What it Means to be a Woman in Construction at Hilti

I have been in construction sales for almost 15 years – when I found Hilti in 2018, I found my home. Not only because of the trusted reputation of the company and wonderful people on our team, but because we support a workplace that is for everyone, everywhere.

My grandfather was at Illinois Bell, in the construction group, for his entire career. Because of this, I have always had a deep respect and appreciation for the industry. My dad, on the other hand, went the corporate route of communications infrastructure sales – helping deploy copper and fiber all over the US. I followed them into a career I absolutely love – being in the same industry, mentoring emerging professionals, and seeing our skylines change.

From Sales Intern to a Hilti Account Manager

Before Hilti, I was an intern turned full time employee in inside sales at another company. I was referred to Hilti by my best friend. When I joined Hilti, I relocated from SoCal to Seattle for an Account Manager role for electrical and low voltage customers. This job was so dynamic, no two days were the same, behind the scenes of high-profile projects, learning about our customers, and how they define success.

Hilti Women in Construction from West, Central, and East brainstorming in Boston, MA.

Leading Teams as a Regional Manager

Now, having been a Regional Manager for a few years, I get to support my account managers in how they define success.

I love being at a company that embraces their employees for who they are. We all wear the famous red polo; we live the core values AND get to be our authentic selves when we show up for work every day. Our team in SoCal is teamwork centric. If someone is asking for help, we are showing up – whether it be at a 6 A.M. jobsite demo, or an afternoon sharing best practices for routing (traffic is no joke here!). Sales takes great courage and commitment, and our leadership is always here to support us with our customers, projects, and finding solutions for our contractor’s needs.

Getting Involved with NAWIC and Supporting Other Women

Since the start of my time at Hilti, I have seized the opportunity to be involved in National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). I have been a member of Puget Sound (Seattle) and Orange County (California), and during that time I was supported by leadership and peers. We have been involved in construction education events and pre apprenticeship programs, Thomas House Family Shelter remodels, and beach clean ups.

Since I joined NAWIC I have had mentors encourage me to jump into committees, help plan regional events, and have vulnerability to grow. These skills have directly helped me improve my leadership skills inside and outside of Hilti. I couldn’t have been prouder when I looked out into the crowd as I became President of NAWIC OC Chapter in 2023. I had many Hilti team members there rooting for my personal and professional achievement.

Steel & Metal southern California team with field engineers and business developers.

Building Inclusion and Collaboration Across the Industry

Recently I attended the national convention in Boston, MA. While I was here, I got to meet up with other Hilti women from Central and East market organizations. We got to spend time brainstorming how we can share our best practices for inclusion with our teams across HNA while enjoying great cold brew. Some of the ideas we came up with were having leadership from multiple levels to champion our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), show people that this field is changing, success is possible for anyone willing to grow and contribute, and share practical Hilti knowledge with our industry partners.

In March, #WICWeek takes place as an annual week-long celebration of the women in our industry who have come before us, and the women who want to continue to blaze trails. We engage beyond our daily business with volunteer projects, learn from construction leader panels who are at various career stages, and join together for Sisterhood.

We heavily invest in students, continuing professional education, and development of one another. We support each other in owning our development, navigate daily challenges, and stand strong when our personal lives are going well or need support.  Our allies play a meaningful role in our growth. They invest their time, energy, and influence to help open doors in this industry. When we watch how strong allies show up, we learn how to embody that same courage, accountability, and commitment to driving real change.

The privilege of being a Regional Manager is not lost on me. Regional Managers lead by example, modeling behaviors that help people grow, and share in the good and in the hard times with their team. One of the best parts of my job is when Account Managers call me with either a win, sometimes a loss or famous “not right now” – we celebrate how hard they have worked or that they tried something new – and by the end, I can hear their smile through the phone.  

The Southern California leadership team.

Why Representation Matters in the Construction Industry

Being a woman in this industry is unique. Women make up about 11% of the construction industry – we are valued by Hilti and encouraged to do our best every day. The more women who join field roles, technical services, leadership – the better! Representation matters and we want the best talent for the job.

If I was going to talk to 2011 Liv, I would tell her: stay focused, ask for help, relocate when it’s possible, say YES, and help the women who are coming after you. We can bring each other to the door of a new opportunity and make sure you pull her through the doorway!

I am excited for the future, our industry, and continuing to experience Life at Hilti.

Explore Opportunities at Hilti

At Hilti, we are committed to creating opportunities for our team members to connect to one another and develop meaningful and long-lasting careers with impact. Learn more and explore our opportunities in North America and worldwide here: Jobs | Hilti Careers