The Grit Blueprint

Partnerships And Visibility Will Transform Our Industry: Lakisha Woods, CEO of National Glass Association

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A workforce crunch won’t solve itself, and the answer might be hiding in plain sight. From the floor of GlassBuild, I sit down with the National Glass Association’s new CEO, Lakisha Woods, for a fast-moving conversation about elevating women, the workforce gap in glass and construction, and building the kind of partnerships that turn trade show energy into real business.

We talk about the first-time magic of GlassBuild, complete with a drumline that set the tone for a show built on momentum and connection. Then we get practical. Exhibitors want architects in the aisles; architects want hands-on exposure to new glass, fenestration, and facade solutions. When those worlds meet, projects move faster and smarter. Lakisha shares early wins from bringing architects to the show, and how timing, non-competing calendars, and aligned goals with groups like AGC and NAHB can raise the bar for the entire construction ecosystem.

The heart of the conversation is leadership. Lakisha walks through the story behind her book, Never Get Their Coffee, and how subtle tasks like note-taking can sideline voices if leaders aren’t intentional. We trade lessons on finding mentors, learning from people you’ve never met, and using tools like podcasts and YouTube as modern apprenticeships. We also explore curiosity as a leadership engine, borrowing from Leonardo da Vinci’s cross-discipline mindset to keep skills fresh and teams inspired. The Women in Glass initiative gets a spotlight too: why visibility matters, how allies accelerate change, and what small, local steps build real momentum.

Topics we cover:
• Workforce pain points and the case for more women
• First-time GlassBuild energy and the drumline moment
• Partnerships to expand impact
• How visibility and community change career paths
• Finding mentors later and learning from afar
• Leonardo Davinci-style curiosity, self-care, and sustainable leadership
• The coffee and note-taking story as a leadership stance
• Women in Glass momentum and practical allyship
• NGA’s next moves: listen widely, act decisively

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Lakisha Woods:

Always been passionate about women in the industry, right? Spent my whole career in construction. Normally not a lot of women in the room. I have seen it improve over the past 20 plus years, but we're definitely not where we need to be. Members and customers that I've spoken with, they all say over and over again, workforce is our biggest issue. How do we grow our workforce? Well, I could tell you how. More women. Anything I can do to continue to elevate and celebrate women in this space, it is a hundred percent one of my top priorities.

Stefanie Couch:

How do you find those people that can help you get to where you want to go and you can learn from? Because that can sometimes be tough for people in our industry.

Lakisha Woods:

I know it's tough because I've really never found originally a mentor when I was growing in my career. I found mentors actually when I already became a CEO. Sometimes people can mentor you without you ever meeting them because you're following the work that they do.

Stefanie Couch:

Welcome to the Grit Blueprint Podcast, the playbook for building unmistakable brands that grow, lead, and last in the built world. I'm Stephanie Couch, the founder of Grit Blueprint. And I'm a lifelong building industry insider. I was raised here, built my career here, and now my team and I help others win here. The truth is, you can be the best option in your space and still lose to someone else who simply shows up better and more consistently. Each week on the Grit Blueprint, I'm going to show you how to stand out, earn trust, and turn your brand into a competitive advantage that lasts. If you're ready to be seen, known, chosen, and become unmistakable, you're in the right place. Let's get started. I'm your host, Stephanie Couch. And today I'm actually doing a on the floor of Glass Build live episode with my friend and the CEO of the National Glass Association, Lakeisha Woods. Welcome to the show. Thank you.

Lakisha Woods:

Thank you, Stephanie, for having me.

Stefanie Couch:

And we have had a wild three days in Orlando. It has been amazing. Such a great turnout, people and technology and all of the happenings here. Yes. Crazy fun.

Lakisha Woods:

So much fun and so much energy in the room.

Stefanie Couch:

Yeah. And this is your first glass build.

Lakisha Woods:

It is my first glass build.

Stefanie Couch:

Well, tell me, I know that there was a really cool thing that happened yesterday, and I don't think you saw it coming. Tell me about the the drum line.

