In this episode of Thriving in Construction, The Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Ivette Vazquez, someone whose journey into construction is a masterclass in humility, grit, and reinvention.
Ivette didn’t come from a traditional construction background. She spent 10 years in retail—managing teams, hitting sales goals, and ensuring operations ran smoothly. But despite the comfort and familiarity of that career, something inside her knew it wasn’t her final destination.
She wanted more. More challenge. More growth. More meaning.
So, she started over.
🧩 From “What’s an RFI?” to Running the Show
When Ivette entered the construction world, she didn’t even know what an RFI was. She was stepping into meetings with seasoned professionals, managing documents she had never seen before, and learning the language of a new industry from scratch.
But what Ivette lacked in experience, she made up for in work ethic, resilience, and the ability to stay calm and composed in pressure-filled moments.
“I would Google things after meetings,” she admitted with a smile. “I’d take notes, study them later, and keep asking questions until it made sense.”
What I admired most was how she never pretended to know more than she did. She let herself be new—but not small. She allowed herself to grow.
🔑 Building Her Voice in a Male-Dominated Space
Ivette shared openly how difficult it was to speak up in meetings at the beginning.
“I didn’t want to say the wrong thing,” she said. “I didn’t want to be seen as unprepared.”
But over time, she learned that her voice mattered—and that being prepared wasn’t about having all the answers. It was about being curious, consistent, and willing to improve.
Today, Ivette not only speaks up—she contributes with clarity and confidence. She holds her own at the table, not because she changed who she is, but because she remembered who she is.
💬 On Leadership, Growth & Womanhood
As we talked, I saw how much leadership meant to Ivette—not just the title, but the responsibility of it.
She talked about learning to pause before reacting, how emotional intelligence shaped her communication style, and how the pressure to always “know it all” slowly gave way to leading with vulnerability and grace.
She also talked about the unique weight women often carry—trying to excel professionally while still navigating family, expectations, and their own inner doubts.
🎙 What We Explored in the Episode
✅ Transitioning from 10 years in retail to the construction industry ✅ What it felt like to be the new person with everything to prove ✅ How she built credibility by staying consistent and prepared ✅ The moment she realized she belonged in construction ✅ Why asking questions became her superpower ✅ Her advice to women who feel like they’re starting “too late”
🌟 Why Ivette’s Story Matters
Ivette didn’t just build a new career—she built belief in herself again.
Her story is a reminder that starting over doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It means bringing everything you’ve learned with you—and giving yourself permission to grow in a new direction.
And in an industry that often moves fast and leaves little room for pause, Ivette’s presence is a quiet, steady force. She leads with heart. She listens before she speaks. And when she does speak, she makes it count.
📍 If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or like you’re behind in your journey—Ivette’s story is your reminder: you’re not behind. You’re becoming.
🎧 Listen to Season 1, Episode 6 of Thriving in Construction, The Podcast