This week we're joined by Indra Gutiérrez, president of Gutier, a fully integrated services leader in design, procurement, construction, and project management.
Indra shares her inspirational journey from adversity to empowered leadership and discusses how her identity and her challenges have shaped her career and contributed to her success.
Indra has over sixteen years of experience working in the construction industry overseeing multi-billion-dollar engineering, procurement, and construction projects across the Gulf Coast Region. She oversees Gutier’s business operations, business development, and organizational strategy. She has an Executive MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.S. in International Business from Houston Baptist University, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Houston. Indra is passionate about women's representation in the construction industry. She currently leads the Women’s Network within Gutier. The network's mission is to empower the next generation of female leaders in the construction industry. She also serves on the alumni board for the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, and she was recently selected as one of Houston Business Journal’s 40 under 40.
Transcript below:
Erica D'Eramo 0:05
Hello and welcome to the Two Piers podcast. I'm your host Erica D'Eramo. And this is season four. And today we have Indra Gutierrez joining us. So Indra is the president of Gutier, a fully integrated services leader in design, procurement, construction and project management. She's got over 16 years of experience working in the construction industry overseeing multibillion dollar engineering, procurement and construction projects across the Gulf Coast region. She currently oversees Gutier's Business Operations, Business Development and organizational strategy. She's received an executive MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, so fellow longhorn. She has a master's in international business from the Houston Baptist University and a bachelor's in Political Science from the University of Houston. Indra's passionate about women's representation in the construction industry. She currently leads the women's network within Gutier, whose mission is to empower the next generation of female leaders within the construction industry. She currently serves on the alumni board for the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute. And she was recently selected as one of Houston Business Journal's 40, under 40. So we're so glad to have her on the podcast.
Erica D'Eramo 1:30
Hi, Indra, thank you so much for joining, we're so happy to have you.
Indra Gutiérrez 1:33
No, thank you, Erica, thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited to be here.
Erica D'Eramo 1:39
Yeah, we We met through the through UT, but we actually didn't study together, we just kind of like, were brought together by the alumni forces.
Indra Gutiérrez 1:48
That's right.
Erica D'Eramo 1:51
So, um, so yeah, we've been following each other's work for a while. And I'm really, really happy to have you on the podcast.
Indra Gutiérrez 1:58
No, thank you. You know, I look forward to having a great conversation with you.
Erica D'Eramo 2:03
Yeah. So tell us a little bit about your origin story. Like I know, I know a bit about your history, but I think it's, it's gonna be really fascinating for our listeners to hear you have such an interesting story.
Indra Gutiérrez 2:15
Yes. So I am originally from Mexico, I was born in Mexico, and I moved to the US when I was six years old. And, you know, I was raised by a single mother. So it's been quite a journey, you know, my life has been very challenging but very fulfilling at the same time.
Erica D'Eramo 2:39
Yeah. So what drew you two construction? Like, how did how did you end up in that field?
Indra Gutiérrez 2:47
Yes. So, you know, I started at Fluor Enterprises, which is an EPC company. You know, the, the project that I was on, we were building a $10 billion chemical facility. And I started as a contract technician, which was, you know, supporting the contract managers. And I immediately got promoted within my first year, and I started to lead and, and managing the subcontractors, on these really large projects. And I just loved it. I loved the challenge. I love the complexity. And I love to see actually the amount of work that I was doing. Seeing the actual construction and, and structures being, you know, brought to life really. So that really drew me, I love the challenge. Every day was a different day. And it was fast paced, and I just, I loved how challenging that was.
Erica D'Eramo 3:47
Yeah. So like, you went from political science as an undergraduate degree. And then did you end up going from political science into that technician role? And just like, kind of stumbled into it and not realizing? Or did you? Like, what did that path look like?
