To commemorate Women’s History Month, Strauss Troy is proud to spotlight several exceptional female clients who have made significant strides in their respective careers and industries. These remarkable women have not only achieved success but have also graciously shared insights into the advice they’ve received and shared, the influential women who have inspired them, and their dedication to mentoring and motivating other women.
Today we are highlighting Elizabeth Mangan. Elizabeth is Chief Executive Officer and Managing Member of Miller Valentine, including Miller Valentine Construction and MV Investment. She is responsible for setting strategic vision for the company and leading the executive team to drive growth in both construction and real estate development and investment. Elizabeth’s passion is to build upon the company’s culture of continuous improvement and to develop talent throughout the organization. Prior to her appointment as CEO, Elizabeth served as General Counsel for the company. She has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of the real estate development and construction industry, having served as an attorney and advisor in private practice and in-house with real estate development companies in both Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, Ohio.
1. What does Women’s History Month mean to you and why is it important?
Women’s History Month is important for so many reasons- reflection; recognition; inspiration. I think it’s important because it provides an opportunity to reflect on all the women that have done so much to pave the way for others. It’s a source of inspiration, if you will, because it’s a reminder of the challenges and obstacles that women have overcome. It’s encouraging to remember that whatever you’re facing, someone else has experienced as well.
2. How have you witnessed the roles of women change in society over the past decade(s) in your industry?
The most notable shift for women in the construction industry over the past decade has been in the increased representation of women in our field. Ten years ago, it was rare to have even one woman in the room, much less multiple, and almost never in a leadership position. Now more than ever we are seeing women enter our field, not limited to administrative roles but also extending to technical positions like project management, estimating, and the trade functions. There has also been an emergence of organizations dedicated to supporting and connecting women in construction, which did not exist a decade ago. Despite all of these advancements there is still a lot of ground to cover. As of 2023, women still make up less than 11% of the total workforce in construction, which highlights the continued need to promote inclusion and gender diversity in our industry.
3. Tell me about an influential woman in your life and how they have impacted you.
This is my favorite question. I’m not going to share names because this woman prefers to fly under the radar and Cincinnati is a small town. When I first met her years ago, I was blown away by her intellect, creativity and work ethic. She has worked her way into the “rare air” of being implicitly trusted by all who know her and choose to work with her, which certainly enables her to expand her influence. She goes to great lengths to help others, particularly in business and she has had an extraordinary impact on my business and my life. She has served as a model to so many on how to navigate investments, business, people, etc. and SHE SHARES HER KNOWLEDGE; HER NETWORK; AND HER CREATIVITY WITH NO EXPECTATION OF A RETURN. She inspires me to want to do the same as I progress in my career and beyond.
Equally impactful are the women that inspire me every day. It’s a privilege to work with women who have joined our industry as members of project teams, rather than as an attorney, like I did. The superintendents and project managers face and conquer different challenges every hour of the day and witnessing their strength on a daily basis is humbling.
4. What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received or like to give?
It’s actually a Winston Churchill quote that landed in my inbox one day, unsolicited and with perfect timing. “You will never reach your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks.” I think that’s good advice regardless of your gender or position. It’s about being disciplined and staying focused on what matters the most and not letting distractions take you off course. The trick is being able to discern which items are merely a distraction!
5. Is there anything you do to help mentor or motivate other women or young girls?
That’s tough to answer. I guess you’d have to ask my daughters, their friends and the women I’m fortunate to work with! I certainly try to mentor and motivate or at least lead by example. I also believe in holding space at the table for other women.
Funny story: I called my daughter the other day as she was driving to take the ACT… she answered and said “mom, if this is a hype call, I’d prefer to just drive to school in silence!” So…take that for what its worth.