A personal exploration of mental health in the workplace, breaking stigma and redefining professionalism to include compassion, accessibility, and authentic humanity alongside professional excellence.
Her Story
About Daryl
Daryl Anne Estill is a Senior Project Manager at TDIndustries, Inc., bringing 20 years of experience in the construction industry, including nine years in project management leadership. She leads large commercial construction projects for a specialty trade contractor, overseeing mechanical and plumbing systems, subcontractor coordination, and cross-functional project execution. Her expertise spans multifamily housing, mixed-use developments, hospitality, commercial office buildings, semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturing, laboratories, and compressed natural gas (CNG) facilities. Beginning her career in administration, Daryl advanced into leadership through perseverance, continuous education, and a commitment to servant leadership. In 2015, she completed a joint project management program through the Project Management Institute, Purdue University, and the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Her professional interests also include strategic planning, business development, process improvement, training, and change management. Daryl is a passionate advocate for workplace equity, mentorship, and leadership development. As a single mother following her divorce in 2012, she found that the construction industry offered a pathway to financial independence and the opportunity to raise her son while overcoming traditional barriers. At TDIndustries, she serves as chair of the E.M.P.O.W.E.R. Women's Partner Resource Group and mentors students through a high school P-TECH workforce development program in South Dallas. She also serves as an ambassador for TEXO's Women in Construction Committee and maintains memberships in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Empowering Women in Industry, and the Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects. Her contributions have earned her the 2024 Mentor of the Year Award and the 2025 Industry Advocacy Award from Empowering Women in Industry, followed by the Champion of Equity and Inclusion Award from the Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects in 2026. As a public speaker and collaborative leader, she engages audiences in meaningful discussions about gender equity, women in construction, servant leadership, workplace inclusion, and mental health. Through presentations such as The Art of Unlearning, she encourages professionals to challenge assumptions, embrace continuous learning, and create more inclusive work environments. She attributes her success to determination, hard work, ongoing training, and a willingness to step beyond her comfort zone to pursue new opportunities. By combining technical expertise with a people-centered leadership approach, Daryl continues to advance project excellence, mentor emerging professionals, and champion opportunities for women and underrepresented groups throughout the construction industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Daryl
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, hard work, continuous learning, and a willingness to embrace challenges beyond my comfort zone. My journey into commercial construction was unconventional, as I began my career in administration and gradually discovered my strengths and passion for the industry. Today, I serve as a Senior Project Manager for a specialty trade contractor, overseeing large commercial construction projects focused on mechanical and plumbing systems. As a single mother following my divorce in 2012, I was determined to achieve financial independence and build a better future for my family. Although I do not have a college degree or a traditional career path, I advanced through hands on experience, dedication, and a commitment to professional growth. Construction challenges me to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate with diverse teams, and adapt to changing situations. I am proud to have been recognized as Mentor of the Year in 2024, received the Industry Advocacy Award in 2025, and earned recognition for my leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion in 2026. These accomplishments reinforce my commitment to continuous improvement, mentoring others, and making a positive impact in the construction industry.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
There is a way to be confident without being arrogant. Learning how to communicate effectively while projecting confidence is important, especially in critical situations. Additionally, women are heavily influenced and trained to be people pleasers and perfectionists. Take time to unlearn these tendencies to free up the mental and emotional capacity to grow your confidence authentically and in a healthy way. Get comfortable with not having the answer, it's ok, I promise. The skill is knowing how to deliver that message and build relationships so you know where to go get it. Take care of yourself and protect your peace.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't just stay on the surface level. If an issue comes up, take the extra time to dig in, think critically about how things connect, brainstorm solutions, and educate yourself. Go deep as well as wide on the subject. Authenticity is more powerful than perfectionism. Stop minimizing yourself. Be confident in what you know, be willing to acknowledge what you do not know, and do not change who you are simply to make other people comfortable.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, Servant Leadership, Authenticity, and Advocacy. Mentorship has become another important part of my professional life. I serve as a mentor through a high school P-TECH program in South Dallas. I want young people to understand that there is more than one path to a successful career. I also chair a women's employee resource group. Outside of my professional responsibilities, I believe in giving back to causes that matter. I support local animal shelters, environmental initiatives, and organizations advocating for women's rights.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Daryl
Mental Health in the Workplace; You can struggle with mental health and still be a badass at work
Breaking the Stigma: How Mental Health and Professional Excellence Can Coexist
Mental health comes in many forms and manifests in many ways. It is not a reflection of one's talents or skills—including the ability to lead. It does not make anyone less worthy, less desirable, or less capable. Two things can be true at once: you can struggle with mental health and still be a badass at work.
