OLD WAYS DIE HARD- WOMEN LEADERS RISE

SEYI FALADE Cornerstone Barricades

Women leaders are on the move and assuming leadership roles in industries that were once “men only”. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with one of these women and this is what she had to say.

What is the name of your business and what type of business is it?

Cornerstone Barricades is a Maintenance of Traffic provider. We lease traffic safety equipment to general contractors during road construction in order to create safe work zones.

What made you decide to go into business for yourself?

I didn’t. My father, Christopher Falade, started Cornerstone Barricades after retiring from Florida Department of Transportation. He worked at FDOT as a Civil Engineer for over 22 years. His work with FDOT provided superior experience and understanding of Maintenance of Traffic, a niche field within Civil Engineering. He had maintained a few licenses and an Advance Maintenance of Traffic was one of them.

In the summer of 2016, I began working for the company full time after consulting and spearheading the initial launch. When my parents asked me to advise them on the Cornerstone venture it was a natural response to invest my time to insure its success out of love for them. I enjoy working hard and seeing the fruit of my labor but my favorite part of owning my own business is job creation. As someone who has experienced unemployment and underemployment, I know firsthand the importance of work and having a job.

It brings me internal satisfaction to have work to assign my crew laborers. Do you feel that you have faced unique challenges as a female business owner?

Yes, in the form of second guessing me or my abilities. It’s subtle but it’s also because Cornerstone is a relatively new company.

I do believe that being a woman in construction affords me the unique opportunity to stand out. It’s easy to remember who I am and what I do because there aren’t many women in my field.

Now that you have been in business for a few years, do you still feel this way?

When I first started I felt entirely out of my comfort zone. Construction was a new field and I was learning the language and the dynamics of how things work.

Overtime, I have grown accustomed to being the only woman in the room at times. Truth be told, these days I am just focused on getting the job done. Give me the details, where we need to be and when?

I’m also motivated by coaching and helping other entrepreneurs. I co-teach a graduate elective course titled The First 100 Days: A Step by Step Approach, at UF Warrington College of Business for aspiring entrepreneurs.

What does success mean to you and how do you measure it?

Success has evolved. With a growing staff, my main concern is consistent work. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction knowing that the folks that work for Cornerstone can put food on the table for their families.

What keeps you motivated? Seeing the business come to life keeps me motivated. There are still goals that we have yet to reach. Thankfully, we have surpassed a few milestones that cause us all to feel accomplished.