[Interview] Sandra Benson VP: "No Need to Give Up Femininity in Construction Industry"

Benson with 30 Years at a Construction Company
Maintaining Individuality in a Male-Dominated Society
"There Are Many Opportunities for Women in the Construction Industry"

Sandra Benson, Vice President of Industrial Transformation at Procore Technologies. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

"I don't think there is a set dress code in the construction industry. I have even worn pink dresses and high heels to work."

A woman wearing high heels at a construction company. Sandra Benson, Vice President of the Industrial Transformation Division at Procore Technologies (PCOR), whom Asia Economy met on the 3rd at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, described herself as "someone who doesn't pay much attention to what others say." She visited Korea to attend the "1st Seoul Gender Equality Dialogue: The Future of Core Industries Growing with Women," hosted by the UN Women Gender Equality Center.

When Benson joined the company in the late 1990s, women made up less than 5% of the workforce in the construction industry. Although that number has increased, it still remains around 10.4% in the U.S. In the typically male-dominated construction industry, the confidence to maintain her own unique identity was a key factor that helped her rise to the position of vice president.

After building most of her 30-year career in the construction industry, she worked at Amazon, a website company, and Kentz, an oil and gas EPC company, before taking leadership roles at software company Oracle and engineering company Hexagon. Based on this experience, she currently serves as Vice President at Procore Technologies, fulfilling executive responsibilities. Recently, she has been active on the board of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), where she is entrusted by the U.S. Congress to report on construction environment matters directly to the President.

Benson started her career in an engineering company doing design work but was quickly captivated by the field experience. She explained that she enjoyed seeing the projects she planned come to life right before her eyes while meeting clients and executing projects. As she developed expertise in construction technology, she began to take on more fieldwork. "By nature, I didn't like being told what to do. That's why I chose to work in the construction industry myself."

However, the male-centered industry culture was a barrier to her growth. Colleagues and seniors often gossiped about her, saying things like "Women won't last long here," or "Her appearance doesn't fit this field." During client meetings, she was sometimes seen as the person who brought snacks like donuts rather than as a male subordinate. But she was not easily shaken. "Even as I kept getting promoted, I was often the only woman. But I thought being the only woman made me special."

Sandra Benson, Vice President of Industrial Transformation at Procore Technologies. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

Her effort to stay true to herself was reflected in the clothes she wore. She said she received a lot of criticism from industry people for not having the "typical construction worker" appearance. There was a stereotype that, because of the heavy fieldwork, one had to wear tough and rugged clothes. While she wore protective gear and work clothes on site, she wore whatever she wanted with all her might when off-site. "Working in a male-dominated industry doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your femininity. We all need to express ourselves, and I believe there is no set dress code anywhere."

Benson explained that the U.S. also has a low proportion of female executives, similar to Korea. As of two years ago, women held over 30% of executive board positions in the top 200 U.S. companies, but the construction industry is even more challenging. Although more women graduates are entering the construction industry, it remains difficult for them to rise to managerial levels. Even when there are female executives, they are often assigned to departments somewhat removed from direct company operations.

However, there is a global movement toward considering gender diversity. Procore Technologies, where she works, is a representative company that has its own women's network called "ERG (Employees Resource Groups)." This provides an online network for female employees to connect. It applies the methodology of "Lean In Circles," developed by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook. Lean In Circles are small groups designed to support women's advancement in society. Benson also serves as an executive sponsor for ERG.

She conveyed this message to female juniors aspiring to enter the construction industry: "The construction industry is facing a labor shortage and is opening its doors to talent. I believe there are still many opportunities for women to succeed." She explained that there are abundant resources available if one can overcome the fixed ideas and perception barriers about the industry.

*About Sandra Benson…

Sandra Benson, Vice President of the Industrial Transformation Division at Procore Technologies (PCOR), began her career in 1993 as a practical manager at JD Edwards, a U.S. architectural and engineering consulting firm. She has since worked at related companies including KPMG, Oracle, Kentz, and Amazon. Since 2021, she has served as Vice President of the Industrial Transformation Division at Procore Technologies. She has also been a board member of the National Institute of Building Sciences and a member of the Biatechnic Advisory Committee since the same year.