Main page content
Entity view (Content)
Celebrating International Women’s Day
Entity view (Content)
On International Women’s Day, we take the opportunity to celebrate the women who are shaping our industry, bringing expertise, resilience, and new perspectives to construction and acoustics.
Women continue to challenge assumptions, lead complex projects, build meaningful networks, and create real impact. Their journeys are often non-linear, driven by curiosity, courage, and a willingness to embrace opportunity.
This interview with Gaelle de Puniet, Sales Manager North America, highlights one such journey, spanning countries, industries, and role, and reflects on what it means to build a career in construction in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. From cranes in China to acoustics in New York City, this story is about perspective, purpose, and the value of shaping spaces that people may not see, but experience every day.
-
Tell us who you are and what you most want people to know about you. What are you working on right now that excites you?
I’m a French national and I’ve been living in New York for the past 15 years. I’ve always been drawn to industry in general, especially because I like tangible products, things you can rely on, real technology, real solutions.
At the beginning of my career, I found myself in China working in a crane factory, which is how I first entered the construction world. It was eye-opening. Later, I moved to New York and started working with interior design products, with a strong acoustics component. I really liked that aspect, acoustics is so essential in a city like New York, yet it’s often overlooked.
Today, I work at CDM Stravitec, exploring new fields. It made perfect sense for me to dive into something so essential and beneficial, and truly needed in the construction industry.
-
Your path into this field is quite unique. What brought you into construction, and what made you stay?
Honestly, chance brought me into the field. That experience in China, working around cranes, really opened my eyes.
Construction changes the way you see things. It may sound a bit cliché, but you really are shaping the future. When you’re on top of a building, on a job site, you gain a completely different perspective. You literally put your stone into the construction.
-
Today, your role is very outward-facing. How do you explain what CDM Stravitec does to someone outside the industry?
I usually say that we take care of sound, vibration, and impact transmission, above, under, and on-site. You don’t see our solutions, but you experience them in all types of projects: gyms, basketball courts, studios, theatres, and community centres.
Sometimes, we’re also involved in more challenging projects, like isolating swimming pools, helipads, façades, those kinds of complex environments.
-
You work in one of the most dynamic construction markets in the world. What is unique about working with stakeholders in New York City?
It’s more than dynamic, it’s explosive. Things move very fast, then suddenly slow down. There are long waiting times while funding, foundations, and decisions are being made, and then everything accelerates again.
So it’s a market that’s both fast-paced and on pause at the same time, constantly shifting.
-
You’re also active in professional communities. What motivated you to join the Professional Women in Construction NY, and what has surprised you most about it?
I won’t lie, my company encouraged me to join a professional network in New York, and this one felt like the best fit. I’m really glad I joined.
What surprised me most is how open-minded and kind the community is. It facilitates relationships, but beyond that, you meet people from so many different areas of the industry, which is incredibly enriching. There’s a genuine sense of support.
In New York, business relationships can sometimes be harsh, so this feels like a safe haven. Even if it doesn’t always open doors immediately, it gives you a more attentive and interested audience and that already means a lot.
-
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
For me, it’s a spotlight on what women have been doing for a long time. It’s not new, but it highlights how women bring different mindsets and skills to an industry that’s still quite tight-knit.
It’s also an opportunity to break preconceived ideas. There are more women in construction than we often realise, and in positions people might not expect. International Women’s Day helps focus attention on what women are bringing to the table and that spotlight is important.
Quick Fire with Gaelle de Puniet
Best career advice you’ve received
Don’t waste your good energy on things that are out of your control. Use it where it actually makes a difference.
A skill you’re currently building
Handling project frustration, though it turns out that skill is very useful in family life too, so it’s a win-win.
A common misconception about your job
That sales is just a door-to-door job. It’s much more than that.
A book or podcast you recommend
A French podcast on French radio called Shipwreck, which tells stories about people who survived tragic historical events, focused on adventure, resilience, and faraway places.
Your go-to way to reset after a busy week in New York City
It depends on the weather. Either a busy craft weekend with my kid, or, when there’s snow, winter sports. Having that right at my doorstep is amazing.
When you work in construction, you are shaping the future. On a job site, you gain a completely different perspective, you literally put your stone into the construction.
Gaelle de Puniet
Sales Manager North America
Prefer Listening over Reading?
We’ve got you covered! Hear Gaelle de Puniet talk about her journey, inspirations, and day-to-day experiences in her own voice.