Empowering women in construction, manufacturing & distribution to LEAD
A 10-month leadership development program tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities women face in construction, manufacturing & distribution - combining real-world insights, actionable strategies and a supportive learning environment to help you succeed.
The opportunity
We have an opportunity to shape the future of construction, manufacturing & distribution
We can EMPOWER women to confidently fill essential roles and consistently develop top talent.
Women represent an untapped talent pool for an industry facing a widening leadership gap. NCCER's research shows that over 85% of women who took leadership training found it useful - yet more than half said their training was not designed for the unique challenges women face in construction. Programs built for women deliver: greater self-confidence, real career growth, and stronger mentorship and sponsorship networks. Read the NCCER research: Leading the Way (2025)
Grow with intention
Shorten the leadership learning curve
Most leaders learn on the job, through mentors, hard projects and difficult conversations. Empowered gives you a dedicated place to speed that up: time to learn, reflect, apply and grow alongside women who know your industry.
Confidence
Know your strengths and what you contribute, and take on leadership opportunities and challenges with intention.
Clarity
Practical tools and a shared language for understanding people, communicating well and making better decisions.
Community
Real relationships with women across construction, manufacturing & distribution who offer perspective, encouragement and connection.
The problem
Challenges women face in construction, manufacturing & distribution
Underrepresented
Women represent 11% of the industry. There are fewer examples of what women in leadership looks like, and women are not always prepared to lead other women.
Imposter Syndrome
Women will doubt their capabilities despite their achievements. Those entering the industry may feel intimidated or undereducated compared to their male counterparts.
Career Path Clarity
Women want to see that there is a clear path toward advancing their careers and growing professionally.
Mentorship vs. Sponsorship
Women receive sponsorship only half as often as they receive mentorship. They often mistake one for the other and don't advocate for themselves.
Schedules
Women are often the primary caregivers for their families and may lack flexibility in their schedules beyond the standard work-day hours.
Focused Training
Most training does not take into consideration the barriers and challenges women face.
What is the Empowered program?
A transformational leadership journey designed specifically for women in construction, manufacturing & distribution. Through interactive workshops, peer collaboration, and personal reflection, participants grow in confidence, clarity, and competence - developing practical strategies to overcome industry barriers and lead with authenticity.
Who should participate?
Women preparing to step into their first leadership role
Emerging leaders, project managers and superintendents
Plant, operations and supply chain leaders in manufacturing & distribution
Executives and business owners refining how they lead
What are the results?
Women who communicate with confidence, navigate challenges with resilience, and design meaningful, sustainable career paths in construction, manufacturing & distribution.
The journey
The Empowered roadmap
Ten months, five stages. Growth takes time, so each stage gives you room to learn a tool, try it on the job and come back to talk it through.
Direct your leadership mindset
Self-awareness & imposter syndrome
Get into the right leadership headspace. Understand self-leadership through self-awareness, and learn practical ways to recognize and overcome imposter syndrome.
Discover your leadership voice
Your Voice & the power of your Voice
Discover your communication style and its strengths through GiANT's 5 Voices, then learn to recognize your Voice's challenges and manage them.
Develop your leadership competence
Conflict resolution & negotiation
Understand your tendencies toward conflict and how to engage productively, and navigate negotiations with confidence without undermining your influence.
Develop your leadership competence
Change & change management
Explore how change, trust and risk relate, and learn to lead people, and yourself, through change at work and at home.
Design your leadership path
Personal development & career advancement
Build a plan to keep growing your leadership capacity, use sponsorship and mentorship, and share it with the people supporting your journey.
Core group calls and networking events run on the even months.
What's included
The Empowered program
Leadership Workshops
Build self-awareness, develop your leadership voice, strengthen conflict and negotiation skills, lead through change, and design your career path.
Core Group Calls
Work with peers to process learning, share experiences, and gain feedback in a trusted space.
Peer Processing Lunches
Connect with peers in more relational settings to go deeper and apply key insights and tools to practical, on-the-job situations.
Networking & Social Events
Build lasting relationships across roles and organizations as you meet fellow leaders in the industry.
Online Platform & Resources
Access resources, exercises, and key materials on GiANT OS throughout your journey, plus optional on-demand training.
The curriculum
The leadership workshops
Self-Awareness
Direct Your Leadership Mindset
Imposter Syndrome
Direct Your Leadership Mindset
Discover Your Voice
Discover Your Leadership Voice
Conflict Resolution & Negotiation
Develop Your Leadership Competence
Change & Change Management
Develop Your Leadership Competence
Career Advancement
Design Your Leadership Path
Why it matters
The benefits of Empowered
Equips women to step into leadership with confidence.