Lakisha Woods:

So uh I was told the day before that we hand out best in show prizes. And I've seen we hand out awards at many trade shows, kind of normal, but they set a parade, and I just thought, okay, we're gonna walk around together and hand out these awards. But that drum line, and especially just because they're high school kids, they've got that energy and that just passion. It was the best experience I have ever had.

Stefanie Couch:

It's so fun. And I saw I saw you walking around, I was like, that just looks like an epic experience. Next year I'm getting in on it.

Lakisha Woods:

Next year I'm gonna dress appropriately for the walk. I was like, I need an outfit just for this event. Oh, 100%. We we can work on that. Oh, yes, I'm sure I will consult you at a whole other level.

Stefanie Couch:

I love it. Well, I am excited to talk with you. We met a few weeks ago for the first time at WDMA, and obviously we're here at Glassbuild. There is a lot of cool things happening in NGA right now, and you've got some great partnerships going. You are newly appointed as the CEO. You've got a great team. What has been some of the things that you've seen here at Glass Build or some of the buzz like we just went had the women in glass? Tell me about that.

Lakisha Woods:

Well, I've always been passionate about women in the industry, right? Spent my whole career in construction. Normally, not a lot of women in the room. I have seen it improve over the past 20 plus years, uh, but we're definitely not where we need to be. And I know that members and and customers that I've spoken with, they all say over and over again, workforce is our biggest issue. How do we grow our workforce? Well, I could tell you how. More women. Yeah. And so anything I can do to continue to elevate and celebrate women in this space, it is a hundred percent one of my top priorities. And also just improving awareness of this industry. Because again, spent my whole career in construction, had no idea that this show existed. And my friends that are still at all my previous associations said, Glass build, what's that? And of course, now they're seeing all my social, they're like, oh my gosh, we have to go to that show. Like, yes, and we need to partner so that we can elevate this show, the presence and the people who can be in the room.

Stefanie Couch:

Yeah, absolutely. I think partnerships are one of the ways that I've seen personally, I've seen so much success from that. But, you know, there's a lot of different associations, there's a lot of shows. And when we start to collaborate like that, really cool things can happen because usually there is enough difference where you know you can learn so much from each other. What type of partnerships? I mean, you're saying partnerships, you're you're talking about people in the industry. If you're out there listening and you're like, what is Glassbuild? What is NGA? Who should come to the show next year?

Lakisha Woods:

Well, one of the things I'm hearing from our exhibitors is they want more architects to attend. And so we invited a few of my architect friends. I think I know.

Stefanie Couch:

You know a few things about architects, right?

Lakisha Woods:

And so I invited a handful, and it was great to see their reaction. As soon as they walked in and they came up to me and they said, I've never seen anything like this. And then they turned to the other architect, like, have you seen anything like this? No, this is impressive. And then they started asking them, so wait, is uh like how much does it cost? What type is it always this time of year? And they really were uh inquiring into how they can to do more. And one of them was like came in with a list. I need to meet a decorative glass company, I need to meet this, I need like she had a whole list of what she wanted to see. And I got a text this morning. She's already doing business with one of our board members. I said, that's what this is about. And they said, we are gonna give you a list of all the things we can see that will change that perception or increase awareness among the architecture community. And that's just one audience that I know our exhibitors have said they want. There are other industries that don't have a conflicting trade show date. So we can partner and not impact their business and not impact ours. But I think just like architects so often will design something, and then sometimes the general contractor will value engineer it out. Like, let's talk to AGC or let's this is the you know, the glass window and door expo, let's talk to NAHB. The home builder show is in February, we're end of September. We can collaborate. And so those are the things that I see that are gonna be really helpful.

Stefanie Couch:

That's exciting. And I think coming in with a fresh perspective, but you have so much background in the industry. So I want to double-click on that a little bit. Tell me about your story and all of the cool things you've done. We don't have enough time to go through everything, but tell me the highlights of you do have that background at the American Institute of Architects, and you have a background in building science and all these other things. So tell me a little bit about how you got into this.

