MCKINNEY, Texas — As the CEO of Simpson Strong-Tie, a structural engineering company in McKinney, Mike Olosky is used to calling the shots.
But for his company’s latest project, Olosky relinquished all authority to a group of teenage girls.
“Yeah, this is good though,” Olosky laughed. “I view these guys as future customers and hopefully future employees too, so we’re excited to work with them.”
The girls belong to an organization called Women Leading Technology, a non-profit that aims to help girls pursue careers in S.T.E.A.A.M. careers (science, technology, engineering, architecture, arts and math) and other male-dominated fields.
The girls partnered with Simpson to lead 150 executives in the construction of 15 playhouses.
Many of the girls want to be architects and the group’s founder Kelly Flowers believes they can.
“Not believe,” Flowers said. “I know they can do it. They’re already doing it.”
Indeed, every playhouse under construction was designed by the girls. Once complete, the playhouses will be given to the Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park.
To turn their ideas into reality, the team at Simpson offered to come alongside and help.
“It’s inspiring 'cause you know that you have people there with you to help you get to that stage,” said 15-year-old Naumika Dantuluri.
“It kind of makes it feel like it is possible to reach those goals,” 16-year-old Jennifer Knobloch said.
Decades ago, back when girls were commonly told "It was a man’s job," few saw women with careers like that.
“No, I never saw any women in architecture as I was a teenager,” said Kim Nickerson, an architectural designer with Women Leading Technology.
“I hope that 20 years from now, we’re no longer saying 'It’s a male-dominated field,'” said Jessica Thomas, a structural engineer with Women Leading Technology.
That’s why Simpson company executives say it’s important to set an example.
“You can’t be what you don’t see,” said Annie Kao, Simpson’s vice president of strategic partnerships and engagement.
“They see someone like themselves doing it shows them that they can do it as a career,” said Tina Haro, senior national building manager at Simpson.
It’s the same example the younger girls hope to set for future generations.
“Those young girls are going to be like, ‘I wanna be just like her. I wanna be like all the women out here because someone told me I couldn’t,’” said 13-year-old Sydney Miller.
“It’s wonderful to set examples to other people to say, ‘You can go get it if you really want it,’” Knobloch said.
Fighting for others before yourself. That’s how you build a future.
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