Her Story
About Joelle
Joelle LaRose serves as Facilities Manager, Office Manager, and Executive Assistant — with additional responsibilities spanning HR and IT — at Meinhardt EPCM (USA) Inc., a construction management services company based in Denver, Colorado. Her career began far from the construction world: after earning an Associate of Arts from De Anza College and a Bachelor of Arts from San José State University, both in Early Childhood Education and Teaching, she spent many years working as a preschool teacher, drawn to the field by a childhood dream of becoming an educator. In 2018, she pivoted into office management, a shift that set her on a path through facilities coordination and workplace experience roles at organizations including VRBO HomeAway and CBRE Global Workplace Solutions, where she supported multi-city portfolios for clients such as Expedia Group.
Joelle entered the construction industry in January 2024, stepping into a traditionally male-dominated field as one of only two women on a 25-person team. Rather than viewing this as a barrier, she embraced it as one of the most rewarding chapters of her career, immersing herself in unfamiliar terminology, processes, and industry practices while continuing to build on the organizational and interpersonal foundation she developed as an educator. Today, she wears multiple hats within her organization, balancing facilities oversight, executive support, and administrative responsibilities with the same adaptability that has defined every transition in her professional life.
What Joelle values most is her role as a behind-the-scenes contributor who helps others succeed. She believes deeply in women supporting women, finding as much fulfillment in mentoring colleagues as in learning from them. In recognition of her career journey and professional impact, she has been selected for inclusion in the Influential Women 2026 edition. Her guiding philosophy — that no challenge is too unfamiliar to become an opportunity, and that transferable skills like proactivity and organization are always worth highlighting — continues to shape both how she leads and how she encourages the next generation of women considering a career change.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Joelle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I credit my success to my adaptability and my genuine openness to learning. I've always approached new environments with curiosity rather than hesitation, which has allowed me to carry the organizational and interpersonal skills I built early in my career into entirely different industries. Just as important is my commitment to supporting the people around me, since helping others reach their goals is what I find most fulfilling in my work.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women not to be afraid. Every challenge you face can be turned into an opportunity to demonstrate your grit and perseverance. Don't sell yourself short — take the experiences you already have and break them down into their most foundational pieces, like being proactive and organized, and don't be afraid to highlight those skills as the strengths they are.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Working in a male-dominated industry like construction comes with a real learning curve, since I'm still building familiarity with new terminology, processes, and practices. At the same time, that steep learning curve is also an opportunity — it gives me the chance to grow every day and to bring a more people-centered approach to workplace practices within the industry.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Supporting others, adaptability, lifelong learning, teamwork, kindness, and patience are the values that matter most to me, both professionally and personally. I believe strongly in showing up as a dependable team player and in approaching every new situation with curiosity rather than fear.
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