Origins

Demi Knight Clark Inspiring Inclusion

Demi Knight Clark has been inspiring inclusion for women in the skilled trades industry for years as a founder of She Built This City and Spark Building Group, Construction Activist and TEDx/TEDWOMEN Change Agent.

What inspired you to start She Built This City and Spark Building Group?

I was one of only seven women in the highest levels of leadership at the world's largest homebuilder after 10 years - and I realized that I wasn't impacting as many women+ with onboard ramps into the industry that I aspired to inspire. My life has always been about impact, and I just wasn't feeling impactful enough for my yardstick. We needed to move the needle faster, with only 3% of the industry (in 2017) comprised of women and less in leadership. I had to "go first."

Why is it important to inspire inclusion in the skilled trades industry? 

First, morally, it's the right thing to do. We can talk business impact all day of diversity - healthier teams, wider range of ideas & solutions, better profitability (what companies/CEOs want to hear). But it's more about "see it, be it" for me - growing up, I only had a few role models who identified as female - to include my grandmother, one of the first female Marines & Rosies in WWII. She was a pioneer, but she was a unicorn. Fast forward to 2024, and while there is more inclusion, kids of all identities and ethnicities need to see themselves in the trades. Especially socio-economically - this isn't a space reserved for underserved communities (ie, unfortunately seen as less than, which is also a problem of stigma for those communities). We're raising the next generation of debt-free engineers/STEM kids, and the opportunities around for all kids.

What type of programs does She Built This City offer to involve women more in the skilled trades industry?

The team at SBTC offer several onboard ramp programs in different tracks, from HVAC to electrical and project management; as well as apprenticeship/internship opportunities. 

What advice would you give to someone who is unsure about pursuing a male-dominated field?

Go. Do. Jump in. But also to have your resources and what I call your "donut group" - donutted support systems around you that may not be there (unlike more diverse industry tracts). I don't see it as purposeful exclusion, I have great convos with male leaders all the time from these companies. It's more about "I didn't know that was needed." We have to stay vocal about locker rooms, PPE, childcare stipends/resources, flexible hours, mentorship. It's not about getting the job - it's about sustainability at this stage as we get more interest from women+ & more numbers in the industry.

What has your personal experience been like working in the skilled trades industry?

I've had an amazing run over 24 years - learning from male and female mentors, asking a lot of questions and raising my hand (critical to success in any industry - speaking up). I had an Army Ranger dad who threw me in the workshop alongside my brother in the 80s growing up, and he instilled a level of "genderlessness" growing up. It wasn't pink or blue in our house. So I've always seen the industry the same way - we have the opportunity, but what barriers exist for women+ that require cleaner, faster, better (and can be exhausting/lead to burnout for those who are underrepresented). I've had to prove myself 100 times over, and it has made me a better person/leader/owner/advocate. However, that doesn't mean every girl/non-binary kid should have to jump through those same barriers - they should be broken down to that onboard ramp is simpler.

How can people support your organization and mission?

We're in the midst at Spark of creating #RosiesInSpace initiative, which promotes girls+ in welding engineering as a STEM career and diversity in the aerospace/space industries. It's a way to honor the 500,000 women who traded their home lives for welding torches in the 1940s, to what their legacy is in 2024 for girls pursuing welding trades (to Mars and beyond!) It's early stage and launching (pun intended) later this summer, so if you're interested in this space for girls, email demi@sparkbuildinggroup.com or reach out via Instagram at @girlfridaysgarage