The Construction industry has been undergoing significant developments with its diverse key sectors today. And, speaking of the construction industry in Qatar, while the market size was valued at $46.8 billion in 2021, it is expected to achieve an AAGR of more than two percent during 2023-2026.

While there have been many efficient leaders contributing to this opportune growth of the industry, women leaders are nevertheless behind. One such leader who counts in and has stood up to lead the change through developments and growth amidst this male-dominated industry leveraging effective business strategies is Billie Teshich, Managing Director of OMNIVISION- a construction consulting firm providing professional services across real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources sectors.

Billie is a degree holder in Civil Engineering and has also completed a Master’s in Construction Project Management. Her leadership has been critical in spearheading organizational growth at OMNIVSION, providing resultoriented construction consulting, and overhauling the construction space. Let’s dive in and learn more about her and her journey in below interview snippets.

Take us through the professional journey and prior industry experience that you bring to the table. Tell us about your expertise as a business and project leader.

Well, I’ve always wanted to be exactly where I am right now - thriving as a  woman in the male-dominated world of construction. But it hasn’t been easy. It’s taken all of my resilience to overcome the challenges women face in this industry. Not to mention a relentless focus on results, growth, and development has been the key. And, it has all been worth the strive. I’ve been able to travel, work with truly talented people, and contribute to exceptional builds which will all be there long after I’m gone. Through NAWIC Qatar I hope to share this world of possibility with other women.

"Failure is a stepping stone to success. Always possess that tenacity to turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’"

A Business Leader you Admire: I admire Vincent Clancy (Chairman and CEO of Turner & Townsend) for his vision, long-term view, bold decision-making, and ability to grow the business globally. From the day, I qualified in civil engineering and set foot on a construction site, I’ve been all in. I spent my early years in a Croatian construction firm (Dom) where I found my niche in construction cost engineering and worked as a quantity surveyor on a range of commercial, industrial, retail, and public space developments. I then moved to New Zealand, earned my Master’s in Construction Project Management, and provided consultancy services before taking on public sector projects for AECOM, including various New Zealand government agencies. I relocated to Doha in 2016 to work with Turner & Townsend, then Al Asmakh Real Estate, on Qatar’s most iconic projects - the Galeries Lafayette Doha, Place Vendome, and Qatar Entertainment City to name a few. Now 25 years in, what I bring to the table is an ability to cut through complexity, rally people around a shared vision, and work with them to get the job done.

Introduce us to OMNIVISION. What are the various responsibilities you shoulder as the Managing Director of OMNIVISION?

OMNIVISION is a construction consultancy firm in Qatar. We provide expertise across multiple sectors (real estate, natural resources, and infrastructure) and specialized services including commercial & contract management, claims, expert services, project management, environmental management, and digital technology advisory. Our team is backed with extensive global experience in the construction industry, previously having worked for international consultancies and major contractors on a wide range of landmark projects around the globe. As Managing Director, I drive the business forward by offering clients a better, smarter way to plan and execute their projects. We also act as an advisor to clients, representing them as their developments move through various construction phases.

Tell us about the most critical challenges you encounter as a global leader in construction. Also, how do you overcome them?

Our biggest challenge as leaders today is to support people through unprecedented change. Whether it is technology changing how we work or a changing workforce needing more from our environment and culture - we need to give people the time, space, and tools to adjust. And when we do, the positives are significant. Gender-diverse companies, for example, outperform their peers - making it easier to attract and retain the best talent.

Tell us about some of the key milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey. What has been your mantra for success?

I first fell in love with construction in Croatia. When the War of Independence (1991-1995) ended, I had a chance to help the United Nations reconstruct local kindergartens, schools, gymnasiums, and community buildings. It remains one of my most cherished projects.

"Construction Representation By Women Is Growing But From A Low Base. To Recruit More Women, We Need To Address Gender Bias And Showcase What The Industry Offers"

After moving to New Zealand, I took the opportunity to start-up as an external consultant and project manager. That experience of succeeding in a brand new environment gave me the confidence to chase down my dream of working on mega developments in the Middle East. My move to Qatar heralded some of the biggest construction highlights of my career. But as I move on to OMNIVISION, my mantra remains the same. Treat every opportunity and every challenge as a chance to do my very best work. In the end, doing great work will always win people over.

What is your take on the current state of women’s representation in the Qatar business landscape? How has women’s participation in the workforce evolved over the past few years?

It’s clear to see that women are increasingly represented in businesses across all economic sectors. That’s important if we want to progress gender equality and female empowerment as part of Qatar’s National Vision 2030. Construction representation by women is growing but from a low base. To recruit more women, we need to address gender bias and showcase what the industry offers. To nurture and retain more women, employers must provide an environment where they’ll succeed. To promote women into C-Suite roles, we need first to get them into managerial roles.

Drawing from your personal experience as a business leader, what advice would you give to aspiring women leaders/entrepreneurs?

First, be honest about who you are and what you really want. Not what you think you can do or should do. It’s the only compass you’ll ever need. Next, secure a support crew i.e., a sponsor, mentor, coach - whomever you need to flourish, and to navigate the trials & tribulations of your journey. Then, seek out every relevant opportunity you can get your hands on. In time, you can be more discerning, but for now, just say yes. And don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is a stepping stone to success. Just learn, adapt, get better, and reinvent yourself if you need to. Eventually, you’ll be so good that none can ignore you. But before that, you’ll be told ‘No’. You’ll be told you can’t, you shouldn’t, and you don’t belong. That’s what I was told when I wanted to come to the Middle East, yet here I am. So, my final piece of advice is - don’t take someone’s ‘No’ as the final word. It’s just one opinion at one moment in time. Try again or try someone else and turn that ‘No’ into a ‘Yes’.

Billie Teshich, Managing Director, Omnivision

A Civil Engineering graduate and a Master’s in Construction Project Management, Billie Teshich is a managing director at OMNIVISION and an accomplished business & project leader with 25+ years of experience in delivering complex projects in Europe, New Zealand, and the ME markets. She admires Vincent Clancy (Chairman and CEO of Turner & Townsend) for his vision, longterm view, bold decision-making, and ability to grow the business globally.