As more women enter the construction industry, a mother and her two daughters are building their careers at Skanska USA Building in Houston, Texas. Laura Flores and her daughters, Veronica Urquidi and Daniela Urquidi, represent not only a multigenerational workplace story, but the evolving role of women in construction.

Below, they share their journeys, challenges, and what it means to grow together in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

I’ve been with the company for almost 20 years. I started as a Receptionist, and today I’m an Executive Assistant supporting three national groups. When I first came in, I didn’t have any construction background at all.

I was a single mom at the time. Daniela and Veronica were five and six years old, and when I had to work late during office moves or renovations, I’d bring them with me. They would help me fill the refrigerator, organize office supplies, and even leave little love notes for my boss. Technically, they’ve been working at Skanska since they were little.

The great thing about Skanska is mentorship. When I started, I was paired with experienced office managers and assistants. I learned from them, and to this day, if I’m stuck or have questions, I have a pool of people I can reach out to without judgment. That support has been everything.

I’m the most recent one [in the family] to join. I started at the end of June last year [2025] as a Field Administrator supporting the Rice University, Harris County Central Fill Pharmacy, and Riverside Harris Health Hospital projects.

I came from an insurance background, so construction was completely new to me. But I saw how my mom flourished here and how much she loved the company. When the opportunity came up to join Skanska, I took it, and it’s been great.

I work closely with our general superintendent, superintendents, and project managers. It’s definitely a male-dominated environment, but we have a lot of fun and it’s a great team. It’s very different from corporate life, but I really enjoy being in the field.

I officially started [with Skanska] in 2023. I began in the same position Daniela now holds and recently transitioned to an Assistant Project Accountant position.

I didn’t come from a construction background, so the industry was completely new to me. There was definitely a learning curve. And because the Houston office hadn’t had a field admin in quite some time, I found myself figuring out a lot as I went, learning the systems, making mistakes, and growing through all of it.

What helped was that development is encouraged here. My supervisor made sure I was learning horizontally, not just with admin tasks, but exposure to field engineering, contracts, and accounting. That broader perspective really prepared me for the accounting role I’m in now.

Laura: When I first started, it was much more male-dominated. Superintendents could be harsher, and you didn’t see many women in leadership. Now, I’ve seen a real evolution. There are more women in management and leadership roles, including two of my own managers. That growth has been amazing to witness.

Veronica: You would think there would be a lot of challenges, but I’ve learned that at Skanska and this industry, there’s real respect for women in construction. If anything, I had to learn to have a louder presence. Sometimes our voices are quieter, and I had to learn to speak up more. That helped my development tremendously.

I also think women bring different perspectives. We’re wired differently, bringing soft skills to the field. Our teams are starting to recognize the value we bring because we see things differently.

Daniela: In the field, especially, things often move quickly and communication can be very direct.

What I’ve found is that people bring different strengths to the team. For me, that includes paying attention to things like training opportunities or looking at the bigger context behind a situation.

We also bring empathy and compassion, and when we share those perspectives, it helps the team become more aware and well-rounded. That kind of emotional intelligence is a valuable part of what we contribute.

Veronica: Construction in Houston is not just male-dominated; it’s also heavily Hispanic. Being able to speak the same language as many of the people working in the field, combined with my own perspective as a woman, helps me build stronger connections.

Sometimes conversations land differently depending on whether they’re coming from a superintendent or a project manager. When I approach a discussion, I tend to be pretty observant and relational, and that often helps strengthen trust with our subcontractors.

Daniela: I felt like I had an advantage coming in because I already knew the culture and some of the people. It felt welcoming from day one. But I’ve relied heavily on Veronica since she was in my role before me. There were a lot of questions, and it helped to have someone I could call anytime.

Veronica: I had a bit of imposter syndrome at first. I didn’t want anyone to think I was here just because of my mom. If anything, I worked harder because of that. I wanted to be a good reflection of her and prove that I deserved to be here.

Having family here helps because sometimes you don’t want to ask certain questions out loud. It’s easier to validate ideas or work through things together. Daniela and I collaborate a lot, especially now that I work in accounting and rely on field admins like her.

Laura: There’s probably a higher expectation on Veronica and Daniela because people know who their mom is. They’ve had to prove themselves under a magnifying glass.

But as a mom, I just love knowing they work for a great company. We drive to the office together, and sometimes we have lunch together. I don’t get to work directly with them, but just knowing we’re all part of the same organization makes me a happy mom.

Together, Laura, Veronica, and Daniela reflect the ongoing evolution of women in Texas construction: growing in number, growing in leadership, and bringing new perspectives to the job site.