Top Women profile: Annie Kao
When she was recognized as part of the 2022 class of Top Women in Hardware & Building Supply, Annie Kao of Simpson Strong-Tie was vice president of engineering for the building products giant.
Now comes a new role for the accomplished engineer. In March, Kao was promoted to a Simpson Strong-Tie’s vice president of strategic partnerships and engagement. Here’s how she describes it:
“This new role is a critical step toward achieving our long-term objectives to continue to foster strong connections within the industry, enhance recognition of our brand and products, and address the labor shortage,” Kao said. “I’m excited to leverage my experience at Simpson Strong-Tie and my passion for the industry to help open up new avenues for engagement and explore collaboration opportunities while helping to develop the next generation of industry innovators.”
As an engineer herself, Annie was no stranger to accolades.
She made the prestigious Girl Geek X List of Top 60 Women leading Engineering Teams, and she was a former director of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC). She was also a founding member of the SEAOSC Women in Structural Engineering Committee.
That experience began at an early age in a household where science, math and engineering ran in the family.
“My dad is a civil engineer who used to take me into the office with him to finish up some projects over the weekend,” Kao told HBSDealer. “I remember being so inspired by how he was helping to shape the roads and waterways of our city, looking over the blueprints, being fascinated by the computers and huge plotters."
The 2022 Top Women in Hardware & Building Supply honoree also shared her thoughts on the role of women in the male-dominated industry. It’s important that managers not only lead and develop teams with diverse backgrounds and experiences, but have the skills to support them. “That’s one of the most important things we can focus on as industry,” she said.
“All of my direct managers in my career have been male, and I count all of them as huge contributors to my success. The time they invested in me through coaching, supporting me in achieving ambitious goals, and advocating on my behalf with other leaders within the company have all enabled me to pursue increasingly higher levels of leadership within the organization.”
Kao is also a believer in the concept of “you have to see it to be it,” as it plays out across the industry.
“Representation matters,” Kao said. “You want women to be able to picture themselves in these roles being not only successful, but also that they belong within that team, company, and industry. You want women to be able to see a path to success in any hardware and building supply position, so any way that we can share those stories and career path trajectories to more people can help draw them into the industry.”
Kao saw it in her early days. “I just knew that I wanted to have a job where I could use creativity and technology to solve real world problems that would benefit so many people,” she said. “So I think I was lucky in that I saw construction as a field for me very early in life and was always encouraged to pursue it.”
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Annie’s Advice
Kao shared several ideas on how to find success in the industry. Advice that applies to men and women.
• “Build your own personal Board of Directors of your mentors, advocates, and role models who can give you guidance and support along your career journey.”
• "Be a catalyst for change and continuous improvement, ask for what you need to be successful;" and
• "Do what you're passionate about and can bring your strengths to the table.”
