2021 Women in Building Services: Chris Giovannetti, Stantec

Name: Chris Giovannetti

Title: Principal, Senior Project Manager, Operations Leader

Company Name: Stantec

Real estate associations or organizations that you are currently a member of: Capital Region Builders & Remodelers (CRBRA)

What did you want to be when you grew up?

After discovering at the age of 10 that I would not make it as a professional ballerina, I became fascinated with bridges. I convinced my 5^th grade teacher to let me captain a team to build a scale model of the Golden Gate Bridge as a history project. That experience taught me I loved leading teams, negotiating, and tackling challenges.

How do you contribute to your community or profession?

Having a very nontraditional background in this industry cements my passion for diversity and inclusion. As a leader I am committed to providing opportunities, looking beyond the lines of a resume, and not letting tradition dictate someone’s career path. Talent, drive, and individuality must be sought out, respected, and nurtured. In my personal life, my mission is to raise awareness and help remove the stigma associated with veteran suicides and overall mental health. For too long PTSD, trauma, and depression have been cloaked behind a veil of shame. As a society we need to foster security and dignity in asking for help. I advance this personal mission through work with local outreach programs for Mission 22, 22toZero, and Street Soldiers.

What led you to your current profession?

Fast forward a few decades after the Golden Gate Bridge project, my background in systems and IT project management (combined with being in the right place at the right time) led me to Stantec. My career has come full circle to marry my joy of working with a collaborative team, fascination with building things, and love of business.

In the past year, what project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of?

I became the operations lead for Stantec’s NYC Architecture group less than a month before COVID put the world on pause. Being from Upstate NY, I was new to the team and just getting acquainted with the nuances of the NYC market. The past 18 months have been the most rewarding of my entire career as our team rallied together to maintain business continuity, offer our clients solutions to address pandemic and post pandemic needs, all while looking out for each other. I’m proud to work with the best and brightest and thankful for their trust and support.

Who was/is your mentor and how did s/he influence/help you in your career?

Throughout my career I’ve been lucky to have a few mentors, including Tony Rao, current sector leader for science & technology at Stantec, who hired me at Stantec 16 years ago. Tony opened doors, made introductions, and, most importantly, has pushed me to never accept being anything less than exceptional. Each performance review included a “good job,” followed with a “what are you going to do next.” His balance of high expectations, trust and willingness to support me even when I fail has been instrumental in my career and carried over into other aspects of my life.

What trends will dominate your industry in the coming months?

Entering the “next normal,” I see increased focus on redefining the workplace. Many companies transitioned to remote work successfully and are now looking to incorporate hybrid work schedules into existing office space. Office footprints will be reduced, layouts will evolve to offer welcoming drop-in workspaces and open collaboration areas, with additional emphasis on a strong technical backbone to support our new hybrid way of doing business.

What books or social media influencers would you recommend to other women?

I love to read books, articles, and blogs about innovators and leaders across generations and genders like Katherine Johnson, Robert Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and General Anna Mae Hayes. Inspiration and wisdom can be found through lifelong learning, so I’m not afraid to crack open an old textbook, sign up for a class, or attend a seminar.