Lakisha Woods:

Well, this was a job that I took kind of right out of college. One of the things I did was I actually just went on the interview to practice interview skills because I I don't know what the National Ready Mix Concrete Association is, but um that was my first order. I was like, but oh, it's a marketing manager job. Let me let me check it out. And by the time I got home from the interview, I already had an offer letter and a benefits package sitting on my doorstep. Wow. And I was so excited by the speed at which they made me an offer because you know, in college you you want things fast, that I said, Oh, they move fast at this company. I have to go work there. It ended up being a joke because our associations in general do not move fast. But my boss did, he was definitely a speedy person. And I learned a lot from him, and that's why I kind of stayed. I followed him to the first couple of companies. I followed him to AGC and and to NEHB. And I really just love the industry. I the fact that you can look around and see the work that your members do, you could touch it, you could feel it, you could see how it's impacting and changing lives. Who doesn't want to elevate that? Who doesn't want to tell people about it and get them involved? And people have always been kind to me. It I may look different, but they wanted to know how do I get more people like you into this space? And so that's what's really important. And even when you face challenges, there were all those other people who were like, I don't know why that person's crazy, like I'm here to help you. Um, and so, you know, everything is not gonna be sunshine and roses. And but it's those tough stories that you get through that make you even better and also help you find your purpose.

Stefanie Couch:

Great point about someone that might not elevate you, and then you just turn around and find someone else who will. Don't let it stop you. And there are so many people in this industry that have really helped me as well. That the mentorship and talking about that person you kind of moved up with, that's happened to me as well. What would you say to someone who maybe is thinking about getting into our industry or uh is early in their career about mentorship and how do you find those people that can help you get to where you want to go and you can learn from? Because that can sometimes be tough for people in our industry.

Lakisha Woods:

Uh it is, and I I know it's tough because I've really never found originally a mentor uh when I was growing in my career. I found mentors actually when I already became a CEO. Uh, and that was because I joined an association, I got involved as a volunteer, and then those people that were at higher levels that were on, you know, that those committees, or when I joined a board, those are the people who helped mentor me and helped me become a better CEO. Was a first-time CEO. They're like, we've got your back, and here are the tools and resources I've been using for 30 years. So I had an opportunity to kind of get a foot ahead because of the people who partnered with me. And I think that's sort of what it's all about. Sometimes look online and just follow the people that you see and you like what they're doing. Sometimes people can mentor you without you ever meeting them because you're following the work that they do.

Stefanie Couch:

100%. That's such a great point. If you're watching now in 2025, there are so many resources. You like YouTube by itself is a mentorship program. If you find the person, there are people that are sharing information that would be like us having this conversation right now. They're talking to the camera and they're sharing stuff that's super personal and very specific. You can learn to do anything on YouTube. And so I think that podcasts have been great. Books, are there any like great podcast books or or people that you follow? I'm just curious because I would love to pick your brain on that.

Lakisha Woods:

You know, I have a book that I love and I always tell people about it, and it's How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci. And I just I always reference that book because he did everything, right? He was an architect, an engineer, a writer, a poet, an artist. And he just kept trying new things. And sometimes I think people they get stuck in a hole and they think, this is all I can do. There's nothing more for me. And instead of like, oh, but I've always wanted to do art, like, oh, well, then try it. Like, who says you can't? Maybe you're not good at it, maybe you get better, maybe you don't, and then try something else. But I really loved that because it made me stop, step back, and say, what is it that I've had a passion for that I've never made the time to try because I'm just doing what I know I have to do? You've got to make time for yourself. Yeah. And that self-care and taking care of yourself will help you actually influence and inspire others. When people see you taking the time to take self-care, to do, you know, something different, they're watching and they're learning. And that's definitely what I've noticed from um people who've shared with me uh their thoughts about what they've seen me do.

Stefanie Couch:

I'm curious, what do you like to do in your spare time when you're not running the NGA fun, fun, glass-billed shows?

Lakisha Woods:

I say the toughest job I have is being a mother. Uh, my daughter is seven years old. She inspires me every day. She's the reason I wrote the book. I wanted her to have a resource to turn to to say, you are as good as you want to be. You have to believe in yourself, you know, recognize we have strengths and weaknesses, and don't be that person that says, How come I didn't get a promotion? I've been here two weeks, right? You've got to earn it, and that's still something that we have to be willing to do. Um, but I just I wanted her to have those resources, and it ended up being a resource for other people. But uh, my daughter is my joy, and so anytime this is actually the first time I've attended an annual meeting as a CEO where my daughter and my husband weren't with me.

