Episode 125: ‘Leading Culture’ with Nancy Novak
In this episode:
Christi Powell and Angela Gardner engage in an insightful conversation with Nancy Novak, CIO of Compass Data Centers. The discussion highlights the impact of women in critical construction roles, particularly in construction management and frontline supervision. Nancy shares her personal journey, and advice to her younger self, and elaborates on Compass Data Centers' efforts in promoting gender diversity. They discuss the significance of prefabrication techniques in creating family-friendly work environments and the unique culture at Compass. The episode underscores the importance of safety, mental health, and innovation, emphasizing the role of women in driving success and culture change in the construction industry. Additionally, Compass's comprehensive approach to data center development and operation is explored, showcasing its commitment to sustainability and diversity.
Supported by: Hill Electric and Buildxact
Show Notes and Links:
Nancy Novak - Linkedin
Nancy Novak - Compass Bio
Compass Datacenters - Linkedin
Compass Datacenters - Website
00:00 Welcome to Women Talk Construction
00:23 Introducing Nancy Novak
01:26 Advice for Younger Self
02:17 Importance of Women in Construction Roles
04:44 Hill Electric: A Legacy of Innovation
05:31 Compass's Unique Leadership
09:50 Frontliners Program: Enhancing Mental Health and Safety
14:39 Prefabrication Techniques for Family-Friendly Work Environments
17:12 What Compass Data Centers Does
21:43 Opportunities for Women in Construction and Data Centers
23:52 The Importance of Mentorship
24:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
About Nancy:
As Chief Innovation Officer for Compass Datacenters, Nancy delivers cutting-edge sustainability technologies and is continuously improving the means and methods Compass uses to deliver sustainable, reliable, and mass-customizable data centers. In addition to adding value and improving returns on Compass projects, Nancy is an advocate for disrupting the status quo in the construction industry and women’s leadership in all industries. She’s the host of “Extending the Ladder,” a podcast that brings female leaders together to offer insights, advice, and inspiration to other professionals.
Prior to joining Compass, Nancy held operational leadership positions with top-ranked construction contractors Hensel Phelps and Balfour Beatty. She serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the National Institute of Building Sciences, the World Trade Center Institute, and Weston Solutions, a global environmental firm. She is also an executive sponsor for bridging the Digital Divide on the iMasons Advisory Board.
