Her Story
About Brittany
I started with a bachelor's in behavioral sciences, but then decided to pursue my Master's in Occupational Health and Safety. I've been working in fire and life safety for 4 years now. Working in fire and life safety and doing construction review, it all just came together, so I went for construction management and will be graduating from LSU next month. I do the fire aspects of all upcoming construction, including sprinkler drawings. My day-to-day involves plan review, construction inspections, fire pump runs occasionally for the campus, building inspections, and emergency response. Every day is different, but every day is dealing with safety. One of my most notable achievements has been receiving my state certifications - Inspector 1 and 2, and my plan examiner certifications. Working in the field while receiving additional education is what really molded me and made everything come together. If I had thought about this 10 years ago, I did not imagine being in the field of construction, wearing a hard hat and a vest and steel-toe boots. It was nothing but God - I just was obedient.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Brittany
01What do you attribute your success to?
Honestly, if I had thought about this 10 years ago, I did not imagine being in the field of construction. I did not imagine wearing a hard hat and a vest and steel-toe boots. That's not - it was nothing but God. I really have no other explanation. It was not - I just was obedient. I didn't plan this path for myself, but I followed where I was led, and that's what brought me to where I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't be afraid to make mistakes - if you're not making mistakes you're not learning. Learn from the mistakes, and don't be afraid to fail. You'll always get the lesson out of it. If that's your field, what's for you is what's for you, and you're not gonna be perfect. And if you show up perfect every day, that's no longer perfect, that's just your average. So it's okay to not be 100% every day.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say always place yourself in a comfortable position to ride on the journey. You're gonna encounter things that you love, that you like, and that you're not so fond of - it's all part of the plan. Just accept the journey, and be the best you can be while navigating through it, because we don't have control. When you feel like you have control, God's gonna show you it's His time and not yours. So just embrace the journey and trust the process.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is really growing - there's so many moving parts, and really gaining knowledge and keeping up to date with the new updated codes and building standards and so on and so forth. But the opportunities are endless. Like, the opportunities - I'm studying now to get my CSP, so it's just so many doors that can open within that field.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My values - I value respect. I value constructive criticism, especially when it comes from a place of love, a genuine place. I love constructive criticism. Anything that can make me better, I really value that in my personal and in my work life.
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