Episode 199: ‘Elegance Meets Ambition’ with Perlla Deluca
In this episode:
Christi Powell and Angela Gardner welcome back Perlla DeLuca of Southeast Constructors and the Pink Hard Hat Foundation to discuss her recent work and advocacy for women in construction. Perlla shares insights from an international safety symposium in Miami and explains that her foundation was sparked by worsening treatment of women, even in federal contracting, and by seeing female students denied training opportunities. She identifies key safety gaps: jobsite harassment and abuse incidents aren’t being tracked, so they’re not addressed, and she’s working on an AI-driven code of conduct to help protect women. Perla describes how the Iowa School of Construction builds skills and confidence through hands-on, critical-thinking training, plus added self-defense for women and harassment education. She advises women to lead with knowledge, prepare thoroughly, and find supportive male allies, and she discusses her self-care through fitness, cooking, entertaining, and short trips.
Show Notes and Links:
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
01:01 Pink Hard Hat Talk
02:25 Safety Symposium Insights
03:14 Why the Foundation Started
05:32 Safety Gaps for Women
09:22 Confidence and Speaking Up
11:53 School Training Approach
14:44 Mentorship and Male Allies
19:11 Self Care and Recharging
20:55 Connect and Closing
About Perlla:
Owner/CEO of Southeast Constructors, Inc. - Federal Contractor/Heavy Construction/General Contractor - Founder of The Pink Hardhat Foundation - Co-Founder of The Iowa School of Construction.
I am passionate about advancing, mentoring, and training women in construction. We believe that with proper training and mentoring, women can thrive in construction.
