Women in Construction Week Spotlight: Kat Escobar
Kat Escobar
During National Women in Construction (NAWIC)’s annual Women in Construction Week — which celebrates and promotes the role of women in the construction industry — we are proud to spotlight Kathryn (Kat) Escobar, who joined Kleinfelder as Administrative Supervisor for our Austin/Killeen, TX office last month.
“My favorite thing about working in construction is the community,” she said. “You may work for a specific company, but you form friendships and connections with the whole community.”
Kat added that being a member (and now Vice President) of NAWIC’s Austin Chapter led to the opportunity to work at Kleinfelder. “Being a member connected me to Kat (Streff) and Kelly (Daniel) and a year later, I am working with them at Kleinfelder as a supervisor — a career goal I have had for a few years now.”
We asked Kat some questions about her experience in construction and celebrating Women in Construction Week … read on to learn more!
Q: How do you relate to this year’s theme, “Keys to the Future,” which celebrates the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry?
A: In every role I have had in my career, I make sure to absorb and learn everything I can. I strengthen myself and build my knowledge base. I also like to make things more efficient and smoother for the team. I try to make sure that we all know everything under the sun to be able to run a smooth ship. Knowledge should be given to everyone to succeed and to help the team succeed.
Q: What role do women play in shaping the future of the construction industry?
A: As women, I believe we have excellent problem-solving skills. We can visualize things differently than men. We excel at multitasking, communication, and bringing a fresh perspective and innovations to the field.
Q: What advice do you have for girls considering a career in construction?
A: Never give up, trust your gut, and always go after what you worked hard for. Not every place you are in will be where you flourish, but always put in the work and build the foundation. We as women are more than capable of doing whatever we set our minds to.
