March is Women in Construction Month, and at Bobyard, we're taking a moment to celebrate the women helping shape the future of the industry.
Meet Christabel (Christa) Bugla, Head of Business Development at Bobyard. Christa has a background in SaaS and AI and now works closely with commercial landscape contractors, combining her interest in technology with a growing appreciation for how the construction industry operates. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she still lives and works out of Bobyard’s headquarters, and balances her role with Pilates and weekend trips to Napa wine country.
We sat down with Christa to hear her perspective on what it’s been like to shift into a new industry.
What drew you to Bobyard and your current role?
Earlier in my career, I worked in fast-paced SaaS environments focused on identity and fraud. I collaborated closely with customers as they implemented new systems and evolved how their teams operated.
I’ve always been drawn to companies that solve complex problems while staying closely connected to the people actually doing the work, and Bobyard really embodies that. The vision for the product is bold, but it’s grounded in constant conversations with contractors, estimators, and operators who understand the realities of running their businesses.
What’s something that stands out about the construction industry?
One thing that stands out is how much strategic thinking happens before a project even begins. People often associate construction with the work happening in the field. But the pre-construction side of the business—the estimating, interpreting plans, building quantities, pricing work—requires an incredible amount of judgment and experience. Estimators are making decisions that directly influence whether a company wins a project and how profitable that work will ultimately be.
Coming into this industry from a technology leadership background gave me a real appreciation for how complex that process is. I also see how much opportunity there is to support those teams with better tools that help them work faster and more confidently.
What challenge have you overcome stepping into a different industry?
Immediately I realized the construction industry requires deep expertise and long-standing relationships. So many of the contractors and operators I work with have spent decades building their businesses. I had to earn that credibility with them by showing respect for their deep experience and taking the time to understand how they actually work.
For me, the best approach has always been to lead with curiosity. I've spent a lot of time listening to estimators, operations leaders, and business owners talk about their workflows, the challenges they face, and how they think about winning work. Over time, those conversations build trust. And when people see you're genuinely invested in understanding the industry and helping them solve real problems, the dynamic shifts from proving yourself to collaborating.
What skill do you think is essential for success in contracting?
The ability to translate between different parts of the business is a bit underrated, but very crucial.
You have field teams, estimators, project managers, clients, and leadership all working toward the same outcome, but they’re often looking at things from very different perspectives. The people who stand out are the ones who can bridge those gaps.
What are you most excited about in your own career right now?
I’m excited by the balance between contributing individually and managing a growing team.
My role has evolved from being primarily focused on driving results myself to also being responsible for how the team operates and performs. That shift has pushed me to be more intentional about setting clear expectations, identifying areas for improvement, and helping people develop in their roles.
What I find motivating is seeing that progress happen in real time. Whether it’s someone getting sharper in how they run a call, improving their numbers, or becoming more confident, those are the moments that stand out.
Building something different
Christa's story reflects something bigger that's happening at Bobyard. We're a team that believes the construction industry deserves world-class technology, and to build it, we need people who are genuinely curious and deeply invested in the customer—whether you come from a contracting or SaaS background.
That’s because we’re growing fast, and we're just getting started. As we expand into new trades and new markets in 2026, we're looking for people who are excited to help change the way the construction industry works.
If that sounds like you, check out our open roles on our careers page.