EHC CONTENT
​
Emily Cohen
On a mission to inspire and reshape how construction attracts and develops people, especially women, at every level.
Listen to Emily's Keynote Speech to more than 700 women from across the industry at ENR's Annual GWIC Conference.
Hear Emily's Message for Women in Construction Week
"Not one day. Today."
MEET EMILY
Emily Cohen is the Chief Executive Officer of United Contractors (UCON), leading California’s most influential construction trade organization representing union-signatory construction firms.
A next-generation leader, Emily has spent 16 years as a relentless advocate and leading voice for California’s union contractors, their teams, and the communities they serve.
Emily is a frequent industry speaker on leadership development, on a mission to inspire and reshape how construction attracts and develops diverse talent—particularly women, at every level. She consistently challenges audiences to confront a simple but powerful truth: leadership isn’t a title you chase. It belongs to everyone in the room and on the job site. And it starts with how you lead yourself.
Emily serves on the Boards of California High-Speed Rail Authority, the California Alliance for Jobs, and San Francisco Urban Research (SPUR) Association. In the community, Emily is passionate about poverty alleviation work and serves on the Board of the world-renowned GLIDE Foundation, as well as the advisory board of Old Skool Cafe, a nonprofit restaurant dedicated to providing job skills and transformational support to at-risk youth in BayView Hunters Point.
In 2026, Emily was named one of the Bay Area’s Most Influential Women by the San Francisco Business Times.
Emily lives in San Francisco with her husband, Spencer, their two young children, Ellie and Henry, and their very-good-dog, Rowdy.
​
​"I lead a team of 48 men and 2 women, and so much of what Emily shared I've experienced firsthand. I loved hearing her words!" - Katerina B.
"Brilliant. Inspiring. Authentic. Compassionate....her presentation resonated because she is genuine, direct, and refreshingly practical, even when delivering a difficult message. Emily was especially inspiring to the next generation of leaders, offering honest guidance, real- world perspective, and a healthy dose of humor in a way that lands with both
authenticity and grace." -Lisa Nakamura, VP HR, Safety, L&D, Culture Leader
​
"Emily's keynote speech struck a deep cord with me. I have encouraged everyone in my network to listen to her speech for great messages of advice and inspiration." - Lisa M., Turner Construction
​​
"Emily was the keynote speaker at our annual Women in Construction event. Her speech was outstanding. The feedback we received was phenomenal, with everyone — even those outside of the industry — feeling impressed, empowered, and proud. People are still talking about it." - Christine S., CEO, Valley Builders Exchange​
​
"I am going into Executive Leadership soon, and Emily's advice for leading yourself will stick with me." -Belinda G.​
​
"She woke the whole room up. Great speaker and POWERFUL advice." -Therese S.
​
"Emily seems to know my audience better than I do. She breaks down complex topics and effortlessly connects them to big picture concepts." - Matt Cahill, CEO
​​​​
"Emily's ability to communicate a story and mission to others has been a game-changer for our organization! She compels people to not only care, but to take action." - Teresa Goines, Founder & CEO.​​
​
"Emily knows what an audience wants to hear and needs to hear. She understands how to craft a story and a message so that truly resonates. And she's fun to work with!" - "Coach" John H. Captain, Navy Seal (Ret.), Author, Leadership Consultant
​
​