2023 Women in Construction: Emily Rothschild, NeighborWorks Housing Solutions

What made you interested in seeking a career in the AEC industry? I entered the AEC industry 36 years ago wanting to make a concrete difference for people who were struggling economically. As a young community advocate, I was trying to help people on the verge of homelessness but there just wasn’t enough affordable housing out there. When I was offered a promotion to lead an emerging affordable-housing development program, I knew I would regret not taking that job even though I had no relevant qualifications. In nearly four decades of on-the-job training, I have completed 70 housing projects with over 1,185 units of housing and I continue to enjoy facing new challenges, problem-solving and learning new skills. For most of my career, I have been the only woman in the room. I am encouraged to see more women involved in AEC in recent years.