“Construction has always been marked by a preponderant male presence, even when other sectors that were equally so-such as, for example, banking or insurance-have begun to leverage an increasing number of women. Thus, in the collective imagination, the role of women in a construction company has always been that of secretary or clerk.” Unhinging this cliché, Maria Greca Sollai tells us, has not been easy in our country: “Personally, it was the work period I spent in Denmark that helped me understand how this is a tradition that does not depend on the type of work being done: there there are no organizational complexities and cultural barriers to women entering the construction industry, either as a workforce or from a management point of view. This is a custom that today we are finally overcoming in Italy as well, thanks to the promotion of gender equality and the elimination of some persistent cultural barriers.”
She is echoed by Solange Paola Giordano, who cites one of the reasons for these cultural barriers: “The harsh working conditions that characterize construction are, in my opinion, the reason why for years it has been considered a male-dominated sector: however, the evolution toward greater mechanization, the drive for innovation and the propensity to share skills now allow women to perform the same professional tasks as a man, with equal rights and opportunities.” He adds, “Today, the share of women in technical and strategic roles is significantly increasing. However, there is still a lot to be done, and often the education system does not prepare us to fill operational roles. And then there are other aspects that should be changed: construction equipment, for example, is designed for men, but work shoes are also an issue for me. So the market needs to evolve, to adapt to a more inclusive reality.”
In this transformation, an important role is being played by companies in the sector, such as Tecnostrutture and ICM, engaged in some of the most innovative projects in our country. The former is a market leader in Europe for the design and construction of steel-concrete composite structures, while the latter is an industrial group that unites several companies active in the world of construction. Both should be credited with being able to recognize the added value that greater inclusion can bring to real estate.
See also: Real Estate, an opportunity for the country
“I very much agree with what Solange said,” Maria Greca resumes. “Tecnostrutture, the company I represent, is an example of a company that invests in training, inclusiveness and gender equality, where women, through their contributions, contribute significantly to company growth”.
“Such an approach has also been established at ICM,” Solange adds. “But it's not just about the effect of greater inclusivity, which is laudable in any case, as much as it is about the recognition of the added value women offer: we are able to bring important and innovative perspectives about what is needed in the spaces that are being built, putting in a little bit of sensitivity and insight. If I had to point to two female characteristics that make a difference, I would say problem solving and the ability to smooth the process of collaboration between internal teams”.
Maria Greca Sollai, Site Manager Tecnostrutture
Two careers in construction that start way back and represent very well the path followed by many women who today play leading roles in companies in the sector. As Maria Greca Sollai tells us, “My professional career began about fifteen years ago, right after I graduated in Construction Engineering-Architecture and a master's degree in Project Management. Since then I have contributed to the realization of numerous infrastructural and civil works both in Italy and abroad, and I currently hold the position of Site Manager in Tecnostrutture”.
“I studied Architecture because I was very attracted to the world of design,” answers Solange Paola Giordano, ”but then my encounter with this world was a bit accidental. Initially I was freelancing as an architect, until I approached the world of general contracting in 2014, working first in Mozambique for seven years and then in Switzerland for another three. This is my first project in Italy. The change came when I realized that I lacked direct experience on the construction site. So, I decided to explore this dimension and never left it. Now, as Production Manager in ICM, I am in charge of site management and coordination of operational figures for the West Tower of the I Portali - Gioia 20 project in the Porta Nuova district of Milan”.
In this journey, Maria Greca and Solange demonstrated the impact that female management, even and especially on construction sites, can have in light of the ongoing transformations in the world of real estate. “From my point of view, in the field of construction, greater empowerment of the female figure can guarantee immediate results,” Maria Greca Sollai emphasizes. “For a long time the construction industry was thought to have as its sole purpose the creation of a built space, but now that the focus of our industry is increasingly shifting toward urban regeneration and sustainability plays a key role, including women in management provides a new perspective on development directions that were unexpected until a few years ago and impossible to manage by adopting a traditional approach”.
See also: Spreading urban regeneration
“I think you hit the nail on the head, Maria Greca,” Solange interjects. “I would add, however, that in order to do so, it is necessary to be able to confidently defend one's values, expressing one's own ideas while respecting those of others, and to achieve set goals while maintaining a positive relationship with others. As far as I was concerned, it was crucial to earn the trust of my colleagues and workers, and to do this I was always willing to engage with them from the start, so that they could understand that I was their ally and that my role is to solve their problems, always putting their well-being and safety first. So once I won their respect, everything becomes easier, and today I see no difference from my male colleagues. For this reason, I think the main challenge we face is not to bring women into the worksite, but into the management of companies, leveraging our problem-solving, analytical and communication skills. Even male colleagues admit it,” Solange smiles, ”when there is a woman at the top, management improves”.
“The latest project in chronological order that Tecnostrutture has been working on in collaboration with COIMA is the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Village, which is part of a series of interventions that are part of the redevelopment of the former Porta Romana airport area” Maria Greca adds. “It involves the construction of six buildings of eight floors each, totaling 46,000 square meters and 1,700 rooms. This is a particularly ambitious project, based on a very stringent development timeline, because delivery will have to take place well in advance of the event. Precisely in relation to these deadlines, the technique of 'offsite' construction and the innovative approach that the work took from the very beginning allowed us to achieve a result that was impossible to achieve with traditional methodologies”.
Solange Paola Giordano, Production Manager Gruppo ICM
“As ICM we are collaborating with COIMA on 'I Portali - Gioia 20': a project by ACPV Architects, which will significantly redevelop the area, as evidenced by LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certifications, as well as WIRED certification,” Solange Paola spoke. “I am particularly proud to work within the framework of such an innovative project, designed to become the hub of the flows that characterize the Porta Nuova area, and positioned in a strategic location between the city's two main stations, a stone's throw from the center”.
See also: Pirelli 35 opens up to the city
The career paths of Maria Greca and Solange prove that a female-led Real Estate is not only possible, but is already a successful reality in our country. As Sollai recalls further, “I am convinced that gender equality is possible in any professional field in which one operates and that, in the end, what is important and what makes the difference is teamwork”
