just come out and work to the best of my ability. I try to set aside my fear of asking questions. I think especially in a role where it’s male dominated is difficult, as most of the people that I’ve been working with have been in the industry for a long time (we’re talking 10-15 years). To come in and have the deck stacked against me is a daily challenge, including the challenge of winning the respect and trust of my managers and showing my value.
What is it like to develop these technical skills for the first time?
The learning curve of understanding HVAC systems for the first time is daunting. However, making mistakes is part of the learning process. You could make one change to a system, and it could be the wrong change, and inherently complicate the procedure. There is a lot of self-learning, where people ‘just want you to figure it out,’ which can be really intimidating. In my sector, there can be an added level of pressure with our tenants’ expectations, where if you mess something up, you have to address it publicly. Being a field where making mistakes is part of the journey, I’ve learned to let go of being a perfectionist. Despite the part of me that doesn’t want to ask a question when I’m unsure, I’ve come a long way in accepting that asking questions are not signs of weakness. I think that hesitation stems from coming from a field where it was frowned upon to ask questions. At job sites, for example, people would tell me I’m stupid if I asked a question. To go from that background and conditioning to a more tolerant, corporate environment was definitely an adjustment.
What skill do you think that every leader in the engineering space should adopt right now?
As a leader for my team, I encourage junior engineers to ask as many questions as they need. I would rather have you ask me the same question ten times with me explaining things in a different way each time than have someone not understand. I think ultimately, for a person to understand something it’s all about the person teaching it to you – it’s not your fault if you don’t get it.
What is your honest opinion about the state of diversity in the field?
The diversity that is unfolding in the engineering field is getting better, but slowly. I wish I had been in the field longer, so I could clearly see the transformations taking place, but according to the men that have been in the industry longer, it’s changed. I’m seeing a bigger range of diversity in the field, and my company is expanding their recruiting practices. I expect we will continue to see more of that. I’m empathetic to the fact that this field could be perceived as not very approachable. There’s still an ‘old school vibe’ from some of the traditional engineers and their communication styles as well. However, I notice that some of the younger folks are more receptive and accepting of differences in styles. Overall, I really like my company, CBRE, and feel very supported by them. I have a great team and feel confident about my trajectory. In fact, I was promoted within my first year.
What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming an engineer?
The advice I would give someone who is interested in becoming an engineer is to give it a try! You can come into the field with zero knowledge because most places are willing to train you if you come in with a good learning attitude and simply show up. Everything else can be taught, and the role of being an engineer can fit different personality types as well. The role can fit the traditional stereotype of a more introverted individual type for an engineer – or someone like me, who enjoys making these interactions and working with others. Training can be provided and can be very accessible to many different types of people. I’ve got a 23-year-old and a 72-year-old on my team both working in the same position. I would say that anybody can do it and it’s a competitive market as well, where you’ll become sought after from a lot of different companies.
Interested in more content like this? Read our recent articles, From Concrete to Finished Goods: How Sustainability and Global Risks Are Shaping Construction’s Future and The Global Edge Data Center Market Will Cross $300B by 2026 . You can view all this content and more when you click here to sign up for our Industrial newsletter.