For Joette Decore, executive principal at RJC Engineers in Edmonton, working in the construction industry has at times been a struggle.
At university, she was told to write her name as Joe because there were people that did not want women in the engineering program.
In earlier jobs, at different companies, she faced cat calls on the plant floor, was forced to put up with calendars of naked women and was harassed.
But she persevered. She juggled family life and work and raised two sons while commuting a distance to her job. She shattered barriers and became a role model for women in engineering.
Today she is a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion and is deeply committed to fostering positive change in the workplace.
Decore started as an engineer in a research plant at an industrial site. She went on to other engineering roles.
“Since I was 28, I would say, I’ve been working in some way in the construction industry.”
Women were few and far between when she started.
“It was very unusual,” she recalls. “I was very different and if I’m truly honest I struggled to belong.”
She was harassed on the job.
“I went to HR and said, ‘You know, I’m not comfortable with this,’ and the head of HR was male, and he looked at me and said, ‘I can’t believe you’re not flattered that an older man is hitting on you.’”
Another time, she attended a meeting but was quiet and the plant superintendent asked what was wrong.
“I said, ‘You know what, I’m scared.’ I’ve got to go do my work in the plant and I’m going to be harassed all day by contractors, and you know what, it’s hard.’”
The next morning at work it was quiet. Nobody said anything to Decore. The superintendent had told every contractor that if they harassed her, they and their company would be kicked off the site.
Decore never let the harassment get the better of her. She’d always been interested in construction and wanted to move up the ranks as an executive.
“I loved building, I loved plans, and I loved construction. I don’t know why I had an affinity towards this, but I did.”
Prior to her role at RJC, Decore worked in investment banking at RBC Securities, as a management consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, and led mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, communications and HR at Stuart Olson (now Bird).
At RJC, she oversees national teams across finance, accounting, HR, corporate programs, marketing and communications, while providing leadership to deliver the company’s strategic plan.
Today, she mentors women, supports RJC’s Women in Engineering group, and works to eliminate systemic bias while promoting inclusive and equitable practices.
Decore says one of the big things that helped her during the early days was having a mentor who could help her deal with challenges. But the most important is to not let anyone diminish your self-worth.
“Self-worth is a feeling that you truly belong and that you have a right to be there. Women struggle with the fact because they look different, and they show up different that they don’t belong, so stay who you are. Self-worth is critical and don’t let anybody or any situation diminish it.”
Decore wasn’t shy about her aspirations, telling her boss early on that she wanted to have kids and become a VP. Over the years, her focus switched back and forth from career to family life.
A supportive husband also helped.
“We balanced things together. We raised a family together and we were equal partners in the journey.”
Her advice for women considering a career in construction?
“All you need is a passion for the work and love of the industry and if you’re driven by the industry, don’t be afraid of it.”
The industry is now more welcoming to women, says Decore, but unconscious biases still exist.
For example, she recently attended an industry event with her husband where 90 per cent of the attendees were male.
“Every man came up to my husband and said, ‘Welcome to the event,’ and my husband said, ‘Actually it’s my wife that’s here.’ Everybody was apologetic, they feel terrible, but it still exists today.”
Most often, those who’ve made the mistake are embarrassed.
“The culture is changing,” notes Decore. “People truly care that women are treated fairly.”
Yet, the participation rate of women in the workforce is still low, especially in the onsite trades.
“If you look at the numbers, 15 per cent of licenced engineers are female,” says Decore. “If you look in the construction industry, you’re 12 per cent out of the total workforce, and five per cent in the field. It takes 30 per cent to get the change that’s needed, so we have a long way to go.
“But I do think the environment is way more accepting of us and companies are trying to be intentional about facilitating.”
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