Women Build California Summit
This event isn’t just for women—it’s for everyone who supports women in construction and wants to attract, retain, and develop top talent. Whether you are on the job site, in the office or leading a team, you’ll walk away with tools to make a long last impact in your workplace.
Join us on November 19 for a powerful, Build California led experience featuring insightful discussions, data-driven perspectives and real-world solutions on how to create a inclusive, thriving workplace.
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (Newport Beach, CA)
Women Build California isn’t just another event-it’s a movement to strengthen California’s construction workforce. This one-day summit brings together construction professionals, workforce leaders, educators and industry advocates to drive meaningful change and expand opportunity across the industry.
What You’ll Gain
- Actionable tools for recruitment, retention, and career advancement
- Workforce data and industry trends
- Strategies for mentorship and talent development
- Guidance on building inclusive workplace cultures
Agenda
- 8 a.m.: Networking Breakfast
- 9 a.m.: Opening Remarks
- 9:15 a.m.: Women in Construction: Data & Insights
A data-driven look at the current state of women in the construction workforce, drawn from Dr. Horsey’s latest book. This session grounds the day in real numbers on recruitment, retention, and advancement, giving attendees a shared factual baseline for the conversations that follow
- 10:45 a.m.: The Power of Representation
Representation is most often discussed as a values question. This session treats it as an operational one. Leaders in the industry will share the paths their own careers have taken, then turn to what has changed in the business as representation has become genuinely integrated at every level of the operation, from field crews through project leadership to the executive team. The conversation stays tangible and practical: where integrated teams have changed how work actually gets done, how that shows up in project outcomes, client relationships, and retention, and what it took to get there. Attendees leave with a clear picture of what truly integrated representation looks like in practice, and with the operational and business value case to carry back to their own leadership.
- 12:00 p.m.: Lunch
- 1:00 p.m.: Lego Serious Play: Cultivating Strategies for Industry-Wide Belonging
A hands-on workshop using Lego Serious Play, a problem-solving and consulting methodology that surfaces insight through building rather than discussion alone. Participants explore what belonging means for women in construction, what strengthens and threatens it, and how it shapes engagement, contribution, retention, and broader outcomes, then move from reflection into action by building and sharing strategies for cultivating belonging across the industry. Trust us, you will not want to miss this session!
- 4:00 p.m.: Closing Remarks
Attend, support, or sponsor—and help build the future of construction.
