Dear Corner Office’s Podcast

Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph. D. has never followed a straight line. In this episode, she sits down with Michele to talk about starting her first company six weeks after having her third child, building a tech data collection firm before the internet existed, selling to a Fortune-listed company on her own terms, and eventually becoming the 8th woman president of the American Society of Civil Engineer...

Someone inside Marcia Geldert-Murphy, P.E.'s own political party told her to stop mentioning she was a civil engineer and that it had nothing to do with legislating. She stopped cold in her tracks.    In this episode, the former ASCE president and Illinois Senate candidate joins Michele to talk about why that moment perfectly illustrates the problem: the people who understand how infrastructure ac...

Jean Malafrante went to Mexico in college to build schools, and couldn't drink the water. That moment launched a 20+ year career in environmental engineering, a managing director role she never planned for, and eventually a consulting firm she built from a single contract in her first 60 days. She joins Michele to talk about asking for the work nobody else wanted, learning the business before she...

Most people flip on a light switch or plug in their EV and never think twice about how that power got there. Dr. Richard Ezike has spent his career at the intersection of policy, technology, and workforce  across the Department of Energy, EPA, Department of Transportation, and Argonne National Laboratory and he's here to tell you everything that had to go right (and often goes very wrong) before t...

This episode features Heather Calvert, Chief Operating Officer at CORE, sharing how her firm intentionally centers people, equity, and psychological safety while still delivering complex projects on time and on budget. Heather walks through CORE’s journey from scrappy startup to “thirteen‑year‑old teenager” firm, including the painful inflection points of rapid COVID‑era growth and what they had t...

What happens when workforce strategy quietly becomes your biggest delivery risk? In this episode of Dear Corner Office, Michele Heyward sits down with Chris Ross, HR leader, industry insider, and PositiveHire advisor, who recruited her into the AEC industry nearly 20 years ago. Together, they unpack how engineering and architecture firms used to manage talent, what was lost along the way, and why...

Join us for a thought-provoking session led by industry thought leader, where we will delve into the essential components of a powerful career strategy designed specifically for underrepresented women in the AEC industry. Michele will identify and explore 3-5 strategic steps that are crucial for navigating the complex landscape of racial and gender barriers often faced by underrepresented women pr...

Are you an experienced executive in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, looking to make a positive impact on diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization? It's never too late to take action!  Join Michele Heyward for a transformative webinar designed specifically for professionals like you. In this episode, "Empowering Change: 5 Ways to Promote Diversity, E...

In this BuiltXWomen episode, we explore how underrepresented professionals are often placed into high-stakes roles with little support, then blamed when systems fail. This conversation goes beyond surface-level DEI talk and gets honest about why many initiatives don’t stick. Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of the glass cliff phenomenon, its impact on careers and organizations...

Join Michele Heyward and guest, Jessica Bantom, for a thought-provoking conversation on the importance of inclusivity in design. Our speaker will shed light on the current landscape, discuss the gaps in DEI practices, and inspire you to be a driving force for positive change within the industry. This engaging talk delves into the untapped potential of DEI and its profound impact on shaping the fut...

Climate change presents unprecedented challenges that demand innovative solutions, and the build industry plays a pivotal role in shaping sustainable and resilient environments. However, effective climate-conscious design requires diverse perspectives and a deep understanding of community needs and experiences.   Through thought-provoking conversations, our esteemed guest, Kenya Goodson, Ph. D. wi...

We will not only celebrate the significant contributions of peers in the career development of professionals but also underscore the power of representation and relatability. By sharing diverse experiences and role models, we hope to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technologists. Don't miss this opportunity to be moved by Jade’s genuine story of camaraderie and peership t...

Join us for an enlightening talk where accomplished women engineers in the construction engineering industry share their personal experiences and insights on the elusive concept of work-life balance.   In this session, our esteemed speaker will debunk the myths surrounding work-life balance and offer practical strategies to navigate the demands of a challenging profession while maintaining persona...

Join us for a thought-provoking livestream session led by Michele Heyward, a civil engineer and the visionary founder of PositiveHire. In this enlightening event, we will explore the profound impact of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and their ability to transform organizational culture, foster employee retention, and pave the way for career advancement and internal mobility, particularly for empl...

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is facing a leadership change. Many of the industry's top leaders are retiring or moving into new roles, and there is a growing need for diverse and inclusive leadership. However, this change is also creating a glass cliff for underrepresented employees. The glass cliff is a phenomenon in which women and other underrepresented groups a...

Instead of pretending the problem doesn’t exist, we walk through why it happens, how it affects long-term careers, and what it means for companies that think they’re supporting diversity but are accidentally setting people up to fail.  If you’re working in engineering, construction, leadership, or you just care about making these industries more inclusive, this episode gives you a roadmap to do be...

Karen Bobo shares one of  her challenges that she has faced, to help others who are following in her footsteps. Learn how she overcame it.

In this episode of Built X Women, we sit down with an accomplished leader in the utility industry who shares her inspiring journey from first-generation engineer to shaping diversity and inclusion within major corporations. With over two decades of experience, Cicely Hart opens up about the challenges, transitions, and lessons learned along the way while highlighting the impact of mentorship, lead...

Join us in this new episode of Built X Women series with Regine (Conde) Beauboeuf    Stories/Origin Story: How did you get into engineering?   This episode includes discussions of specific examples of successful projects or initiatives led by women engineers, as well as insights into the unique perspectives and approaches they bring to the industry.

Recently there has been an increased push for more inclusive and just recruitment and workplace practices and policies. How should organizations respond?  Before they look at their People Analytics what should they do first? Should they share their DEI journey publicly? Why or why not? During this interview, Randy Knaflic will walk you through the actions organizations should be taking pre, during...

According to a Prosperity Now white paper entitled “The Road to Zero Wealth,” it will take 228 years for the average Black family to reach the level of wealth white families have today. Additionally, if the racial wealth divide is left unaddressed, median Black household wealth is on the path to hit zero by 2053, while median white Household wealth is projected to climb to $137,000 during the same...

During this interview, John Graham shares the Black Professionals experiences in corporate America. In his recently released book "Plantation Theory: The Black Professional’s Struggle Between Freedom & Security", John explains the realities that countless Black corporate professionals face despite best efforts to prove their worthiness of opportunity.

Driving change in an organization doesn't have to start at the top. If you're in a non-management role, this session is for you. Faith Eatman will share how she utilized DEI data to persuade management in her organization to create programs to level the playing field for Black Women. While her story isn't typical it does provide tactics individual contributors can take for data-driven organization...

Many workplace challenges have developed from the pandemic. Human Resources professionals have had to use their skill sets and technology to  overcome them. One of the most common workplace challenges is the decrease in employee engagement.  During this session, Marissa Lee shares how she used analytics to drive retention within organizations. She will share how she was able to increase employee e...

In this session, Laurel Rutledge will share why organizations need to start with data first before making organizational changes. She’ll share the importance of understanding the impact of past decisions before creating a path to an organization's future. Lastly, you’ll learn how People Analytics differs from Business Analytics and why it matters.