Rachel Klasey

Relationships and range. My industry runs on trust... you're in the trenches with people for years, and that either builds something solid or it doesn't. I've always invested in the people around me, and those relationships have opened more doors than any credential ever has. The other piece is being able to hold the big picture and the thousand small steps at the same time. I don't just care how the building gets built - I care that when we hand it over, people can actually operate it without a giant hassle.

Early in my career, I remember my colleague passively saying, "Don't be afraid to ask questions." I should ask her if she even remembers that. So, I've built a career of that - especially the ones I feel like I should already know the answer to. And I don't mean the questions you could look up yourself, but the ones that drive curiosity, surface what nobody's saying out loud, and push a project forward. That willingness has opened more doors for me than almost anything else.

Learn to own a room, especially one where you're the only woman in it - because you will be. Construction is still overwhelmingly male-dominated, and you will spend energy advocating for things that should be obvious. I once had to make the case - in a room full of men - that women's restroom stalls need to be larger because it's physically impossible to close the door otherwise. But honestly, that's just part of it - you're often the only one in the room thinking about certain things, and that perspective is an asset even when it doesn't feel like one. Build genuine relationships, show up prepared, and trust that your presence speaks for itself. Curiosity and directness will take you further than you think.

And yes, I won the bathroom argument.

The stories that don't get told. Everyone wants to talk about the players and the awe of the game...but the people who built that experience? Who coordinated fifteen stakeholders and made sure the lights came on opening night? Largely invisible. I've spent my career in that realm, and I'm launching a podcast interviewing the people behind venues across the country. Operations leadership has never gotten the credit it deserves...but I think that's changing, and I want to be part of telling that story.

Professionally: integrity and follow-through. If I say it'll be done, it'll be done. Personally: quality time with my family. I didn't protect that enough early in my career, and I've had to build better boundaries. What I've found is that when I'm truly present with them, I come back sharper. You can't sustain high performance at a hundred percent all the time. Rest is part of the work.