Women in Construction

The game changer

Our conversation with Skanska’s Samiha Shakil

As an emerging, barrier-breaking professional at the forefront of a new frontier for construction, Samiha Shakil is an experienced and award-winning BIM Engineer with a demonstrated history of success working in the construction industry. As a champion of implementing new and innovative technologies to the projects that she leads, she continues to apply her expertise to notable projects, including BIM coordination at the LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal B Redevelopment, laser scanning on a Large-Scale Hospital Project, and 3D printing at the Boys and Girls Club. Samiha, Senior VDC Engineer at Skanska USA Building, was key to efforts supporting first-responders during the pandemic, where she leveraged her experience in 3D printing and design to print more than 500 faceguards, donating them to hospitals across NYC while adhering to strict safety protocols required by the healthcare industry. In 2020, she was named one of Autodesk Construction Solutions’ “40 Under 40 Construction Champions.” We sat down with her to get her take on the industry, what women can do to continue to grow in the commercial construction industry and why her to-do list is never-ending.

Tell us your story. How did you get started in the industry?

Initially, my plans were to become an architect, which I felt was a perfect opportunity to simultaneously exercise my left and right brain, and to contribute to the built environment. But early on in my career, I began an internship with a general contractor. From there, construction felt like a natural next step that fit well with my desire to implement creativity alongside the more technical aspects of projects. Shortly after landing the internship, I was offered a full-time position with the company, and since that time have been working in the construction industry. What are some of the biggest changes you have seen lately?

Since the start of the pandemic, I’ve seen a shift toward the reliance upon construction technology and software to facilitate remote work and to keep everyone safe. As this reliance upon technology and software increased, we became more aware of the data that is collected and how to more efficiently utilize that data, resulting in teams becoming more data-driven in the last two years.

Samiha Shakil

What opportunities are out there for the industry as we move forward in 2022? For women?

Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) are expanding rapidly within companies due to an uptick in client demand. Traditionally, the ratio of women-to-men has been a lot more even in these fields, and opportunities abound for those interested in joining the construction field as we move forward in 2022.

What type of trends are you seeing today?

The pandemic has accelerated tech adoption in the past two years. Companies that were armed with the right collaboration tools and technology were far better prepared for the ever-evolving regulations for social distancing and a safe workplace. More companies are open to change and the adoption of technology in order to maintain a competitive edge. That being said, this change in attitude is opening more doors for tech that merges BIM with the real world like AR/VR and Drone imagery. Our industry also is adopting a more data-driven mindset, as companies like Skanska continue to contribute to these large “data warehouses” we know the value of this data and we want this data to do more for us. Can we use it to predict future outcomes, mitigate risks?

What advice can you share?

The construction industry values creativity, strength and leadership. I would encourage all individuals who possess those characteristics to consider a career in construction. The field has a wide variety of career paths to pursue, including design, marketing and communications, finance and human resources. I would encourage those considering a career in construction to connect with the leadership at firms that they may be interested in joining and to explore internship opportunities with these firms. My career path was forever changed by my first internship experience in construction.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received was from an early mentor, who encouraged me to be a listener in a room full of talkers. One is frequently met with being in a room where everyone has opposing views. It’s often best to sit back and observe in these situations to shape an informed opinion ahead of sharing thoughts.

What’s the single best thing every woman can do to make sure they continue to get a seat at the table?

Change comes from the top down, and it is up to those who hold the majority to provide additional opportunities for female advancement within organizations, and to determine how more women can get a seat at the table. CCR