Indra Gutiérrez 4:02
Yes. So I was an intern when I was in college, I interned with the Houston mayor, Bill White at that time. And then I also interned with the state representative, and I did that internship my last year in college. And I quickly realized, you know, that the type of impact that I wanted to make, it was going to take me too long if I stayed in politics, so I decided to focus on on business. I saw that I think that was a much better pathway for me for what I really wanted to achieve in life. And I went that route. And you know, I started from the bottom and I just worked my way up. But I did a lot of, I took a lot of risk in my career. And I think that's how I've ended up here. It's I really, you know, I took a lot of risk.
Erica D'Eramo 4:59
Yeah. For the listeners who can't see us, which nobody can see us. Normally, I don't record podcasts in person. But today we are actually in person in Houston. And we have a pup with us, Nico is here. So you might be able to hear and you go in the background, he's definitely wishing you had a bit more attention. And there might be the sound of a train. But it's lovely to record in person. So with, you know, growing up with like, a single mom and and really facing some adversity, how did you navigate like, role models? You know, did you have role models? Did you? What did that look like for you?
Indra Gutiérrez 5:42
No, I did not. I didn't know I had nobody. No one. I had nobody to teach me, I had nobody to look up to. I really figured it out on my own. And I did it by reading and observing other leaders. So you know, my goal since I was, since I graduated college, when I realized that I want it to be the business go the Business Route is to become a CEO. So every career decision that I made was with that goal in mind, at the end of the day, so I was strategic. And I was also, I just took a lot of risks. And I, you know, I would read about other people that had been successful. And that's where I've learned a lot of what they did, and you know, the paths, but everybody has different paths, you know, but I would say, for me, it's been able to really have that confidence and believe in myself, even when others do not. So,
Erica D'Eramo 5:42
Yeah, we've kind of talked about this before, too, that a lot of times, while adversity growing up might limit a lot of opportunities, there is something about having to rely on your own resources, like your own internal resources, and just knowing that whatever it is that gets thrown your way, like you'll figure it out somehow, you know, so,
Indra Gutiérrez 7:05
Yes, so that's exactly how I lived my life. I and that's how that's, that's how I still operate. I don't take no for an answer. So I always find a way, I figure it out. And that's what I do, because that's what I've had to do growing up. So I've learned how to navigate and achieve my goals at the end of the day. I, you know, even if you get turned down, you just find a different way. Yeah, you find a different door, or you find a different path, but always with the end goal in mind.
Erica D'Eramo 7:38
Yeah. Yeah. So like, maybe not this way, but what's the way we are gonna make it work?
Indra Gutiérrez 7:45
Yeah.
Erica D'Eramo 7:46
So can you tell me like when I first saw your name, Indra, and then I saw your last name, I was like, Oh, interesting. I wonder if that you know, like, I wonder why her heritage is. Can you tell me more about how your name ended up being Indra?
Indra Gutiérrez 7:58
Yes. So my grandmother in Mexico was a yoga instructor. And she traveled all over the world. And she lived in India for many years and was taught yoga. And she ended up her her instructor was Indra Devi.
Erica D'Eramo 8:19
Oh!
Indra Gutiérrez 8:20
Indra Devi's like, very famous in the yoga world. So I actually got to meet her when I was like four years old.
Erica D'Eramo 8:26
Wow.
Indra Gutiérrez 8:27
So I got to meet her. And she was, you know, I want to say in her 90s at that time, and we, yeah, so my grandmother named me after her.
Erica D'Eramo 8:38
That's such an interesting story.
Indra Gutiérrez 8:41
Yeah, my grandmother had her yoga studio in Mexico. And that was her her master.
Erica D'Eramo 8:47
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 8:47
And, you know, she was she really, you know, she, she, like, really believed in and loved yoga so yeah, so she named me after her. And then my middle name is named, that it's after my grandmother too. So
Erica D'Eramo 9:00
Can I ask what your middle name is?
Indra Gutiérrez 9:01
Yes, Louisa. Mm hmm.
Erica D'Eramo 9:04
That's a lovely, lovely set of names. Do you do yoga still?
Indra Gutiérrez 9:09
I do. Yes.
Erica D'Eramo 9:10
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 9:11
Yes.
Erica D'Eramo 9:11
That's cool. So actually, that brings me to another good point. How do you how do you make it all work? Like how do you how do you manage the pressure, the stress?
