Emily Beasley

I attribute my success to hands-on learning and perseverance through challenges. I've been striving to be in a business development role for about 6 years now, and I've been doing what I can to educate myself to work towards getting here, even though I never went to college. I actually have a cosmetology license, so getting into construction was never part of my plan - it just kind of happened when a friend invited me to work with her at an electrical contractor in 2017. Everything I've done has been hands-on, through trial and error. I was thrown to the wolves and needed to figure it out, and honestly, without that, I don't think I would be as driven as I am today. That experience really helped shape me into the person I am. I also had my first son at a young age, and a lot of people told me I wasn't even going to graduate high school. To look back on everything I did with him by my side is pretty amazing. Professionally, my biggest achievement and proudest moment is everything I do with NAWIC. It stands for empowering women in the construction industry and helping further education to make you better in your role. It's also a sound support system that has helped me grow my network and find connections with people I never would have met otherwise. My big push for a lot that I do with NAWIC is actually for my daughter, to show her that anything really is possible and it doesn't matter if it is a male-dominated field.

The best career advice I've ever received is to not let people get you down. That's a big one for me. I'm a really compassionate person, and I was originally really sensitive. Working in the electrical field, being someone coming from working mostly with women to working mostly with men, there were some situations where I thought I don't think I can do this anymore. I had certain people coming at me from all different directions, yelling at me, upset with me, and it wasn't really my issue - it was more a them issue. So, just to really keep going, and don't let the things that others say to you deter you from what you want to do and what you want to accomplish.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to not be intimidated by its male-dominated nature, and to actively seek mentorship, education, and involvement in organizations like NAWIC to develop skills and build a strong support network.

The biggest challenges in my field include overcoming gender barriers and navigating limited advancement opportunities at some companies. Key opportunities lie in industry evolution, expanding professional networks and partnerships, and engaging youth through programs like Block Kids to build the next generation of construction professionals.

In my work, I value being a go-to person for people in different situations. I'm a professional people person - I like to connect people with one another, help people find what they're looking for, and provide resolutions to issues. I like to constantly feel like I'm evolving and constantly be learning, whether it's a class with an affiliation or a LinkedIn course. I like to constantly be doing something to feel like I'm bettering myself. In my personal life, I love spending time with my kids - they are very active and I really like watching them pursue different interests and seeing what gets their mind going and what makes them happy. My oldest is a black belt in Taekwondo and specializes in competition sparring, and he's also a soccer player. My daughter has gone back and forth with gymnastics and cheerleading, and my middle son has done mostly baseball but wants to try football this year. I'm a big reader - I love thrillers, psychological thrillers, and horror-type books. I'm in a book club and love spending time with my friends, whether we're doing book club together, crafting together, or just watching movies at my house. I'm a really compassionate person, and my big push for a lot that I do with NAWIC is actually for my daughter, to show her that anything really is possible and it doesn't matter if it is a male-dominated field.