'Be so good they can't deny you,' GC tells other women in construction

Abstract

Here, Oden talks with Construction Dive about how her love of construction and why she thinks it is an ideal career for hard-working women. CONSTRUCTION DIVE: How long have you worked in construction? CHRISTINA ODEN: Since my college days back in Kentucky - about 25 years. What led you to choose construction for your career? Essentially, I fell into it initially and I even tried to pull away from it during a short stint at a law firm but ultimately, I realized that I missed it and really had a passion for not only working with my brain, but also working with my hands. To have it being built by a woman really sets a precedent for the construction industry and for New York City. What advice would you give to young women considering construction as a career? Honestly when I first started out, I never really thought about the fact that I was a woman. My advice to any young woman looking at construction as a career goal would be to not allow anything or anyone to ever tell you that you can't do something simply because you are a woman - being a woman is a gift and should always be treated as such. While the construction industry for a woman definitely has its uphill battles and we have a long way to go in equalizing the playing field, it also can be what you make of it.