Indra Gutiérrez 9:28
Yeah, so I am very strict when it comes to deadlines, boundaries, so schedules, so my entire day is scheduled. And I actually enjoy that. I know a lot of people don't but I it works for me and I'm very effective. So I get, I am able to prioritize and really reach my goals at the end of the day. But I do start my day at 4:30 in the morning at the gym, so I do high intensity classes and I love them. So I do that, that's how I start my morning. And then I come home and then get ready and go to work and have a full day. And then you know, I come home eat dinner. And then my recap at the end of the night is usually getting ready for the next day. So I start sending out emails and get ready for the next day so that I know exactly what I'm going to do the next day. And but I will say, you know, working out is really I love working out because it really grounds me. And it, it makes me a better leader.
Erica D'Eramo 10:32
Yeah, to start the morning that way. I do love the piece to around like, at the end of the day, taking a recap and looking forward to the next day. I know that's something that I've actually been adopting a lot lately is making sure that.. like I always used to look at my calendar at the end of the day to make sure I understand what meetings and how it's gonna go but really planning out like time-blocking exactly like looking at my to-do list for the week, understanding what's what needs to happen the next day, and then time blocking when exactly that's going to happen. And shifting things over from the existing day or break-in work or whatever. So I yeah, for me, that's a also a really helpful little ritual at the end of the day. I know that's not for everybody. Some people like shut their laptops, they're done. But yeah, I share that.
Indra Gutiérrez 11:21
Yeah, when you're when you're an entrepreneurial, it's a different world.
Erica D'Eramo 11:27
Yeah, and it works differently. For me, that's the great thing about entrepreneurship or business ownership or right like that, you get to decide what works best for you. So tell me a little bit about how your identity and your personal journey, we've talked about it a little bit, but like how those have shaped your career and your path.
Indra Gutiérrez 11:45
So I will say that I cannot be doing what I'm doing right now the role that I'm doing, without all the adversity and, and the resilience that I had to endure growing up. So I think a lot of my personal life challenges really have prepared me for this role. Because it's hard, it's hard running your own business. And it's, it's hard to scale. And it's hard to to be motivated. And, you know, we're we're on a mission. And it, it's definitely a team effort. But I would say you know, what gets me through the bad times is really that believing in myself and that I can do it. And yeah, you're gonna have a bad day, a bad season, a bad year. So, but you have to be able to get back up and understand that that's not the end of it, that's not the end of your story. And that, you know, you continue to work hard and success will follow the you just can't give up on yourself. You know, I've been rejected so many times throughout my entire life. And I've been, I've experienced so much challenge, you know, growing up with a single mom, you know, I started working when I was 13 years old. So and I paid through, I paid, I've worked through all of my degrees, I've paid for all of my degrees with my own money. And I've been living on my own since I was 18 years old. So I really have always been independent and relied on myself to achieve whatever it is that I want to achieve.
Erica D'Eramo 13:25
Yeah, yeah, I share that as well, having put myself through college, I think, I I know that there are people whose college, you know, who are really lucky and their college is paid for, and they take it very seriously. I think when you are putting your own money on the line, and you are having to work through college and take out those loans, and you know, it's it is a different dynamic in terms of owning the results. And it's really high stakes. So So yeah, I do appreciate that. So, in terms of the women's network that you started, what brought you to kind of conceptualize that, like, how did that come about?
Indra Gutiérrez 14:09
Yeah, so you know, I've worked in a male dominated industry for the past 16 years. So my first job, my first job in construction, you know, there's no playbook, you just show up and then you really start to experience what it's like being a woman in the workplace. And then when you are talking about a very male dominated industry, there's not that many women and no, it's things are gonna come at you and you're so unprepared. And I say this from personal experience, you know, I was, you know, personally attacked on many occasions, you know, so and I've had to stand up for myself and to gain that respect, but that is really what led me to start the women's network within within Gutier. Because, you know, I always say, "Oh, I wish I wish somebody would have mentioned these things, cautioned me."