There is a beautiful tapestry we can collectively weave by continuing to break down barriers and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health. Our industries will emerge more vibrant and successful as a result. Diversity of thought is a powerful thing, and incorporating accessibility, education, and compassion into the workplace will help us tap into that power.
For years, I functioned with something I have since referred to as my "house of cards," until about 2019. All the masking and coping mechanisms I had built up to function at work came crashing down. I started experiencing worrisome symptoms, including memory issues, panic attacks, an inability to concentrate, and difficulty completing simple tasks. At first, I chalked it up to burnout from working so much and being an extreme perfectionist, but I ultimately realized it was something more.
After confiding in my partner and sister, and with COVID-19 leading to work-from-home mandates, I made the difficult decision to take a step back from work and from the career and organization I loved. I spent the next year at home freelancing, supporting my son through at-home schooling, and researching mental health. I learned (and unlearned) so much during that time, and I am incredibly grateful for the privilege of having had that opportunity. Ultimately, I returned to work in 2021, and it wasn't until almost two years later that I sought professional help. For the first time, I answered the screening questions honestly with my doctor, and she referred me to a mental health professional so I could begin addressing my concerns in earnest.
One of the more difficult aspects of this journey has been addressing the emotional damage caused by previous traumas—actually admitting they existed and coming to terms with the fact that people, both those I knew and loved and those I didn't, had caused them. Realizing that some things had been exacerbated by bad managers and shitty leaders wasn't fun, either. Additionally, I had to mourn the loss of my masked self—the strong one who performed at such high levels, was super organized, and never dropped any balls. Realizing that I could no longer operate at the same level or in the same way was jarring. Coming to terms with a new way of moving through the world that honored my well-being and moving away from perfectionism were also difficult.
Several diagnoses—including CPTSD, ADD, MDD, and anxiety—more than a year and a half of medication protocols, and a partnership with an amazing therapist later, I am feeling closer to my baseline than ever before. Mental health is a lifelong, ongoing journey for me and so many others. It involves a recurring cycle of evaluating yourself, your environment, your medications, and other factors, as well as having courageous and honest conversations with your support system. It's about learning the art of calling in those who get it wrong, including yourself, and calling out those who cause harm (if you're safe to do so). It's about understanding that the workplace and the people within it can have a significant impact on your well-being.
This is what inspired me to share my personal journey and advocate for mental health openly and publicly. While we have come a long way and there is greater awareness of mental health, there is still much work to be done, and mental health remains widely misunderstood. On the one hand, I can be praised for sharing my story; on the other hand, doing so could have real professional consequences if I'm not careful. I spent so long dealing with these issues in isolation and suffering on the inside that I finally had to ask myself, "What's the worst that could happen at this point, and would it be worse than what you're already suffering through?"
With all this said, though, I still have to challenge my own understandings, perceptions, and misperceptions about mental health. Just because you deal with it yourself does not mean you are an expert, and it certainly doesn't insulate you from your own biases. It's a learned practice of seeking to understand with compassion and extending grace. For those with little to no personal experience, it is even more important to be intentional about this practice.
As much as I wish I could (or as much as society has pressured me to) "leave our personal lives at the door" when I show up to work, let's be real: that is not possible. I can't separate the parts of my brain and heart that have to fight a little harder to feel good on the inside from the parts that kick ass at work. They are intrinsically linked, and denying that added fuel to the dumpster fire I was already battling. Coming to this critical realization also helped me develop one of the key points of my advocacy work: deconstructing what "professionalism" means. When "being professional" includes chipping away at your humanity, we are missing the mark. Leaders have a tremendous obligation and responsibility to provide feedback that is equitable, informed, and considerate.
Two things can be true at once: you can struggle with mental health and still be a badass at work.
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