I started my career in the television industry as a local news photojournalist. At the time, I was the only female photographer in the market where I worked. Regularly, I would get double takes as I lugged my camera, commercial tripod, gear, and sometimes massive cable reels through news scenes. There were as many people in awe, supporting me as there were those who looked down on me, the lone woman in the field. My answer to that was to work harder, be better, and watch the men stand around while I did more. I’m naturally competitive and found that the challenge only helped me grow.
I recall once being on the scene of a large wildfire where one of the fire trucks had overturned, landing in a ravine. No one was hurt, thankfully. I reached the scene last but as I looked around, the male photographers from competing stations stood at the top of the ravine shooting. I quickly got the shots from above, then found a way to climb down with my equipment. I got closer, got better footage than they could from the top, then I put the camera down and began to help the firefighters. This was one of many instances throughout my career and life where being different was perceived by others as a disadvantage. It was instead, the fuel to my fire and a lesson in hard work that I’m not sure I would learn any other way.
As women in certain industries and positions, you are a pioneer all on your own whether you want to be or not. While that alone is inspiring, it’s the women who choose to use the challenge to become the best version of themselves that truly inspire me. It’s not always easy or welcome, but the end result is often better than if the challenge didn’t exist.
I’m deeply honored to showcase women across NewGround who have done just that, each in their own ways. Their stories are moving and a reminder of all that we are capable of.
Q: WHO BELIEVED IN YOU BEFORE YOU BELIEVED IN YOURSELF?
Linsday Wehmeier, Regional Interiors Leader at NewGround
A: My grandmother, who was like a mother to me. She made me feel like I could do anything. I was the first in my family to attend college. I’ll never forget what she told me when I graduated, “You did what we couldn’t do”. She taught me to pursue my dreams because she wasn’t able to.
Desiree DiLucente, Build Program Director at NewGround
A: My mother. Growing up, I walked construction sites with my father, who owned a construction company. While I mostly saw men working, she gave me the belief that women could also thrive in this industry. Along the way, many women provided me with encouragement, inspiration, and empowered me, helping build my confidence long before I fully felt it myself.
Maura Lynch, Regional Interiors Leader at NewGround
A: My grandmothers! They taught me to choose the life I want to build. One charted an unconventional path across careers into military service rising to the rank of Captain and Head of Surgical Nursing during World War II. The other built strength and stability for her large family without the advantages and life skills many of us take for granted. From them, I learned that life isn’t linear, and circumstances don’t determine outcomes. Neither your starting point nor your current path has to limit what you choose to pursue.
Orestja Habilaj, Architectural Designer at NewGround
A: My parents. They pushed me in the best way. They took me to extra classes and competitions as a child. They did everything they could to help me achieve my dreams.
Danielle Calcara, SVP of Marketing at NewGround
A: My daughters. Every day, I’m inspired by what they see in me that I don’t always see in myself. I want to forever be someone they are proud of.
Q: WHAT PART OF YOUR STORY ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
Julie Molenda, Senior Strategist at NewGround
A: Making it here! As a double kidney transplant recipient, I was told I should live with my parents. That just added fuel to my fire in proving just because I had a chronic health issue that it didn’t need to define me or what I was capable of. I’m grateful everyday to still be here achieving my dreams.
Rachel Willyard, Construction Manager at NewGround
A: I’m able to do what I love while raising a family!
Desiree DiLucente, Build Program Director at NewGround
A: I’m most proud of the challenges I’ve overcome throughout my career. Each obstacle has strengthened my confidence, shaped my leadership, and helped me grow both personally and professionally.
Linsday Wehmeier, Regional Interiors Leader at NewGround
A: Personally, I’m most proud of making a decision at a young age to create a positive path for my life. I had to define it on my own. My circumstances were difficult but I chose my own way outside of that.
Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME TO GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
Rebecca Butler, Senior Strategist at NewGround
A: Doubt. I had to overcome the belief that my physical limitations make me less valuable to my company. As someone with a chronic illness, I just had to work harder and do better.
Maura Lynch, Regional Interiors Leader at NewGround
A: I used to measure success by how much I could personally perfect, often pushing beyond what was necessary out of a fear of falling short. Lasting excellence comes from collaboration, shared ownership, allowing the work and the team to thrive on their own. I needed to learn to trust the process, ask for help, and loosen the reins.
Rachel Willyard, Construction Manager at NewGround
A: I’ve had moments where my instructions were double-checked, my decisions second-guessed, or my experience underestimated. Not because I wasn’t capable, but because I didn’t fit the traditional image of who “belongs” in construction. Every challenge pushed me to become more confident, more skilled, and more determined. I realized that every time I show up and do my job well.