Erica D'Eramo 15:11
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 15:12
To be diligent of what to watch out for, instead of being so blindly just confronted with it and have to react on the spot.
Erica D'Eramo 15:23
Figure out the hard way.
Indra Gutiérrez 15:24
Yes.
Erica D'Eramo 15:25
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 15:26
So I, you know, I felt like if I could give the tools to these women, that they could handle any situation, I can come their way. Yeah. So that's what I'm trying to do and trying to, you know, coach, coach them and provide them the, the tools so that they can go out into the world and really be able to lead.
Erica D'Eramo 15:48
Yeah, well, I appreciate you reaching out to Two Piers too for helping in this journey, because it's been really wonderful to have like an ongoing sort of cadence, where we get to build those relationships, like, I'm not a new face when I come in anymore. And folks can kind of talk openly, like the, the spaces within the Women's Network are just really vibrant. People can share from the heart, you know, they can share, like their real lived experiences. And I think that in some of the larger companies that have these massive BRGs, or business resource groups, that's not as possible because there might be like, 200 people in a women's group, but there's not that same intimacy, and you might be assigned a mentor, but what is that, like you meet for coffee once? And they say, "How are you doing?" You're like, "I'm fine." And there's not that same actual growth and the trajectory of growth that I feel like we've seen in the Women's Network, a Gutier.
Indra Gutiérrez 16:52
And I think it's also because we do have, we provide a safe space, right? Where people do feel safe.
Erica D'Eramo 17:00
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 17:01
Being open about it, and knowing that, you know, it's not going to be used against them. So I think that's, you know, you've made a very clear, you know, every every one of our sessions like, this is a safe space. And I believe the ladies feel that, you know,
Erica D'Eramo 17:18
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 17:18
I think by our all of our conversations have been so open and honest.
Erica D'Eramo 17:24
Yeah. And I also love too that, like, once a year or so these sessions get opened up to the whole company, because pretty much all the stuff we talk about is applicable to everybody anyway. And those sessions are also great. And it kind of it brings everyone into the fold. It's not just, you know, women over here and men over here.
Indra Gutiérrez 17:45
Right, right. Yeah, no, we definitely tried to integrate both, you know, people in the field, and then also people in the office, so that everybody understands where everybody's coming from.
Erica D'Eramo 17:56
Yeah. building that mutual understanding of a shared goal.
Indra Gutiérrez 18:00
Yeah. Yeah, yes. Because I, in my experience, a lot of the times when people were in the field, they were very disconnected from the home office. So there was a huge gap, which is, it really impacts a company overall, to where the knowledge doesn't get transferred, the lessons learned don't get transferred. So the miscommunication or they don't know, like executives and at the home office don't know what's going on in the field. And there's, you can't address those issues, because they're not even being brought up.
Erica D'Eramo 18:34
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 18:35
You know?
Erica D'Eramo 18:36
Yeah. Yeah, I think the, all the sessions that we've run equity or people have been really engaged, really open to sharing and just kind of like jump right in. So I love the growth mindset that we see time and time again. And I think that the leadership really brings that to the table, right? Like you, everything you mentioned before about, you know, facing adversity and then just finding the way you're gonna make it work, figuring out you know, every barrier you face, just how you're gonna make your way around it. Nico's getting some cuddles. And I think that that translates too, that openness to kind of learning and and sometimes learning the hard way. But yeah, letting letting people have that space to grow. So what would you say you've learned through this process with the Women's Network?
Indra Gutiérrez 19:32
I've learned that it is, you know, it's needed. It's needed. You know, I started my career 16 years ago, but those issues are still ongoing. Yeah. So maybe we've made progress, but I don't know how much progress?
Erica D'Eramo 19:51
I mean. The percentages right now, I know I read a couple different percentages. I know one percentage that's sitting out there is like around 14%. I saw that a couple times, but The other percentage I see a lot is 10% women in construction, full stop. And that includes the office folks, that includes HR that includes admin. That includes... right? So when you're thinking about actually, women who are wearing coveralls or in steel toed boots doing any kind of project management out there, the numbers start to decrease significantly.
