Catrina Alexandre: Electrical Inspector & Founder of Black Women in Construction
Take a break, we’re on Smoko. This week, we’re honored to welcome Catrina Alexandre, an electrical inspector and the visionary founder of Black Women in Construction—a nonprofit created to uplift, support, and empower women of color navigating the trades industry.
Catrina shares her powerful story of entering and rising through the construction world, starting with a spark of inspiration the first time she saw a blueprint. Her love for building and her goal of becoming a building inspector are driven by her passion for learning and her desire to create lasting change within the industry.
“When I saw my first blueprint, I knew I could build anything—I just had to learn how.” – Catrina Alexandre
In this conversation, we explore the challenges Catrina has faced as a Black woman in a male-dominated field—from gaining recognition to demanding respect—and how those experiences fueled her to launch Black Women in Construction. The organization offers resources, mentorship, and visibility for women in trades, all while creating a platform that celebrates authenticity and ambition.
We also talk about the urgent need for representation and equity in construction. Catrina’s mission is to make sure no woman feels isolated or undervalued in the field. Her work is creating space where women can connect, grow, and thrive in trades, and where leadership is both diverse and community-rooted.
This episode is a call to action to lift others up and build a future where women—especially women of color—are fully empowered in skilled trades and construction.