2023
WINNER
Holly
Vaillancourt
Director of operations, Existing
Conditions, in Boston
Residence: Oxford
Education: Bachelor's degree in architecture
from Wentworth Institute of Technology in
Boston
Whose career would you most like to
emulate? "I can and I will" is a phrase I grew
up hearing my mother say in our home. With
three daughters and a husband who has
speech and hearing disabilities and later in
life living with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, my
mother always told us there is nothing we
can't do if we put our mind to it!
What are the main obstacles women face
to success in the workplace? Honestly, I
have never allowed being a woman in the
workplace to stop me from anything. The
challenges I face as a female in the industry,
I believe, are the same challenges any
professional woman or man face: Work-life
balance and professional growth.
What advice would you give to a woman
just entering the workforce? Treat others
as you would want to be treated. Love what
you do, and do it with everything you have.
Confidence is the result of competence;
therefore do not be afraid to communicate
your ideas and know your worth. Surround
yourself with mentors who have your back
and you can learn from.
