“Construction is no longer an industry where women have to wait for a place to be made for them. It is an industry where they can shape decisions, influence outcomes and help define the future of the sector,” says Lisa Ker, Group Supply Chain Manager at M&D Construction.

For Lisa, the growing presence of women in construction cannot simply be measured by how many women have entered an industry that was historically dominated by men. “The real value lies in creating an industry where people with different experiences, perspectives and approaches can contribute and influence how it develops,” she says.

Lisa has spent most of her career in construction and has witnessed considerable change in the opportunities available to women. When she entered the industry, it was not unusual to be the only woman in a meeting or on a project team. Today, women are increasingly represented across engineering, project management, operations, supply chain and leadership.

However, she notes that progress should mean more than increasing representation. It should mean creating an environment where women are judged on what they bring to the industry, rather than on whether they conform to its traditional expectations.

“Women do not need to prove that they can succeed by conforming to someone else’s expectations. Construction is stronger when women are able to bring their own strengths, experiences and perspectives to the way the industry works and the future it creates,” she says.

For Lisa, those contributions ultimately have to translate into performance. “Success in supply chain management is not determined by gender but by competence, credibility, relationship-building, and the ability to deliver results,” she says.

It is a principle that has shaped her own perspective on leadership and opportunity.

Saying yes to opportunity

Lisa did not set out to build a career in supply chain management. She grew up in Welkom and started working for a construction company as a receptionist in a small office. However, the boundaries of her job quickly disappeared. She became involved in procurement, payroll administration, expediting, supplier liaison, account reconciliations and other operational functions.

It was through this exposure that she discovered procurement – and recognised that she enjoyed the combination of problem-solving, commercial decision-making and working with people.

When the company moved its head office to Johannesburg, Lisa was offered a dedicated procurement position, despite not having a formal qualification in the field. Accepting meant leaving the familiarity of Welkom and moving alone to Johannesburg.

Taking that opportunity set her on a career path that eventually led to her current position as Group Supply Chain Manager of a leading multi-disciplinary construction company. Along the way, Lisa invested heavily in her own development, completing qualifications in purchasing, procurement and supply management, including her CIPS Diploma.

Her willingness to learn, take on new responsibilities and embrace change allowed her to turn an unexpected opportunity into a long-term career.

More than engineering and project management

It also demonstrates why Lisa believes young women should look beyond the traditional image of construction.

Supply chain management, for example, offers a career that extends to understanding projects, anticipating risks, managing suppliers, controlling costs, negotiating, solving problems and working with people across an organisation.

“The role has also become increasingly important as construction companies navigate material shortages, escalating costs, logistical disruptions and volatile markets,” she says. “Strong supplier relationships, accurate forecasting, early procurement involvement and a diversified supplier base can all influence whether projects remain on track.”

For Lisa, this is where the value of different perspectives becomes particularly important.

She believes women often bring strengths in relationship-building, collaboration, communication and emotional intelligence. “These qualities can be valuable in a profession where success depends heavily on understanding different interests, negotiating solutions and maintaining relationships when circumstances become difficult,” Lisa says.

However, she notes that these qualities are not exclusive to women.

“The profession rewards individuals who are strategic thinkers, effective communicators, collaborative leaders, and strong problem-solvers,” she says. “Yet, the diversity of perspectives that women bring undoubtedly strengthens teams and improves decision-making.”

For Lisa, greater diversity is ultimately about broadening the way construction approaches its challenges. Women should not have to conform to established expectations to succeed, nor should they have to prove themselves by adopting traditional approaches to leadership and decision-making.

“A stronger industry emerges when different experiences and perspectives are welcomed, allowing talented people to challenge assumptions, find better solutions and contribute to the way construction evolves,” she says.

Strength through diversity

Ker also believes that resilience and adaptability are increasingly important qualities in construction. “The industry is constantly changing, requiring people to respond to economic cycles, supply disruptions, changing technologies and shifting market conditions. These challenges have reinforced the importance of remaining solutions-focused rather than being discouraged when circumstances do not go according to plan,” she says.

This is particularly evident in supply chain management, where decisions can have a direct bearing on whether a project remains on schedule.

“The most rewarding aspect is knowing that effective supply chain management can make the difference between a project succeeding or failing,” she says.

For young women entering the industry, she believes this makes supply chain an especially rewarding career. It offers exposure to different parts of a business while developing commercial awareness, problem-solving skills and leadership capability. It also provides the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to projects and the communities they ultimately serve.

Growing a Great Company with Great People

For Lisa, leadership carries a responsibility to help others grow. This closely reflects M&D’s Khula Nathi – Grow with us philosophy: creating an environment where people are supported, developed and given the opportunity to realise their potential.

She credits the managers, mentors and colleagues who believed in her, challenged her and trusted her with opportunities to develop. Today, she sees it as part of her own responsibility as a leader to provide that same encouragement to others.

“Leadership is about creating opportunities for others to grow and succeed as well,” she says.

This is also where the broader significance of women’s advancement in construction becomes apparent. For Lisa, advancing women in construction means creating an industry where people can grow together, where different perspectives are valued and where women have the opportunity to contribute their knowledge, experience, ideas and leadership.

“This means helping to create an industry where the next generation of women can see construction not as a sector with narrowly defined roles, but as a place where they can build meaningful careers, develop their capabilities and ultimately help shape its future,” she says.

Lisa’s message to young women is therefore not to wait for permission or to allow stereotypes to determine their ambitions. Build your knowledge. Take on challenges. Find people who will support and challenge you. Remain open to opportunities, including those you never expected.

Above all, she believes women should have the confidence to recognise the value they bring.

“The construction industry will be stronger because more women are helping to shape it,” she says.

Be courageous, be curious, and believe in yourself

As we celebrate Women's Month, Lisa believes it is important to recognise how far women have come in our industry while also looking ahead to the opportunities that still lie before us. She is excited about the future and inspired by the talented women who continue to break barriers and redefine what is possible.

Lisa’s final message to every woman at M&D Group and to every young woman considering a career in construction: be courageous, be curious, and believe in yourself. The opportunities are there, and the future of our industry is brighter because of the contributions women continue to make every day.