Building Pathways, Building Futures: How Jacqueline Handy Found Her Calling in Construction Safety

October is Careers in Construction Month—a time to celebrate the women building pathways and futures in the trades. At Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), we believe stories like Jacqueline Handy’s remind us why representation, mentorship, and persistence matter.  She earned her MBA by 30. Jacqueline Handy, MBA, MS, CHST, GSP, CSFSM, is a NEW supporter and a Safety Professional and business advancement manager who carved her own path into the industry, one that began far from construction sites and hard hats. 

Born and raised in Jersey City, Jacqueline calls herself a “teen mom turned dream mom.” She had her daughter at sixteen, left high school, earned her GED, and enrolled in college by seventeen. “Most teen moms don’t earn a college degree before age 30,” she says. “So, I told myself by 30, I’d have a master’s degree.” (The educational penalty from teenage childbearing can last a lifetime, with fewer than 2% of teen mothers earning a college degree by age 30.) I earned my MBA by 30.  

She kept raising the bar—earning two master’s degrees and now working toward a Ph.D. “College was something I had to do,” she says. “I wanted to beat the statistics.” At first, Jacqueline thought her future was in teaching. She studied history, planning to become a middle school teacher, but soon realized her heart was pulling her elsewhere. A one-year MBA program—which ended with a trip to Europe—sparked her curiosity about business and Management, and sparked an avid love of travel. Her career pivot came in an unexpected place: a low-paying marketing job at a construction safety company. “The Safety Professionals/Tradesmen spoke in a way that blew me away, (my first time hearing industry jargon) ” she remembers. “People assume construction workers aren’t sophisticated, but they spoke with such a high level of intelligence. I didn’t understand a word, but I was impressed. That’s when I knew—this is what I want to do.” 

Discovering a Career in Safety 

That first exposure to construction safety changed everything. “I was 31 and thought I was behind,” she says. “But really, I was right on time.” Today, Jacqueline serves as Business Advancement Manager for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals BCSP, helping coordinate training programs, speaking at conferences, and connecting companies with safety exam prep and on-site exam delivery resources. 

“I never knew giving back could feel so good,” she says of her volunteer work with the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and NEW. “When I help plan events or partner with NEW, it’s the most fulfilling feeling. It’s a full circle—years ago I was taking their exam, and now I’m helping others find their path.” 

 Lessons in Leadership and Resilience 

Jacqueline is honest about what it takes to stand out in a male-dominated field. “There’s always going to be somebody better,” she says. “But I’ve learned to be a sponge. If A, B, and C are my job duties, I go all the way to Z. I want to learn everything.” That mindset led to her proudest milestone, becoming a superintendent. “People assumed I was handed the job, but I earned it. I interviewed, and every division wanted to hire me. That was the first time I really stopped doubting myself.” Her advice for women entering the field: 

“Put the job before emotion. Don’t make choices based on how you feel in the moment; focus on doing the work and doing it well. People will try to test you, but your work will speak for itself.” She also reminds women to quiet imposter syndrome. “You belong here,” she says. “That seat at the table isn’t a handout; you earned it. Don’t waste your energy doubting yourself when you could be using it to grow.” 

 Building a Future for Women in the Trades 

Jacqueline says progress is happening, though slowly. “We’re seeing more women in construction every year,” she says. “At NAWIC conferences, there used to be mostly administrative professionals. Now you see crane operators, welders, engineers, and they’re young, confident, and unafraid.” As for her own career, she’s keeping her eyes open for what’s next. “I never thought I’d be traveling and speaking for work,” she says. “I don’t know what’s coming, but I know it’ll be something good.” Her message for women just starting in the trades: “You don’t need to be a lawyer or a doctor to make six figures. You can be an electrician, a plumber, or a safety professional. These are the jobs that keep the world running, and we need more women in them.”