Recruit & Retain the best and brightest minds in the industry.
ElevateHer? is an initiative to better the future of the AEC industry. Founded by the Zweig Group, it is a commitment to embrace, promote, and ensure equal opportunities for everyone in the AEC industry regardless of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.
How does ElevateHer make sure these underrepresented demographics find success in the industry?
By serving as an advisor and a hub of information and resources, our movement hopes to bring us together to elevate the industry. We believe that with inclusion and strategic steps, we can work together to advance the future of firms across the United States because we believe that diversity brings about positive change.
The Revealing Data
Download our FREE presentation
Our free presentation discusses the challenges facing underrepresented demographics in the AEC industry and how our initiative and goals hope to address those. Download via the link to get started!
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My vision for ElevateHer is not one of divisiveness or women first. It is a practical acknowledgement of the 100% of woman who have considered exiting the AE industry, confronting this challenge, and doing everything that we can to fix this system. We need women in our firms to speak up when they feel alienated.
Jamie Claire Kiser
Director of Consulting
Read more about the vision and the individuals that make elevateHER possible
The elevateHER Story
On a 2am, mid-week flight, Jamie Claire Kiser found herself contemplating the solution to the workforce inconsistencies in the AEC industry. The vision for ElevateHer was put into words via an email draft to partners. From 2am to 5am she identified the pain points and rigorously planned for the solution to the issue at hand. Jamie Claire was fully enthralled and energized by the purpose. She sent the first draft to her business partners, Chad Clinehens and Christy Zweig Neihues. In apprehension, she waited for feedback on her gut feeling that the time is now to speak up and to confirm the intent for ElevateHer. The data came after the concept but the results were staggering.
(A look at) The Sobering Numbers
The number of women principals who have ever considered leaving the AE industry.
In a sad comparison, only 49% (less than half) of men have considered leaving. Every single woman who responded to the 2018 Zweig AEC Employment Satisfaction Survey has considered leaving the AEC industry. Every. Single. One.
The number of women who were given any portion of their ownership for free.
One in three men answered yes to this question. Not a single woman was seen as contributing enough to be awarded ownership, while one-third of men passed the test for an ownership gift.
elevateHER Testimonials
There are younger groups of women entering the field that I know we can provide better opportunities for, but we have to start building leaders. I want to be that leader.
With more than 30 years in HR, I have worked hard on gender equality in the workplace. I have been amazed these past five years by just how far behind this industry is.
A cultural change toward diversity starts at the top. Company leaders must lead, act, and set an example of inclusion every day. It must be ingrained into the culture and values of the company. Set the tone, and others will follow.
There is a lack of diversity of people working in this industry, there could be lack of diversity in the breadth of innovation, solutions, and approaches taken which moves this industry forward.
Interested in joining the movement?
she BELONGS HERE
activities for encouraging school aged (K-12) girls to pursue careers in the AEC industry
Girls Can Build the World (Recommended Grades K-6)
She Belongs Here
(Recommended Grades 7-12)
The Zweig ElevateHER program wants to encourage school aged girls to pursue their interest in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. We want to send the message that ‘you belong here.’ School districts can download these FREE interactive tools!
According to research, 66% of girls and 68% of boys are interested in science during the 4th grade. However, by freshmen year only 14% of women intend to pursue a STEM degree, as opposed to 32% of men. Girls losing interest in STEM and therefore AEC careers is a leaking pipeline that we need to address in the professional world as well as the academic world. We know it will take a partnership like ours to truly make a difference in this industry and for girls and women in our communities.
elevateHER
Share YOUR Story
Do you know the challenges facing women in the AEC industry firsthand?
Educate the movement and elevate the discussion by sharing your story: