“There have been tough situations where I worked with individuals who saw me as just a girl trying to make it in a man’s world, but I ignored all that noise and reminded myself who I truly am.”- Seema Sandhu, Manager of Construction
With only 13% of Canadians employed in the construction industry being women, meet the accomplished Seema Sandhu, who is breaking stereotypes and excelling extraordinarily in the field. Born and raised in Calgary, Sandhu often thought, growing up, that her career would be in the fashion and design realm. Shortly after realizing that these weren’t her passions, the enthusiastic professional began working with a development firm, as Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Development and Construction. Continually trying to figure out where she wanted to take her career, Sandhu began attending school part-time while working full-time.
As things began getting busier at her firm, Sandhu’s job started expanding into more of a project coordinator role. She absolutely loved being part of a team that was building a major project. As she saw the project evolve, she began enjoying the construction aspect of the project and started asking questions about getting more involved in site activities. After her tenure as a Project Coordinator, she transitioned to her current role as Manager of Construction. Fast forward to today, Sandhu has an impressive portfolio, having worked on noteworthy projects, like:
- CORE Redevelopment: Calgary, Alberta ($400 Million)
- Calgary Airport: Calgary, Alberta ($1 Billion)
- Defence Canada Facility: Victoria, British Columbia ($350 Million)
- Brentwood Town Centre: Vancouver, British Columbia ($350 Million)
- Oakridge Park: Vancouver, British Columbia ($1 Billion)
Although Sandhu undoubtedly works in a male-dominated industry, she recalls that the leaders she worked with didn’t just see her as a woman, but saw her simply as a professional trying to get the job done, “There have been tough situations where I worked with individuals who saw me as just a girl trying to make it in a man’s world, but I ignored all that noise and reminded myself who I truly am.”
Throughout her journey, Sandhu’s family and friends have been her biggest cheerleaders, be it working long hours or making a big move to leave the city she grew up in to move to a place where she didn’t know anyone - all so Sandhu can achieve her goals. “My family and friends are my backbone, pushing me to keep going even when I doubt myself.”, shares the go-getter.
Invested in her field with her whole heart, Sandhu continues to develop herself by taking courses and getting involved in industry events or her company’s Women in Transaction group. Forever thankful to the people at 20VIC, EllisDon and QuadReal for the opportunities that have helped shape her, she now gives back by mentoring multiple individuals in the community. To other young professionals, Sandhu’s recipe for success entails a combination of passion, hard work, and perseverance. As the powerhouse of a woman herself puts it, “Be brave enough to live according to your values, even when that means making unpopular decisions.”