Sponsors

Architectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA)
Website: https://aga-ca.com
LinkedIn: /agaengineered

Syndi Sim
Director, Sales and Business Development, Q-railing North America
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-cunningham-44a8031a/

Tom Caldicott
CEO, Unity Search
Website: www.unitysearchltd.com
LinkedIn: /tom-unitysearch

00:00 – Introduction to Cindy Sim and Her Journey
02:47 – The Importance of Women in Glass and Glazing
06:11 – Addressing the Disconnect in Leadership
09:07 – Promoting Women in the Industry
11:57 – The Role of Mentorship in Career Advancement
15:03 – Creating Opportunities for Women
18:01 – Building a Personal Brand on LinkedIn
20:58 – The Value of Authenticity and Community
24:01 – Cindy's Role in the National Glass Association
27:01 – Conclusion and Call to Action
29:31 – Empowering the Glass Industry: Syndi's Journey
33:45 – Women in Glass: Building a Supportive Community
38:06 – Inspiring Change: Expanding Women in Glass Initiatives
44:22 – Global Connections: Women Supporting Women in Glass
47:34 – Quickfire Insights: Personal Reflections and Advice

Hey guys, and welcome to another episode of the Facade Focus Podcast, where I aim to connect the global façade industry by sharing knowledge and experience for others to learn from.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be interviewing leaders and industry experts from across the world to discuss common challenges we all face and the innovative solutions helping to move the industry forward.

This week, I’m joined by Syndi Sim, Director of Sales & Business Development at Q-railing North America, and one of the most visible and influential advocates for women in the glass and glazing industry.

Syndi’s story is a brilliant one. She didn’t start in glass. She came from the broader AEC world, stepped into the glazing industry with zero experience, and built everything from the ground up through curiosity, consistency, and putting herself out there.

Across 13 years, she’s worked with fabricators, suppliers, and now directly with the glazing community — all while building one of the strongest personal brands in the industry.

She credits her rise to mentorship from both men and women and now sees it as her responsibility to give that same support to the next generation.

In this episode, we dive into an important topic for our industry: the role, impact, and advancement of women in glass and glazing.

We discuss the visibility gap in the C-suite, the stigma facing women entering the trades, the lack of formal mentorship programs, and why creating opportunity often starts with building your own brand.

Syndi also opens up about the work being done through the California Glass Association’s new Women in Glass initiative — from heart-to-heart conversations to cross-generational support networks — and why she believes this movement needs to grow across the United States and beyond.

It’s an honest, energizing, and much-needed conversation for anyone who wants to see this industry evolve.

Now, a quick shout-out to our podcast partners, Architectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA) — an employee-owned business with over 55 years of curtainwall experience. Innovative people. Iconic projects.

You won’t find another curtainwall contractor like AGA. Their culture and craftsmanship drive everything they do.

Alright, let’s get into this week’s episode of the Facade Focus Podcast with Syndi Sim from Q-railing North America.

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