Helping people build construction careers they can grow in.
Dr. Irish Horsey is a construction workforce strategist, educator, and author whose work focuses on how individuals and organizations navigate participation, advancement, and long-term success in the construction industry.
Like many people in this industry, she found construction through opportunity rather than intention. What followed was a career shaped by learning how to make informed decisions without always having a clear roadmap.
Over time she realized something important:
Many people do not leave construction because they lack ability. They leave because they lack clarity, context, and support.
Her work exists to change that.
“Construction was not my original career plan —
it was a discovery.”
Her Work Focuses On
She helps individuals understand how to build careers in construction, and helps organizations understand how careers actually develop inside their environments.
This includes career entry and transition, advancement and leadership growth, workforce participation and retention, & sustainable career pathways.
Rather than focusing only on recruitment, her work focuses on participation over time.
Professional Background ➞
Dr. Horsey has served in leadership roles across higher education, government, and industry, working at the intersection of construction practice and workforce development.
Her experience includes:
University leadership and teaching
Public sector initiatives
Industry partnerships
Workforce and education programs
This cross-sector perspective informs her approach to career pathways and participation.
Industry Leadership & Workforce Advancement
In addition to speaking and teaching, Dr. Horsey serves as Director of Industry Advancement at Procore Technologies, a global construction technology platform.
In addition to speaking and teaching, Dr. Horsey serves as Director of Industry Advancement at Procore Technologies, a global construction technology platform.In this role, she works across industry, education, and workforce ecosystems to support the future of construction through:
stronger connections between education and industry
expanded career awareness and access
technology adoption and readiness
development of a more prepared and sustainable workforce
This work reflects a broader reality:
the future of construction depends not only on recruitment, but on the alignment of technology, education, and opportunity.
Signature Framework
Through nearly three decades across industry, education, and workforce development, she developed a repeatable approach to career decision-making now called the S.W.E.A.T. Method™ — a structured way individuals navigate opportunity, change, and advancement.
The framework is introduced in You Can Be Here: A Woman’s Guide to Construction Careers and taught through guided learning experiences.
Want to work together?
Every engagement begins with understanding your goals.