Sandra Mobaraki became a household name in Sweden in 2019, when she regularly appeared on TV to share advice on home renovations. We asked Sandra, who now works as a “construction mentor” full-time, to help us check the status of gender equality in the building industry.

”In my role as a construction mentor I’m responsible for inspiring and driving progress within the construction industry. Some people in the industry use a hammer as their tool; my tool is inspiration. It all started when I as a 19-year-old got a summer job at a local home improvement store and didn’t have any female role models. Sometimes, people questioned me and I was told, ‘What are you doing in this industry?’. That ignited a spark in me to help drive change in the construction industry. In 2018, I started my Instagram account Byggsandra (”Construction Sandra”) and in 2019 I became a construction mentor full-time.”

”I like to say that it isn’t about attracting more women or more men, but about making the construction industry more diverse and equal. If people don’t dare to fulfill their career or apply for an educational program because the industry is described as male-dominated, we’ve failed. It’s the responsibility of the entire construction sector to own who we are and how we are perceived. People don’t want to work in an industry that has no progress and if you look at the statistics, you can see that companies with gender equality do better.”

”I think a lot of it is about having the perception that only certain types of people do a certain type of job, for example that only men build things. It’s a bias that is entrenched in some parts of the industry and in society, and which we need to challenge. Breaking these norms will take time; it’s not going to happen overnight. Men have a huge opportunity here to be allies and highlight the women in the companies. If you can identify your own role in the gender equality movement and think of ways to set a good example, you can become a positive voice and driving force in the development that brings us closer to our goal.”

”We must not forget that the industry has a history of male dominance, but when I talk to both smaller and larger companies I get the impression that there is an interest in driving the issue forward. The first thing you’ve got to do is to understand that it’s an important issue and discuss it openly. It’s also critical to take stock of the leadership and dare to ask if you have the right leaders, because they permeate the entire company. We can’t have leaders with the wrong values or a sexist jargon, the leaders are responsible for an inclusive culture. Companies have a big responsibility in this area.”

”I’ve been in the construction industry since 2012, but up until last summer I’d never dared to try building anything myself. That’s when I got to join some carpenters as an apprentice and learned how to use a screwdriver and a power miter saw. What impressed me the most was the carpenters’ ability to plan and find creative solutions. I think we generally underestimate the craft of craftsmen. It’s truly art – so beautiful!”