Katie Lane
What attracted you to the A/E/C industry?
Chief Talent Officer, Clayco
15 Years in Talent Development
Close family and friends work in the A/E/C industry, and I’ve always had respect for their dedication to the job. Many people don’t understand what determination it takes to be successful in a skilled trade; I’ve been lucky to witness that first hand. Another draw is the ability to see tangible results. Working within Clayco, we see pictures or drive around town and see projects we’ve been a part of building, this is not something people in other
industries can say.
What is an accomplishment, milestone, or obstacle that influenced you in your career?
Early in my career, I was given the opportunity to design one of the largest condominium developments in Chicago, and only one of the few with unobstructed lake front views. I remember walking into the first presentation and the room was filled with men. I was an Asian woman with a quiet and shy voice, the youngest and had the least experience. We were working with new clients and our first task was to build the
A few years out of college and into the professional world, I had the
opportunity to work for an amazing boss who mentored me. She was very transparent and helped me to understand a few important things. One of her major teachings was that in order to be successful, you have to have the ability to relate to people. Sounds simple, but this is not always easy! I’ve focused my career on building relationships and connecting with people. Realizing that everyone has so much more going on than what you see at work is critical for the success of a team and an organization. The stronger relationships are, the greater the impact.
