My ability to listen and quickly adapt to each of my clients’ unique needs has allowed me to easily connect with and solve their challenges. Developing trust from the start has made even the shortest working relationships feel as though they were established years ago. Addressing my clients with confidence and understanding is one way to build that foundation; I come prepared for meetings, present myself as a resource, and demonstrate that we are a valuable asset to their success.

As a young, ambitious person, I wanted to check skills off the list and move on to the next item – essentially move up the ladder. I didn’t truly understand and appreciate the impact and benefits that come along with years of experience. In hindsight, listening and absorbing information from my colleagues with more experience, as well as spending years in the trenches – literally when it comes to ground-up construction and underground subway work – was the key to my advancement.

I’ve played rugby for about 24 years, and so the title of my book would be, “From the Pitch to the Office” – the pitch being the rugby field. It would focus on the skills and lessons I’ve learned from my favorite team sport and how they translate to my career in construction (sans the tackling!).