Continuing March, with a new impressive woman. In the ever-evolving landscape of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), one woman is making waves with her visionary approach to digitalization. Meet Asmae Ben Bahida, the Founder and CEO of Just BIM It, an engineering and consulting firm with over 7 years of expertise, dedicated to guiding the AEC industry through a sustainable digital transition.

We had the pleasure of meeting Asmae at her office. There we discussed her career path, projects, ambitions, and obstacles she conquered along the way.

Not so much of a reader? Discover our video here.

Asmae’s Journey

Kingsley: Hello Asmae! Can you present yourself and your project?

Asmae: Hi I’m Asmae, I am a Construction engineer specializing in digitalization of construction a process also known as BIM. After gaining experience in consultancy, I decided to start my own company. If I had to give 3 adjectives about myself: they would be Passionate, Resilient, and Ambitious

K: Can you say a little bit more about your educational and professional path?

AB: Of course, during my studies in Construction engineering I discovered the BIM process and it sparked my curiousity. I started to research this process and  quickly grew passionate about it. I then followed classes from American schools about the BIM process, marking the start of my adventure in the world of digitalization of construction. I ventured into creating a company with someone during my studies, sadly, it didn’t go well, but I learned a lot of important       lessons from the experience. After going back to finish my master’s degree, I decided to create my own website due to limited financial resources as a student. That decision was the start of my journey with it, and it happened quite by chance also. I continued working as a consultant in both fields, until today, where I’ve managed to merge them both

K: What was your dream career when you were younger?

AB: I’ve always dreamed of becoming an engineer and owning my own company. Today, I’ve realized both dreams, but I find myself with even bigger ambitions and more dreams that I aspire to achieve.

K: If you had to give yourself from 10 years ago an advice, what would it be?

AB: I would say be confident!

K: Is there a woman who inspires you?

AB: The woman who inspires me daily is obviously my mother. Because she is brave, she takes initiative, she is empathetic, and she supports me a lot in my entrepreneurship project. Sometimes, when I have doubts about projects or come up with ideas that even I think are crazy, she’s there encouraging me with a ‘Why not?’ and reassuring me, ‘You are capable of achieving this.’ She, along with my dad, forms my support system. I feel incredibly fortunate to have both of my parents rooting for me and supporting my ambitious projects. I can’t thank them enough.

Just BIM’IT Project

K: Can you present the project Just BIM’IT ?

AB: The company ‘Just BIM IT’ is an engineering office and consulting firm specializing in digital construction, BIM processes, smart cities, and smart buildings. We also have a small IT department.

K: Can you explain simply what is a BIM process?

AB: I often liken it to playing the Sims game, where you can construct buildings within the game. Nowadays, thanks to 3D modeling that incorporates data, we can virtually build before physically constructing. This enables us to automate numerous processes, with data being the core of BIM processes. To clarify, BIM is a work methodology that relies on collaboration among various stakeholders—be it architects, engineers, landlords, or consultancy firms. They all work on a centralized model, known as BIM, that collects the data and insights from every participant.

K: You are also a member of the Smart Cities association, can you tell us a bit more about that?

AB: I am a board advisor of EU Tech Chamber for the Smart Cities Alliance, my role on this board is to advise on different topics and challenges related to smart cities. We want to educate on how to design a smart city, with a focus on how to link durability. We want also to put digitalization to work for citizens.

K: So what’s a smart city?

AB: A smart city leverages digitalization to enhance the quality of life for its citizens. For example, by creating smart buildings equipped with sensors on each floor, we can collect data on energy consumption. This allows us to analyze and optimize energy use in buildings. Additionally, the collected data enables us to use algorithms to predict carbon emissions. Data collection can occur both before and after a building’s construction. With the BIM process, we prefer to utilize data beforehand to design highly efficient buildings. However, we also have strategies for older buildings, where sensors can be installed post-construction to collect data from existing structures

Women in Entrepreneurship

K: What inspired you to change your career path from BIM manager to create your own company?

