Meet Jessica Slack, Senior Executive | Private Sector Growth Leader

From Psych to Sales to Construction: Unconventional Path Brings Jessica Slack to Gilbane

Jessica Slack has worked in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. She’s worked in pharmaceuticals and talent management. She has a degree in psychology. So how exactly does a psych major with a background in sales end up as a Senior Executive and Private Sector Growth Leader for Gilbane Chicago?

“I feel grateful for how my career has evolved,” Jessica said. “I had no idea I would get into the construction business. I just fell into it in 2005.”

Hers was an unconventional path into the industry. Still, Jessica's early career experiences clarified two things: she had an innate talent for sales and liked being a part of a team. Those realizations led her to a construction manager in Philadelphia, then to a project management and owner’s representation firm. With each step, she got closer to the job she imagined for herself. Her passion for cultivating relationships led to her success in key leadership positions throughout the industry.

Then the pandemic hit. Jessica’s partner was living in the Midwest while she was in California, and the sudden lockdown forced some big life decisions.

“The year of the pandemic really changed my life,” she said.

In early 2021, Jessica took the leap and moved to the Midwest region, calling on old contacts as she carefully considered her next step. Most important to her was finding a workplace with a team she could trust.

“Culture was a priority for me," she said. "Transparent communication, humility, leadership that truly values its employees—these were all things I wanted to vet thoroughly before making a decision."

During the interview process, Jessica was impressed by the Gilbane team’s sincerity and warmth and said the leadership’s willingness to be flexible and supportive to staff was evident. The personal stories from her future colleagues about why they chose Gilbane ultimately sealed the deal.

“The tenure of the team here is exceptional. That, to me, stood out. There is truly an investment in retaining and genuinely respecting employees,” she said.

With that support in her corner, Jessica has thrived in the new role. She has been a part of the team for one year and finds that relationship-building is the key to success. Unlike L.A., where the city’s transient nature makes it easy for new connections to form, Jessica sees Chicago as a tighter-knit community. People and clients want to work with companies and leaders who are genuine and authentic, which she says is easy to come by at Gilbane.

Outside of the company, Jessica is likewise committed to building solid relationships. She is an Illinois Manufacturers’ Association member and serves as the Co-Vice Chair of Sponsorship for the Chicago chapter of Women in Bio. In addition, Jessica leads Gilbane's PRIDE employee resource group in the Midwest, which aims to discuss policy concerns and create visibility for volunteerism and education around LGBTQIA causes and matters. 

“The women I've been able to connect with by being a part of this leadership team are exceptional. They’re talented, engaging, inclusive -- I'm just learning a lot, and it’s exciting to be a part of that ecosystem,” she said.

Jessica represents Gilbane in those groups and a growing number of sectors as she expands her portfolio in the life sciences, industrial manufacturing, and commercial space. As always, she puts the person-to-person relationship first.

"I really attribute my success and evolving to where I am today to being committed to building and leveraging my network,” she said. “You have to expose yourself to as many people as possible in different fields and commit to maintaining those relationships in a meaningful and authentic way.