Desiree DiLucente, Build Program Director at NewGround
A: I’ve had to overcome self-doubt. Working in a male dominated industry often brings naysayers, which at times made me question my abilities. I’ve learned how important it is to trust your instincts, seek input when needed, and remember that growth comes from experience. Mistakes don’t define us—how we recover from them does.
Linsday Wehmeier, Regional Interiors Leader at NewGround
A: Perfectionism. Being a perfectionist was holding me back in life. I watched as others passed me in their success and careers while I was trying to perfect something. It’s a strength as much as it holds us back. I now embrace, “progress over perfection”.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF NOW?
Danielle Calcara, SVP of Marketing at NewGround
A: Remember that even your worst day would be someone’s best day. Be grateful for each opportunity you’ve been given.
Julie Molenda, Senior Strategist at NewGround
A: Life goes so much faster than you ever expected. You may not have been given the best deck of cards in life, but it is your deck to play to the best of your ability.
Maura Lynch, Regional Interiors Leader at NewGround
A: Trust the long game. You don’t have to rush to arrive. A career is shaped by consistency and character, not urgency. Most challenges won’t matter in five years, but the effort, growth, and integrity you gain from them will.
Juli Peers, Accounting Manager at NewGround
A: You don’t have to have it all figured out and you don’t have to make sure that every base is covered. You can have peace in knowing that if there is something in the plan for your future, you can rest in the fact that God will take care of making sure you are equipped for whatever is to come.
Rachel Willyard, Construction Manager at NewGround
A: You can do whatever you want – don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.
Desiree DiLucente, Build Program Director at NewGround
A: Let yourself soar. Don’t be afraid to push boundaries, ask questions, and learn from everyone on the job site.
Q: WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE NEXT GENERATION SEES AS POSSIBLE?
Orestja Habilaj, Architectural Designer at NewGround
A: Financial independence! Where I am from [Albania], culturally as a woman, you often rely on others. Here, you have the option to be independent financially and there is a lot of freedom in that. No matter what happens, I want to say that I have myself covered and I don’t have to rely on anybody.
Maura Lynch, Regional Interiors Leader at NewGround
A: I hope they see that they don’t have to be defined by a single label or skill set. In my case, operational strength and creative design are not mutually exclusive. We can choose which strengths to lean into at different moments and show up fully as ourselves professionally and unapologetically. When we embrace that range, we open doors to new career paths and create opportunities that align with our unique goals and dreams, rather than limiting ourselves to someone else’s definition of success.
Rachel Willyard, Construction Manager at NewGround
A: The more women who stay in this field, the less the next generation will have to “prove” themselves just to be respected.
Rebecca Butler, Senior Strategist at NewGround
A: Leadership requires empathy, whether it is the result of nature or nurture, women are often the most distinctly qualified in that area. As we make mistakes we share the lessons learned with each other and have candid conversations. Changing your mind means you were open to new ideas. Be nimble, without being angry about it. Stubborn gets you through a difficult time, but flexibility gets you to the next place.
Desiree DiLucente, Build Program Director at NewGround
A: Anything is possible, with passion, resilience, and a little perseverance.
Juli Peers, Accounting Manager at NewGround
A: I hope that we can embrace leadership in our own unique way, bringing our feminine strengths to the table, such as our natural intuition, nurturing ability, generosity and exceptional collaboration skills.
Danielle Calcara, SVP of Marketing at NewGround
A: That they can lead. As the decades pass, so go the stigmas and barriers that have held us back. Slowly, I see a new future taking shape for our daughters and their daughters. I look at my tenacious little girls and see leaders in the making. May our progress as a society continue so that they can define their success, not the molds that were made for them to fit in.
Q: ANY FINAL INSPIRATION FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH?
Orestja Habilaj, Architectural Designer at NewGround
A: Never give up. No matter what happens, I will find a way.
Culturally, men and women have specific roles in Albania, where I’m from. Each choice you make, you have to think beyond yourself to the impact on your family and your community. Here, if I want to be a licensed architect, I study and I do it. I don’t have to ask anyone for permission. You have so much more independence.
Julie Molenda, Senior Strategist at NewGround
A: None of us are promised tomorrow, and we are all allowed to feel bad or sad about situations that occur in our life, but you can’t stay in that spot, you must wipe yourself off, stand up again and keep fighting for the life you envision for yourself.
MY PARTING THOUGHTS
The women in this article come from diverse backgrounds across the world, multiple industries and disciplines. Cultural and societal influences have shaped all of us but each of us has had to make our own way. As I had these conversations, I realized there is a theme of pursuing perfection. This pursuit has held us back in some ways, stunting confidence but in others it’s sparked hunger to learn more, be better.
Stay humble. Work harder. Pursue perfection but always remember to celebrate yourself on the journey, wherever you are today.
Happy International Women’s Day!