Indra Gutiérrez 20:24
That's correct. Yep. That's correct. So I think there's a lot of work for us to do. And, you know, my goal with, with having this network is really to change that. And, and really understand, you know, what is it that women need, so that we can keep women in the workforce and have have careers, you know, and be able to show up as who they are, and not have to fit in with the guys?
Erica D'Eramo 20:24
Yeah. Yeah. And I think it really helps to make couture stand out as an employer to when you're in this kind of labor market, where you're competing for talent, like, companies are having to compete heavily for talent, and trying to get that diversity of thought in the room, accessing female talent becomes even more challenging. So having a women's network where people know that you're already aware of those challenges, I think becomes a huge asset.
Indra Gutiérrez 21:27
Yes, yes. And, you know, I hope so, I really do. I love what we're doing. You know, I love what we're building as a company, who we are and we always want to be better at everything that we do. And that also includes this network. And, you know, we need to be able to listen and understand where, you know, women are coming from.
Erica D'Eramo 21:53
There's the train!
Indra Gutiérrez 21:57
A busy town, city life.
Erica D'Eramo 22:07
Can you describe Nico for the folks who can't see this very cute puppy dog?
Indra Gutiérrez 22:12
So Nico is almost four years old. He is a golden retriever. He's a 55 pound golden retriever. So he's on the smaller end. And he's a very sassy, demanding pup.
Erica D'Eramo 22:28
Very ginger too. He's almost got that UT...
Indra Gutiérrez 22:31
Yes.
Erica D'Eramo 22:32
Burnt orange look to him.
Indra Gutiérrez 22:35
Yes, no, he goes to the office with me every day.
Erica D'Eramo 22:38
Uh huh.
Indra Gutiérrez 22:38
So he is the puppy mascot.
Erica D'Eramo 22:42
This is one of the reasons that I love visiting the Gutier offices is because there's usually not even just one pup to play with. There are usually two dogs and they're especially hard. So
Indra Gutiérrez 22:55
Yeah, so one of the one of the ladies that works with us, she has a chocolate lab. So she brings her chocolate lab Finn. So Nico has a friend now, which is great. They they're both busy and happy. And it's a good time, you know,
Erica D'Eramo 23:13
Find yourself an employer who has dogs on site, really it helps alleviate a lot of tension.
Indra Gutiérrez 23:22
Yeah, and that's what it's he's so good for, you know, mental health, to really help with the stress. You know, construction is a tough industry, it is very, very demanding and stressful and challenging. So, you know, having having a dog around to really, you know, try to get yourself to calm down or not take yourself too seriously sometimes.
Erica D'Eramo 23:49
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 23:49
You know, they will do that. They will
Erica D'Eramo 23:51
It's hard to stay frustrated when a dog is like, "I need you to play with me right now." So what what do you wish people knew about women working in construction?
Indra Gutiérrez 24:09
So I wish people would understand that, you know, we're just as passionate about construction as men, you know, that we enjoy it and that we're not afraid to get our hands dirty. So, to really not underestimate us, you know?
Erica D'Eramo 24:26
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 24:27
Especially once, you know, women become mothers. And, you know, just because you know, you had babies doesn't mean that you don't care about your career.
Erica D'Eramo 24:37
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 24:37
So, you know, people need to ask before they judge, so yeah, so that's what I would say.
Erica D'Eramo 24:46
Yeah, that came up in in, you know, some of our conversations actually, is folks who are kind of lumped in with, quote "The girls," you know, all right, we'll put you with the girls. Yeah. Which first of all, please don't employ children if that's illegal. We have labor laws. Only fully adult women. Law, I guess you said you're working from the time with 13 different times. And, yeah, I mean, recognizing that we're not a monolith, right? We're all different. And we all have different personalities, different ways of operating, different priorities. And what like, what lessons if you could fast forward? For anyone who's listening, who is maybe at the start of their career? Or who's mentoring, you know, a young woman at the start of her career? What are some of the lessons you would want to leave our listeners with that, like, you wish somebody had told you early?
