Most people don’t start a construction career at fifteen, and even fewer do it as the only woman on a job site. That is exactly how Delaine A. Deer began her journey into leadership. Working through the 1990s and early 2000s in an industry that was far from welcoming, she developed a resilience that would define her career. Those experiences inspired her to write Built to Lead and to create ProWorks Hive, a leadership program helping women find their voice and confidence in male-dominated industries.
Turning Adversity into Growth Opportunities
Deer doesn’t view setbacks the way most people do. “Leadership can be born of adversity,” she says. “Being a woman in construction, or in any male-dominated field, you will face resistance. I see adversity not as an obstacle, but as a training ground for resilience, innovation, and growth.” That perspective was forged through years of being questioned, challenged, and repeatedly having to prove herself in spaces where she was often the only woman.
“The construction industry moves quickly, and not always in the right direction,” Deer explains. “You feel like you’re moving two or three steps forward, and suddenly things change. I just looked at it as a new challenge instead of something that would push me backward. It was simply another way to move forward.” That mindset became the foundation for her career and for her approach to leadership.
Finding Strength Through Support Systems
When asked where her resilience comes from, Deer credits her father without hesitation. “He basically said, you can do anything. As a child I believed him, and as an adult, he is still one of my biggest champions.”
That kind of unwavering support made all the difference, especially in difficult moments. Today she strives to be that same source of encouragement for other women through ProWorks Hive. “A lot of times we are stripped of power, but our voice has purpose and impact,” Deer says. “How we use it, whether loudly or in a whisper, does not matter.” She urges women to step forward, regardless of how the world reacts.
At fifteen, facing circumstances that would have made many walk away, Deer recalls, “There are names that get called. There is questioning of your ability. There are things that can easily make you feel like a victim. My response was, well, why shouldn’t I do that? You’re doing it. Why shouldn’t I be able to do this?”
Learning Leadership Through Real Challenges
Deer lives by four principles, all learned through experience rather than textbooks:
- Vulnerability Is Strength – Admitting struggles invites collaboration. “When you say to your team, look, I need to grow in this area, we’re having difficulties, you’re showing vulnerability. That openness becomes the foundation for authentic leadership.”
- Resilience – Leadership isn’t an unshakable foundation; it’s an adaptive one. “People think leadership means being rigid, but in construction, even the strongest foundations move and recover from shifting and shaking. Real leadership is about adapting and recovering faster, not standing still.”
- Adversity Breeds Innovation – Challenges force creative solutions. “When you can’t communicate, you figure out a way. When you can’t do something, you find another approach. Stop pushing against the rock. Take a breath, see the pathway around it, and move forward.”
- Cumulative Success – Small wins add up. “In an adverse situation, if you do one small thing and move forward, it leads to the next small thing, and then a big accomplishment. Don’t underestimate the small things.”
Deer also brings emotional intelligence into leadership. “People are scared, anxious, and uncertain about the future. Showing empathy means recognizing that personal and professional lives aren’t separate. Leaders redirect anxious energy into action. Focus on what you can do, and build from there.”
Her final thought carries weight because it comes from experience. “Great leaders turn their scars into stories of strength. I have many battle scars, and I am proud of every one. They all teach important lessons. Don’t be afraid to go into battle; your stories will have purpose and power.”
Connect with Delaine A. Deer on LinkedIn to learn more about her leadership work with ProWorks Hive and her mission to empower women in construction and beyond.