AB: I believe my entrepreneurial spirit has always been a part of me. Even when I was younger, I constantly found myself taking the initiative to develop things. In the labs, I naturally assumed a leadership role, delegating tasks and eagerly evaluating results to determine how we could further develop processes based on those findings. After gaining several years of experience, I felt it was the right time for me to embark on the entrepreneurial journey. Despite having a creative mindset, which might seem at odds with the typical perception of an engineer as highly logical and analytical, I’ve always managed to blend these aspects effectively. I’ve always been curious about how I could apply technological solutions in innovative ways to address societal issues, especially given my specialization in this domain.

K: Is there a project that you are very proud of?

AB: One of the most inspiring projects I’m involved in, and still working on, focuses on promoting entrepreneurship and engineering among women. This theme deeply resonates with me, and I take pride in knowing that I can contribute to making a difference or an impact in this area. I am developing a program designed to help women in Senegal become financially independent by establishing their own sources of income, leveraging technology.

K: You are also part of other projects, such as the project Women in BIM, can you tell us a bit more about that?

AB: I am involved in several initiatives aimed at empowering women. Although I never considered myself an activist and was always inspired by those who defend minority rights, encountering the realities of the construction sector kept me motivated and gave me the strength to take action. My goal is to support women so they don’t have to endure the same challenges I faced in the construction industry. I am now a member of Women in BIM, an international organization that advocates for BIM processes. This group includes architects and construction engineers like myself. We conduct mentoring sessions, provide answers to questions, and educate women interested in these fields.

K: What was the main lesson you learned since you launched yourself in entrepreneurship?

AB: Since embarking on my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve learned several lessons that I wish I had known beforehand. The first is the power of networking. Initially, as an introvert, I remained within my bubble, but I soon realized that I couldn’t achieve much without opening up. Entrepreneurs need to communicate, create connections with other companies and organizations, and step outside their comfort zones. Another piece of advice I would offer is the necessity of self-awareness. I engaged in a lot of personal development before launching my company, but found that it was something I needed to focus on even more once I entered the entrepreneurial world. Understanding your weaknesses and strengths is crucial to effectively address them and grow your business.

K: For you, what makes a good leader?

AB: A good leader is someone who inspires their team. Additionally, effective communication and strong emotional intelligence are key qualities. These soft skills enable efficient communication with your team, allowing you to guide and educate them, while also learning from them.

Women in Construction

K: Did you have the feeling that you are evolving in a man’s sector?

AB: The construction sector is predominantly masculine and traditionalist, which can make it challenging for women. As a female engineer in the construction industry, I’ve personally experienced these difficulties, and I’ve observed that being a woman entrepreneur in this sector comes with even greater challenges. Unfortunately, there’s still much change needed and effort required to address this issue.

K: Is there some challenge in particular that you want to talk about?

AB: Well, being young, a woman, a woman of color, and working in both the construction and tech sectors, I find myself ticking several boxes that inherently come with challenges. Often, I am not taken as seriously during project discussions. I’ve noticed at events or meetings, initially, people don’t pay much attention or give much importance until I begin to present my project or speak at a conference. At that moment, I sense a shift in the room’s dynamics. People start to interact with me, offer congratulations, and initiate conversations. As a woman, there’s a palpable feeling that we must prove ourselves to earn respect, a requirement that seems less pronounced for men.

K: Thank you for your answers, is there any new project coming up for you?

AB: My primary objective at the moment is to scale up my company. In addition, I’m committed to driving change in the construction sector. I am organizing an event set for September, spotlighting women in construction, orchestrated by my company  “Just BIM IT” and co-organized by “Embuild”, the Belgian Construction Confederation. I’m grateful for the support of Jean-Christophe Vanderhaegen, General director of Embuild Brussels and Flemish Brabant, who is a great ally for women and is backing my initiative. My goal is to promote the sector to women, reinforcing my belief in their capabilities.

For any young girls dreaming of one day wearing a construction helmet, I want to send a message that it is entirely possible, and I am working to make the sector more accessible and inclusive to them.

Full of energy and hope, Asmae serves as an inspiring example of believing in your potential, proving that you can reach wherever you aim to be. Supporting women in sectors where their presence is less prominent is crucial to creating a safer environment and allowing talent to express itself everywhere.