2021 Women in Building Services: Gabriela Lachapel, Shawmut Design and Construction

Name: Gabriela Lachapel

Title: Operations Manager

Company Name: Shawmut Design and Construction

What led you to your current profession?

In college I spent time in Costa Rica and Honduras working on infrastructure projects to support local economic development initiatives. These experiences were physically and intellectually challenging as well as very rewarding. After my time in those communities, I knew I wanted to work in the AEC industry. I started working for a construction material supplier after graduation but quickly felt that piece of the pie was too small—I wanted the whole pie. That’s when I transitioned to the construction management side. Through mentorship and sponsorship, I’ve learned how my personality and skills in project and change management could be harnessed into broader operations management and project controls to help the company achieve its strategic initiatives.

What trends will dominate your industry in the coming months?

Our team has spent a lot of time in recent months harnessing the power of data analytics. Having a pragmatic approach to optimizing project performance supported by verifiable and precise data will significantly strengthen our outcomes and enable our teams to deliver a better building experience for our clients.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was growing up, I wanted to be a chef. I loved spending time with loved ones around food and being creative in the kitchen. After I realized I could maintain my love for cooking as a hobby, I thought about the industries where I could utilize my strong analytical skills and dominant left brain to use and that’s how I landed on engineering and construction management. My dad is also a civil engineer, so there may have been some influence from him as well.

Who was/is your mentor and how did s/he influence/help you in your career?

There are a few people I would consider mentors, and each has played a unique role during critical inflection points in my career. I owe them all an abundance of gratitude. Especially during quarantine, my manager from a previous role is someone I’ve been in touch with regularly to talk mostly about our mental health and wellness goals. These conversations have really helped me combat insecurities, feel supported, and ultimately, given me the confidence to be unapologetically myself.

How do you contribute to your community or profession?

The role I tend to take on in every facet of my life, professionally, personally, or otherwise, is that of a caretaker. My hope is to make a problem easier to solve, a solution more feasible to implement, a decision more straightforward and simpler. I’ve spent time at my local food pantry helping to pack grocery bags, sorting donations, and preparing hot meals for underserved communities. At work, I take on additional education and training where possible to be as equipped as I can to serve as a reliable, trustworthy partner to our executives, project managers and superintendents.