Podcast Summary: Ep. 472 - Pepper Construction Senior Vice President of High Performance and Sustainable Construction, Susan Heinking

Introduction

In Episode 472 of the Second in Command podcast, host Cameron Herold engages in a profound conversation with Susan Heinking, the Senior Vice President of High Performance and Sustainable Construction at Pepper Construction. The episode delves into Susan's leadership journey, her commitment to sustainability within the construction industry, navigating a male-dominated field, and managing family business dynamics. Susan provides invaluable insights into fostering a culture of sustainability, effective team management, and personal growth as a leader.

Leadership Journey

Susan Heinking shares her evolution as a leader within Pepper Construction, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal values with corporate goals. She discusses the challenges and rewards of scaling within a long-established company while maintaining its core values.

Notable Quote:

“I walked past somebody that I probably needed an answer for and I didn't even say good morning. I just spat out the question like, hey, do you know where? And he stops me and he goes, good morning, Susan. And it like, oh my gosh, I am being way too serious.” [00:44]

This moment highlights Susan's realization of the importance of maintaining a balanced and approachable demeanor in leadership roles.

Sustainability in Construction

A significant portion of the conversation centers around sustainability in the construction industry. Susan traces the evolution of sustainability from a focus solely on energy efficiency and resource conservation to a broader consideration of human health and resilience against climate-related challenges.

Key Insights:

• Evolution of Sustainability: Initially centered on energy and resource efficiency, sustainability now encompasses human health and resilience in the face of extreme weather events.
• Integration of Sustainability and Resilience: Susan explains how sustainability practices have expanded to include building resilience against natural disasters, ensuring that structures can withstand and recover from events like hurricanes and floods.
• Human Health Focus: Emphasizing that sustainable buildings contribute to better human health, especially highlighted during the pandemic when indoor air quality became a critical concern.

Notable Quote:

“Sustainability evolved to human health. Not only just planet health, but human health.” [04:10]

Susan outlines Pepper Construction's proactive approach in bridging the gap between architectural sustainability and practical construction applications. She discusses the development of an in-house energy modeling tool that allows clients to visualize long-term ROI and utility savings, facilitating informed decision-making without the high costs traditionally associated with sustainable construction.

Notable Quote:

“We started talking about, okay, out of those 25 [strategies from Drawdown], what would make the most sense in the control of a contractor? Like, what can the contractor control?” [22:21]

Working in a Male-Dominated Industry

Susan addresses her experiences as a female leader in the predominantly male construction industry. She acknowledges progress but underscores that construction remains largely male-dominated. However, she observes a positive trend within the sustainability sector, which tends to have more female representation.

Key Insights:

• Gender Dynamics: While there are more women in sustainability roles, the construction job sites remain predominantly male.
• Empowerment and Inclusion: Susan advocates for empowering women on job sites and supporting organizations that encourage female participation in construction and STEM fields.
• Generational Progress: She credits previous generations for breaking glass ceilings, providing more opportunities for women today.

Notable Quote:

“I have not experienced that [male-dominated culture].” [17:34]

Family Business Dynamics

Operating within a family-owned business presents unique challenges and advantages. Susan discusses how Pepper Construction maintains a balance between family culture and professional business operations, ensuring that the company functions efficiently while honoring its familial roots.

Key Insights:

• Professionalism within Family Culture: Despite being family-owned, Pepper Construction operates with a structured business approach, including a board of directors and formal reporting mechanisms.
• Midwest Values: The company's Midwest-based culture emphasizes support, family life, and a wholesome work environment.
• Avoiding Family Conflicts: Susan highlights strategies to minimize typical family business conflicts, ensuring that family dynamics do not negatively impact business decisions.

Notable Quote:

“It's relatively kind of a straightforward company. If you didn't know it was family owned, I don't think you would know that.” [25:55]

Leadership and Team Management

Susan delves into her leadership style, focusing on delegation, fostering self-awareness within her team, and creating an environment where team members can learn from failures. She emphasizes the importance of balancing hands-on involvement with empowering her team to take ownership of their projects.

Key Insights:

• Delegation and Trust: Susan admits to her inclination to stay involved in project work but stresses the importance of delegating effectively to trusted team members.
• Personality Profiles and Team Dynamics: Implementing personality tests to understand team members' learning styles and collaboration methods, thereby enhancing team synergy.
• Embracing Failure: Encouraging a culture where team members can fail quickly and learn from their mistakes, with Susan providing guidance when necessary.

Notable Quotes:

“I want them to recognize they failed. Right. I want them to recognize the red flag.” [32:40]

“I am being way too serious. And somebody's like, you have to keep it light.” [38:15]

Susan also discusses ongoing leadership development initiatives, such as integrating personality profiles to improve team collaboration and understanding. This approach helps in aligning team members' strengths with their roles, fostering a more cohesive and productive work environment.

Personal Growth and Advice

Towards the end of the episode, Susan reflects on her personal growth and offers advice to her younger self. She underscores the importance of balancing professionalism with approachability, advocating for maintaining a friendly and light-hearted demeanor to build better workplace relationships.

Notable Quote:

“Understand the people that you're working with and be friendly. And not everything is, you know, a 911 emergency.” [38:15]

Conclusion

Episode 472 of the Second in Command podcast offers a comprehensive look into Susan Heinking’s leadership philosophy and her innovative approach to sustainability in the construction industry. Susan's insights into balancing family business dynamics, fostering an inclusive and empowering work environment, and continuously evolving as a leader provide valuable lessons for second-in-command professionals across various industries. Her emphasis on sustainable practices, team empowerment, and personal growth exemplifies the qualities that make her a standout leader in her field.

Notable Quotes Overview

• Keeping it Light:

  "You have to keep it light. Like, don't forget to keep it light." [00:44]

• Sustainability and Human Health:

  “Sustainability evolved to human health. Not only just planet health, but human health.” [04:10]

• In-House Energy Modeling Tool:

  “We built our own energy modeling tool in house that could quickly model different mechanical scenarios tied to our construction pricing database...” [11:43]

• Empowering Women in Construction:

  “I love seeing women on the job site, especially as a foreman or a laborer. Working with their hands on a job site I think is very empowering.” [18:13]

• Letting the Team Fail:

  “I want them to recognize they failed. Right. I want them to recognize the red flag.” [32:40]

• Advice to Younger Self:

  “Understand the people that you're working with and be friendly. And not everything is, you know, a 911 emergency.” [38:15]

Final Thoughts

Susan Heinking's approach to leadership and sustainability serves as an exemplary model for second-in-command professionals aiming to drive meaningful change within their organizations. Her ability to integrate sustainability with business strategy, foster an inclusive culture, and continuously develop her leadership skills underscores the essential traits of effective leadership in today's dynamic business landscape.