37. Breaking Barriers, Building Doors: Dominique Gill's Trailblazing Construction Journey

Building Doors with Lauren Karan

In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Dominique Gill, a trailblazer in the construction industry and a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. From her early days in construction to founding Urban Core, the first female-led construction company in Australia, Dominique shares insights into her career, challenges faced by women in the industry, and her commitment to paving the way for future generations.

Dominique Gill's career in construction spans over two decades, with nine years of experience in one of Australia's largest construction companies before she ventured to establish her own business, Urban Core, in 2016. Urban Core is breaking barriers as the first female-led construction company of its kind, reshaping the landscape of Australian construction with annual revenues exceeding $60 million and a track record of delivering hundreds of successful projects.

Dominique's dedication to diversity and inclusion in the industry is evident through her advocacy and initiatives. She is a vocal champion for women in construction, actively promoting the industry to younger generations. In 2022, she launched NexGen, a non-profit program aimed at addressing female representation in construction, which has now become a multi-state initiative empowering female leaders to inspire future generations.

With over 50 full-time staff, including a remarkable 50 percent female representation, Urban Core is expanding its footprint across three states under Dominique's leadership. She envisions further growth to challenge the prevailing notion that construction is exclusively a man's world.

Despite her demanding career, Dominique is also a devoted mother to three school-aged daughters, demonstrating that motherhood and career success are not mutually exclusive.

In this episode we talk through:

Choosing Construction as a Career: Dominique shares how she found her path in construction and challenges the stereotype of it being a male-dominated field.

Diversity and Inclusion: Addressing the image problem of construction and advocating for greater female representation in the industry.

NexGen Initiative: The inspiration behind launching NexGen and its impact on encouraging young women to pursue careers in construction.

Family and Work-life Balance: Insights from Dominique's personal experience balancing a demanding career with motherhood and the importance of switching off.

Tackling Workplace Issues: Celebrating the importance of addressing issues head-on in the workplace to foster a more inclusive and productive environment.

Dominique Gill's journey exemplifies resilience, leadership, and a commitment to driving positive change in the construction industry. As she continues to challenge stereotypes and champion diversity, her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring professionals and advocates alike.

Connect with Dominique:

Website: Urban Core http://www.urbancore.com.au

LinkedIn: Dominique Gill https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-gill/

NexGen Program https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-generation-construction-nexgen

About your host:
Lauren Karan, Director and Founder of Karan & Co.

With over a decade of experience as a recruiter and development coach, Lauren Karan found that her priorities rapidly changed after the birth of her two children. In 2022 she founded Karan & Co flipping the out-dated recruitment model with a focus on retention through career coaching and development.

Lauren believes that If opportunity doesn’t knock, you have to build a door – and it’s this same philosophy that inspired her to create the Building Doors podcast. The Building Doors podcast is for anyone undergoing a transformation in their life. Regardless of whether you feel stuck in your current role, need some inspiration on what steps to take next, want to learn how to level up as a business owner or simply want to listen to the experiences of successful entrepreneurs and industry professionals, the Building Doors podcast is all about unlocking your potential.
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