Helps overcome imposter syndrome and limiting beliefs.
Builds influence through authentic communication.
Strengthens skills in conflict, negotiation, and change.
Creates clear career paths with mentorship and sponsorship.
For employers
Why companies invest in Empowered
Many participants are sponsored by their employer. If you are asking your company to invest, here is what they get, and who gets the most from the program.
Companies choose Empowered to
Strengthen their leadership pipeline
Keep high-potential employees
Improve communication across teams
Prepare future project and operations leaders
Invest in women already showing leadership potential
Complement the leadership development they already offer
The ideal participant
Supervises others, or is preparing to
Influences teams regardless of title
Shows real leadership potential
Wants more confidence and influence
Is ready for more responsibility
In their words
What participants and employers say
“This community of women has influenced my growth and provided so much confidence in my abilities to lead an effective team. Through this program I have realized I am not alone. We all face issues as women in the construction industry, but it's been empowering to see how we are breaking barriers and together we can make construction more effective and more efficient.”
“The program is a journey of understanding yourself so you can grow. It's provided me with the tools and understanding to be a better leader, a better employee, a better family member, and all around a better person.”
“My company decided to invest in Empowered because there was a noticeable shift in demographics. We started to see more and more women coming into the construction industry. … One of the things that is standing out to me is the relationships that our folks are building with one another.”
“Empowered is an initiative that is rooted in purpose, guided in partnership, and driven by impact. What stands out about this program's approach to leadership development and what makes it unique is its core purpose: to empower others to find their voice and to use their voice.”
The story behind Empowered
Built from construction, now growing nationwide
Empowered was created by Maria Guy, a GiANT Worldwide partner and former board president of AGC New Mexico, after more than 20 years in construction and a decade developing leaders. She shaped the curriculum with construction executives, leadership consultants with construction backgrounds, and construction and engineering academics, focusing on what most builds women's clarity, confidence and contribution.
Today Empowered cohorts are running and forming across the country, each hosted locally and led by an Empowered Certified Partner. Long Table leads the metro Atlanta cohort, open to women in construction, manufacturing & distribution.
Visit the official Empowered site →Your facilitators
Led by two GiANT-certified facilitators
The 2027 cohort is co-facilitated by Linnea Miller of Long Table and Masi Willis.
Linnea Miller
Founder and CEO, Long Table
Linnea is an Empowered Certified Partner and a certified coach in 5 Voices and MBTI, and leads Long Table's leadership programs across metro Atlanta.
About Linnea →
Masi Willis
Executive coach & GiANT Certified Consultant
Masi is an executive coach, keynote speaker and masterclass facilitator who focuses on leadership communication, team alignment and preventing burnout. Her background spans risk management and insurance, event production and business transformation consulting.
About Masi →
Join the next Empowered cohort
For more information on Empowered and how to join the 2027 cohort, add your name to the interest list and Linnea will get in touch with you. Then join us Wednesday, December 2, 8:30 - 9:30 am ET, for a free Learn More & Networking Breakfast at Insperity, 2400 Lakeview Pkwy #500, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
Express your interest in Empowered →Quick Facts about Empowered
- What is Empowered?
- Long Table's 10-month leadership development program for women in construction, manufacturing & distribution - designed to build confidence, competence and effectiveness.
- Who is it for?
- Women in the construction, manufacturing & distribution industries - across roles and organizations - who want to grow as leaders.
- Format
- Six leadership workshops, core group calls, peer processing lunches, networking and social events, plus an online platform with resources. In-person sessions meet at Insperity in Alpharetta.
- The workshops
- Self-Awareness, Imposter Syndrome, Discover Your Voice, Conflict Resolution & Negotiation, Change Management, and Career Advancement.
- Duration
- 10 months, in a cohort of peers who journey with you.
- Who delivers it?
- Long Table, an award-winning metro Atlanta consultancy and Empowered Certified Partner. The 2027 cohort is co-facilitated by Linnea Miller of Long Table and Masi Willis, both GiANT-certified. Empowered was created by Maria Guy.
- Learn more
- Download the Empowered flyer, or add your name to the 2027 cohort interest list at longtableconsulting.com/empowered-2027.
- How to engage
- Schedule an introductory conversation - 25 minutes, virtual, no obligation - or send a message through the contact form.