United States
Podcast Episode
More Than a Seat at the Table: From Uncertainty to Confidence
March 27, 2026
What does it take to lead with authenticity, build trust, and create lasting impact in construction? In this special Women’s History Month episode of Building Conversations, host Christie Mullen—Director of Business Development at Structure Tone New Jersey—sits down with Wendy Castro, Director, Design & Construction at Rockefeller Group, and Christine Bunner, Project Manager at RC Andersen for an honest conversation about mentorship, inclusive team culture, problem-solving, and the power of women supporting women across complex projects.
Key Takeaways
- Women in construction drive strong team dynamics by building trust, fostering collaboration, and leading with authenticity.
- Inclusive workplace cultures are created through open communication, active listening, and ensuring every voice is heard.
- Leadership growth in construction requires embracing discomfort, making decisions under pressure, and learning through failure.
- Strong support systems—including mentorship and peer networks—are critical for long-term career success in construction.
- Evolving workplace flexibility is helping women better balance construction careers with personal responsibilities.
Highlights In This Episode
Women are influencing construction leadership by fostering trust-based relationships, improving collaboration, and creating more inclusive project environments.
By focusing on authentic connections and meaningful communication, women strengthen collaboration and improve overall team performance.
Inclusive teams are built by encouraging open dialogue, actively listening, and ensuring all team members have a voice in decision-making.
Effective leadership requires clear, direct communication, delivering challenges alongside solutions while staying composed under pressure.
Women may experience different perceptions around tone and communication, requiring a balance of confidence, clarity, and authenticity.
Creative problem-solving—such as adapting construction sequencing—helps teams stay on schedule and deliver complex projects efficiently.
Approaching challenges with curiosity and understanding helps resolve conflict and improve team alignment.
A growth mindset—shifting from obligation to opportunity—improves resilience, performance, and leadership effectiveness.
Failure drives learning and growth, helping professionals build confidence and improve decision-making over time.
Be authentic, ask questions, build a strong network, and actively seek opportunities for growth and development.
Supportive workplace cultures and flexible environments enable professionals to manage both career growth and personal responsibilities.
Increased flexibility, inclusive leadership, and cultural shifts are creating more opportunities for women to succeed and lead in construction.
Closing Summary
In this episode of Building Conversations, Christie Mullen (Structure Tone New Jersey), Wendy Castro (Rockefeller Group) and Christine Bunner (RC Andersen) share insights on leadership, collaboration, and career growth in construction. The discussion highlights how women are shaping team dynamics, driving innovation, and building inclusive workplace cultures. From navigating challenges to embracing growth opportunities, this episode offers practical insights for anyone looking to succeed in the construction industry.
Host
Christie Mullen
Director of Business Development
Structure Tone New Jersey
Christie Mullen joined Structure Tone New Jersey as a business development associate in 2017. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a BS in government and politics, she began her career in the operations department of SL Green and later held a brokerage position at Colliers. Since joining Structure Tone, Christie has made substantial headway with several New Jersey developers and is a key player in growing our presence and reputation in the area. Christie is proud to be part of STOBG and is excited to continue building strategic relationships on behalf of the organization. She became an Emerging Leader in the fall of 2018, graduating from the program two years later. She is also very active in her community, serving on the executive committee for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Big Climb Event to raise money for blood cancer research.
Guests
Christine Bunner
Project Manager
RC Andersen
Christine Bunner is a project manager at RC Andersen with close to a decade of expertise leading complex industrial building projects from preconstruction through closeout. She holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Manhattan University (formerly Manhattan College), allowing her to combine a strong technical foundation with a grounded, solutions-driven approach to successful project delivery.
Throughout her career, Christine has built strong relationships with owners, designers, and trade partners to deliver high-quality projects on schedule and within budget. She is known for her collaborative leadership style, creative problem-solving, and ability to translate technical requirements into clear actionable strategies that keep projects moving forward. She values the visual and team-oriented nature of construction and takes pride in building strong teams that solve challenges in the field while maintaining focus on the overall project goals.
Wendy Castro
Director, Design & Construction
Rockefeller Group
Wendy Castro is Director of Design & Construction, North Central Development, for Rockefeller Group. In this role, Wendy works closely with the North Central Regional team on various design and construction projects and most recently led the development of Independence Way at The Green, an eight building, 62-unit affordable housing development in Florham Park, N.J. that was developed by the company for the United Way and Madeline Corporation, who own and manage the facility. In addition, Wendy has managed the design and construction of a one million square-foot industrial facility at Rockefeller Group’s Lehigh Valley Logistics Center in Pennsylvania and the Summit Medical Group Cancer Center in New Jersey.
Prior to joining Rockefeller Group, Wendy was a Senior Manager for Jones Lang LaSalle, working as a consultant in Goldman Sach’s Corporate Services and Real Estate Division, where she managed the cost control program of Goldman’s $35 million data center. Previously, Wendy led the cost management for Tishman Speyer Properties overseeing $1 billion in construction contracts for the new Goldman Sach’s downtown headquarters in New York City. She also has prior experience with Turner Construction. Wendy holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Drexel University and an MS in Real Estate Development from Columbia University.
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