Ahead of International Women's Day, Susana Ramjit, Regional Engineer, Sisk discusses her experiences of mentoring and why it is key to unlocking talent within the construction sector
The Construction Industry is built on transfer: of load, of risk, of responsibility. Yet the most important transfer in our industry is capability; and mentoring is how we move it. I distinctly recall the first time a mentor changed the trajectory of my career with a single sentence.
It came during a high-pressure week that construction professionals know well: relentless pace, decisions stacked, and the expectation that you deliver. I prepared my first board-level presentation in a new role. I did my homework. I had the technical gravitas. Still, I was questioning whether I did enough?
My mentor said: “You don’t need to do anything more but be your whole self. Be the change you want to see; with rigour.”
It was practical. It gave me permission to lead authentically.
I’ve been fortunate to build a career across complex engineering environments - structural, geotechnical, facades, temporary works, and across a myriad of geographic regions and cultures. Today, I carry accountability for engineering excellence and risk across a portfolio of major projects. And I’m here because various mentors saw potential in me, and lent belief before I had fully claimed it for myself.
The moments that shaped me most were small, well-timed interventions: a shared article, a corridor conversation, a reframed question after a difficult meeting, a candid story that made me feel less alone, a nudge to step forward when I was tempted to step back. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is: “Give to Gain”, which resonates deeply with me, because I’ve lived it from both sides. As a mentee shaped by the generosity of others, and as a mentor committed to paying it forward.
At Sisk, mentoring is one of the most meaningful ways I “give”, particularly to women navigating an industry that can still confuse visibility with value, or confidence with competence. My approach is grounded in three pillars: building self-confidence; reinforcing that credibility is not undermined by femininity; and practicing authentic language.
Recently, I coached a mentee to successfully step into a new role in her organisation. Nothing makes me happier than seeing women stand up in their worth and walk in their purpose. Because when women rise in their worth, the whole industry rises in standards.
Mentoring cannot be a “nice to have”. It is critical infrastructure. It is “Give to Gain” in its most practical, powerful form; how we leave the industry better than we found it, and how we turn experience into legacy.
Sisk is proud to be a Diamond sponsor of CIF International Women's Day 2026.