Initially rooted in construction administration, Sharan Ryan’s journey in the construction field began 18 years ago. Seven years ago, things took a turn when she discovered a new passion for the technical side of the industry.

The Assistant Project Manager on the Development and Construction team at Atlantis Paradise Island since October 2022 is now enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Construction Technology Management at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI). Her previous role as a Project Coordinator elsewhere offered hands-on experience, but she felt a theoretical framework was necessary to better equip her for her new role.

“BTVI offered the perfect solution in the Construction Technology Management degree programme. It was the obvious next step in expanding my skillset and adding greater value to myself and subsequently our team,” said Sharan, who has been a student since Spring 2023.

With five courses remaining before completion, Sharan reflects on the journey as both rewarding and challenging. She said balancing a demanding full-time job with 12 credits each semester is “Not for the faint of heart.”

The mother of three, including an Engineering student and a carpenter, said it means sacrificing family time and social life, but she sees it all as a temporary price for a lifetime of benefit. She said the degree isn’t the end game; it’s a stepping stone towards further educational achievements and career advancement.

Meanwhile, Sharan strongly believes that the construction and mechanical trades are critical not only to the workplace but to national development. She recalls reading that the state of a country’s construction industry is a clear indicator of its economic health.

“Society depends on our industry to build our homes, businesses and medical facilities, etc. – not only professionally, but safely. Having a construction workforce that is knowledgeable and experienced is paramount…construction jobs are both respectable and rewarding. We need to make children understand that beyond plumbing, electrical and masonry, there are other construction jobs in engineering, quantity surveying, project management, building inspections and more. Our country needs to produce more Bahamian construction professionals,” she urged.

Though a woman in a male-dominated industry, Sharan said she works well with all of her counterparts.

“My first direct boss in construction was a woman, Pamela Farnsworth, Vice President of Finance with Kerzner Development. She was intelligent, fierce and an excellent mentor to me. I watched and admired the way she would carry herself during meetings and on the job – professional and powerful,” stated Sharan.

“I’ve had the honour of working with female roofers, engineers, project directors, electricians and environmental consultants who are top of their fields. In my experience, the persons who are respected are the ones who do their jobs well and are dependable. To other women wishing to enter the field, I say, ‘Learn, produce good work, add value, be reliable and do not be intimidated by pre-conceived notions of male
dominance,'” she stated.

Among the many courses she’s taken at BTVI, the one that impacted her most was also the one she feared most: Electrical I. Initially terrified, she was sure she’d either blow something up or electrocute herself. However, her instructor, Dr. Fann Bowe, brought the subject to life with clarity and enthusiasm.

“The trade classes challenged every fiber of my being. Prior to starting, I had never held an angle grinder, used a circular saw or any kind of tool for that matter. I started at the very bottom. I remember the first practical in my roofing class, my instructor sent me to the back of the lab to practice cutting straight with the circular saw; it was very humbling for me, because I pride myself in doing things with excellence,” said Sharan.

“Beyond acquiring new skills, I have a first-hand understanding of what tradesmen go through to get the job done correctly. As I look back at the various trade classes I have taken, I can’t help but feel a strong sense of pride,” she added.