Built to Lead 2026 Women’s Summit – Power, Progress & Presence in the Built Environment: Break Out Session 4: Presence, Confidence & Professional Identity/Power & Influence Without the Title

Featured Panelists:

Erin Miller, Senior Principal, East Region Director of Business Development

Erin has nearly 20 years of experience in Business Development Marketing and Communications leadership in the AEC Industry. She is a Storyteller, Connector, Teacher, Author, Facilitator and a Strategic Creative. Erin genuinely enjoys connecting people to each other in ways that delight and mutually empower. She builds strategies for individuals and businesses with a focus on community impact and unique real estate solutions. A genuine passion for supporting others through thoughtful planning and implementation is at the core of everything she does. Erin is currently serving as the PWC Boston Chapter President-Elect and is a member of the South Shore Hospital IRB as well as the Hospital’s Foundation Executive Board of Trustees. She is a frequent lecturer at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Endicott College.

Heidi Werther, Founder & CEO

Heidi Werther jumped into leadership one year out of college when she accepted the challenge to lead two teams at a Fortune 500 company and never looked back. With over 20 years of leadership experience, including executive roles, today, as an Executive Coach & Consultant, Heidi partners with leaders at every level — in organizations of all sizes and across industries — to support and empower them to communicate effectively, lead with confidence, and own their power and influence.

Heidi’s role isn't to fix her clients — they are not broken. It's to ask powerful questions, explore new perspectives, and create space for them to step fully into their professional identity as the leader they are capable of being.

Whether she is working with an emerging leader or a C-Suite executive, Heidi’s energy is contagious, her approach is transformational, and her commitment to her clients’ growth is unwavering.

The question isn’t whether you have what it takes. The question is - Are you ready to own it?

Krysta Van Ranst, CEO &Founder, Building PPL

Krysta Van Ranst is the CEO and founder of Building PPL, a leading Massachusetts-based construction learning and development consulting firm. In her role, Krysta connects her client list of small and mid-sized construction companies with innovative L&D solutions that begin by investing in people.

After over a decade of holding major titles like Senior Global Learning Specialist for TripAdvisor, Director of Talent for Dellbrook | JKS, and L&D Manager at Suffolk Construction, Krysta wanted to make more space for her family. She left corporate behind to begin her entrepreneurial journey and shift to full-time founder in an industry she had previously planted roots - construction.

In her first year of business in 2020, Krysta translated her passion and sense of purpose in the construction industry to $430,000 in grants for her clients and reduced turnover by 10% for each of her clients. 6 years later, she has netted more than $6.5 million in grants which will fund training for nearly 4,000 employees, and has grown the firm from 1 to 6 employees.

Krysta believes strongly in the power of lived experiences as part of her expertise, and she regularly serves as a thought leader in the L&D space, most recently having served as a webinar speaker for the Associated General Contractors (AGC), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), and Startup Boston Week. She is a member of the AGC of Massachusetts. Krysta holds a BS in Business Administration from the University at Albany, SUNY, along with holding certifications as a PI Certified Talent Optimization Consultant and Certified Professional Coach.

When Krysta isn’t dreaming up her next change-making learning directive, she’s wrestling her 3 boys, reading as many books as possible or going to Broadway shows and celtics games with her husband.

Moderated by Jill Papagni, Business Development Manager, DPR Construction

Jill Papagni is the Business Development Manager for DPR Construction. She brings a fresh approach, high energy, and proven expertise within DPR’s healthcare group. She has built new relationships and strengthened existing ties with several key clients. She employs the tools of technology along with her strong analytical skills to explore new opportunities and deliver DPR services that exceed client expectations.

Jill is an active member of several industry organizations, including the New England Healthcare Engineer's Society (NEHES), American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), and Professional Women in Construction (PWC). Jill holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY.

A nine-year resident of the North End, she enjoys all that the city has to offer. When not running around the city of Boston, she enjoys retreating to the Cape to spend time with her family, playing on her company's softball and kickball teams, or catching a Bruins or Patriots game.