2023 Women in Construction: Maggie Desmond, JRM Construction Management

In the past year, what project or accomplishment are you most proud of? In the past year, my responsibilities have shifted from directly building projects to building teams. Using my experience of managing teams as an architect and overall building experience, I am helping develop others as construction managers. There is a further level of fulfillment in not merely building successful projects, but coaching others to learn the knowledge and implement the skills required to flourish. To that end, I conduct monthly training sessions where I can share my expertise and tools for success. Much of my development I attribute to key mentors, and I strive to help individuals to the same degree.

What was a pivotal point in your career? There was a pivotal moment in my career when I refocused my goals in all aspects of life. I was focused on the short-term, without a macro perspective and distinguished long-term goals. Furthermore, I over-invested in individual projects at the sacrifice of health. Prioritizing the balance of health/wellness and long-term career goals effectively led me to obtain architectural registration, complete several successful projects, and refocus on health and endurance. The next set of long-term career goals have been set, alongside raising an energetic two-year-old boy and a half Ironman at the end of the year.

How can AEC companies recruit more women? I love the challenges this field brings and how they constantly morph into some other mountain to summit. I firmly believe that in the AEC field, there is tremendous value in problem-solving skills. A resolution specialist with a skill set for constantly piecing different metaphorical puzzles together, able to bring synergy to an expansive team, and averse to being complacent, has the foundation to be very successful in this industry. If you are a woman peering through the glass into this field, do not let the gender demographics sway you from breaking in.

What is your favorite building in New York? My personal favorite building in New York is 11 Madison. Aside from the timelessness of the architecture and the wonderful location, the address has been a poetic accelerator in the trajectory of my career. As an architect, I managed my first large-scale project, barely a year out of university, in this building. Exactly a decade later as a construction manager, I had a similar opportunity in the same building with a new role. The success of these two projects proved to be the most momentous for my career path.