Indra Gutiérrez 25:53
So I would say stay curious. Be curious.
Erica D'Eramo 25:57
Love curiosity!
Indra Gutiérrez 25:59
I, you know, I have, I've always been curious, and I'm even more so now that I'm older. But I would say that they be curious. Also, you know, question, ask questions. And don't be afraid. Don't be afraid to really speak your mind and ask those tough questions to the people that you work with. And listen to your gut. I have my entire career, I've made my decisions based on on gut. And it's really led me to where I am now. And I think this is where I was supposed to be. So you know, at that time, you may not understand it, it's only in hindsight, when you look back, and you realize that there was really a purpose, everything that has really happened. And yet you learn, you know, learn from your mistakes, and but move on, brush yourself off and move on. Don't dwell on it. Yeah, you know, and try to improve, try to be better. And then also stand up for yourself at the end of the day. So don't be afraid to state what you want. And they're either gonna say no, or they don't that you find a different way to get what you want.
Erica D'Eramo 27:27
Yeah, I mean, this idea of like, the difficult woman, well, your options are be a difficult woman, or just don't exist. Those are the options we're choosing from so in the face of those choices, yeah, you're gonna make some people uncomfortable,
Indra Gutiérrez 27:48
You're gonna make people uncomfortable. And you know, a lot of times it's not, it's not about, it's not about you, it's about them, you know, how they feel. So, yeah, it's really, you know, be you and always try to improve, but listen to your gut, your gut is going to tell you what the right thing is to do for you.
Erica D'Eramo 28:09
Yeah.
Indra Gutiérrez 28:10
And that looks different for everybody.
Erica D'Eramo 28:11
Yeah. Yeah. That's fascinating advice. Because actually, we so often tell women like that not to do the opposite or right, that you're imagining things or being too emotional, or being too irrational or being. And so often, our gut is telling us something that we've learned over time based on stuff that has been, you know, extrapolated and interpolated. Yes, yeah. Love that. That's yeah. Great, great insight. Any closing thoughts today, I really appreciate you taking the time to share some of your journey with us!
Indra Gutiérrez 28:48
Yeah, no, thank you so much for having me. This has been great. And, you know, I really, you know, I want to be able to cheer women and, you know, let women know that. Yeah, it's not easy. It's not going to be easy, but we cannot give up. Yeah, you know,
Erica D'Eramo 29:06
I agree.
Indra Gutiérrez 29:06
It's worth it at the end of the day.
Erica D'Eramo 29:09
And I think, too, that you've been a huge supporter of Two Piers, as well. So I just want to point that out to you, because there's all this discourse about how women don't support women and I call BS, right, like, you supported me, I'm supporting you.
Indra Gutiérrez 29:24
Yeah, no, I'm all about women empowerment and helping each other out. And, you know, a lot of the times when you're a leader, you're going to be misunderstood, you know, so I always try to be transparent and it's really up to the people, whether they want to listen to me or they will listen to other people. So I have always been an advocate for women empowerment, because I've always been just one of the few. And I know what that feels like, and I want to change that. You know, and the future when I have kids. I hope my kids have better experience than I did.
Erica D'Eramo 30:02
Yeah. Well, thanks for being on this journey. We'll walk alongside you. Yeah. uplift and get some more diversity into the construction industry, one step at a time. Yeah. So thank you so much, Indra. If anyone wants to learn more about your company or about you, how should they do that?
Indra Gutiérrez 30:23
Yes, go to Gutier.com. Or you can find me on LinkedIn. So I'm very active. And I mean, you can find my personal information there. Yeah, you can, you can send me a message you type my email addresses there as well. So you can reach me anytime.
Erica D'Eramo 30:41
Perfect. If you need any massive heavy construction built.
Indra Gutiérrez 30:48
Call me. We get the job done. That is for sure.
Erica D'Eramo 30:56
And we will also include a link to your company in your bio in our show notes as well. And then thank you, Nico, for allowing me to steal your mom for a little bit. We appreciate it. All right. And to our listeners, we look forward to catching you next episode!