Stefanie Couch:

Oh, well, you gotta bring them next year because that drumline, I she's gonna love that.

Lakisha Woods:

She would have loved it. She's in second grade now, so it made a difference getting out of school, and he's a teacher. So I said, okay.

Stefanie Couch:

I'm seeing matching outfits. I love it.

Lakisha Woods:

Oh, we may have to get her excused from third grade.

Stefanie Couch:

We we have to do it next year. We have to make it happen. Well, I want to talk about the book because you are an incredible leader, an incredible woman. Your book is something that has a really cool title. So tell me about the title and tell me where it came from.

Lakisha Woods:

Never get their coffee, empowering fearless leadership. Uh, the title I really uh created because of my very first job, where I watched a woman who was a leader in the company leave the room because she was told to go get coffee for the male customers who just arrived. And I was sitting in the room thinking that they would have probably sent me, but they didn't. And the men just started talking about her project because she wasn't there. When she came back in, she was trying to find her way, and it just really bothered me. And I said to myself, I will never get their coffee. Like, that is not our job. Now, don't get me wrong, another thing I say in the book is if it is your job to get coffee, like get the coffee. Don't take this too literally. Yes, and it's not necessarily about the coffee, especially because I will tell you what I also wrote about was in today's environment, note-taking is the new version of getting coffee. Yes. How many times have you sat in a like even a Zoom session or team session, and somebody says, Oh, who can take notes? I've sat on a million of these like CEO calls. Everybody on the call is a CEO. It is always the woman that is asked to take notes, and I speak up. I don't know. Like, Ryan, why don't you take the notes? Yeah. Oh, yeah, let's take turns.

Stefanie Couch:

Now we have AI note takers, which are the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Lakisha Woods:

Very true.

Stefanie Couch:

I love it. Well, the the premise of that is so important to think about what are you doing and what is your job and how do you stand out in that? We talked a lot about today in the in the women's event about visibility, about using your voice, about standing in your power. What was some of your takeaways from today and what excites you the most about this Women in Glass initiative?

Lakisha Woods:

I just love that everyone, you have to acknowledge when there is a challenge and when we aren't where we need to be. Everybody said, hey, our numbers aren't big, but they're growing. And also I loved the stories that people told me about uh events that they're doing locally, bringing people together, companies that are bringing women in their office together. And so that's what it is. It takes baby steps, and you can really truly get people to, you know, grow because they're in that network. And we also, again, talk people talked about you, it's not just women talking to women. The men are leading so often, and so they need to know what they need to change in order to make an inclusive environment for all.

Stefanie Couch:

Absolutely. The men and the allies that are in the organization, they're they're super important because they're a lot of the people that can help us get to where we want to go or where women want to go.

Lakisha Woods:

Absolutely.

Stefanie Couch:

Well, I'm excited about what's to come for you, and I'm glad to have gotten to collaborate with you this time. I'm excited about 2026. And I'll leave you with one last question. If you had to say one thing that you're most excited about for the next year, you're four months into this role at NGA. What is that?

Lakisha Woods:

I'm excited about continuing to listen to our members, to our customers, and to our staff as we are contemplating new initiatives, new perspectives, new ways of addressing what we do to serve our industry. This is the time that I just love hearing all the feedback and then getting ready to take action.

Stefanie Couch:

Amazing. Well, thank you for joining me on the Paradigm Industry Insiders podcast, and we will see you at the next show.

Lakisha Woods:

You got it.

Stefanie Couch:

See you in Las Vegas. See you in Vegas. Thank you for listening to the Grit Blueprint Podcast. If this episode helped you think a little differently about how to show up, share it with someone in your building world who needs it. If you're ready to turn visibility into growth, then head to gritblueprint.com to learn more and book a call to talk to us about your growth strategy. Until next time, stay unmistakable.

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