When I started my career as an electrical engineer, the traditional career trajectory was somewhat fixed. In recent years, though, I have observed changes in our industry that have created new roles and ways of working, while developing a more diverse and inclusive environment.

In the early part of my career, I worked mainly on industrial and mining sites — wearing high visibility clothing — designing and commissioning electrical and control systems for mining clients. Later in my career, I discovered new roles in the engineering industry; I managed projects, built teams, and innovated and collaborated with colleagues all over the world to solve engineering problems. Today, I rarely need my steel cap boots; I prefer to wear my favourite fashion flats.

In my current role, as ArchTam’s chief digital innovation officer in the Asia Pacific region, I’m working with our teams to transform our core engineering design services and to create new digital experiences for our clients, and better outcomes for the communities we serve. The new data platforms we utilize allow us to work anywhere and at any time. This flexibility in the way we work is a welcome change in the industry.

When I first joined ArchTam, a very wise engineer with more than 40 years of experience said something that has stuck with me: “As an organization, we have to accept that each new hire changes ArchTam in some way, and that’s something we welcome and celebrate.” This comment demonstrated to me that we have permission to be our authentic selves, to challenge the status quo and to put forward our ideas for the future.

Working with our teams to progress ArchTam’s digital transformation has provided me opportunities to develop, grow and also, in some small way, present a different view of a career trajectory for young women to pursue — or at least think about.

I always like to participate in International Women’s Day campaigns because I remember attending my first International Women’s Day event almost 15 years ago and hearing from the women leaders on the stage about their careers and the importance of networking. Before that first event, I had never considered the importance of networking and I had no knowledge of how to go about it. I am grateful for their insights.

Programs like our Advocate Sponsorship Program, which matches high-performing female leaders with members of our leadership Team, and our broader mCircles mentoring program, are helping cultivate leadership skills for the next generation of women leaders. I really enjoy mentoring and sponsoring women engineers at all levels by helping them to grow their confidence and work toward their goals.

My career path is an example of what’s possible and the different types of roles that women can aspire to — many of which might not even exist yet. For those interested in technology and in creating the solutions to some of the world’s most complex challenges, such as our global response to climate change, engineering could be a career for you — steel caps are optional.

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Each March, ArchTam celebrates International Women’s Day globally. Why? Because women’s perspectives, experiences and ideas are critical. In my two decades in this industry, I have experienced both inadequate representation of women in leadership as well as more diverse leadership teams and have seen the difference it makes. I strive to identify and mentor the growing and developing talent in this business, while paving my own path.

In the past year, I took on a new leadership role focused on digital and innovation for ArchTam’s Design and Consulting Services Americas (DCSA). In addition to stepping into this new role, I also joined the DCSA leadership team and am happy to see that several other women joined me at that table this year too. These women lead national business lines and programs, strategy and, most importantly, our people. I could not be more honored to serve beside them. These women raise critical issues and ask important questions. They support and drive productive, meaningful dialogue in meetings so that we discuss issues and hear all opinions on our way to a resolution. It is an incredible experience to look around a room and see women leaders and peers on every side of the table. This is the active and engaged work environment I want and am proud to see at ArchTam.

The ArchTam team at Investor Day

It is no secret that the industry struggles with a lack of diversity, and some sectors, such as coding, are seeing fewer women enter the workforce. However, the evolving industry landscape means that some of the old gender-based power structures don’t apply in emerging fields. Now is the time for people with more diverse backgrounds to establish themselves as experts/leaders in the field. The Digital and Innovation team at ArchTam is working to exert a positive influence on this. We kicked off the Digital Innovation Initiative focused first around celebrating our innovative people and projects. We are working to ensure that our digital and innovation culture reaches every corner of our company and that our staff feel empowered to suggest new ways to solve problems. Internally, we are partnering with our HR Inclusion and Diversity team to develop a joint strategy for inclusion and diversity across the Digital and Innovation initiative.

Externally, our team is assessing opportunities to partner with nonprofits focused on increasing the number of women in STEM fields. I have been involved with the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) throughout my career and have found some amazing mentors through this organization. I am focused on paying that forward by mentoring women inside and outside of ArchTam.

Throughout my career, when I have so often been the only woman in the room, I have found myself gently educating my male counterparts on subconscious biases and generally my insight is well received. Recently, I spoke on a panel, Sponsors vs. Mentors, held at a large regional engineering conference. In response to a question from the audience, I used a few simple examples to demonstrate how meeting interactions often impact women. For example, I mentioned how the suggestions women make in a meeting are often unacknowledged and that several minutes later a man will make those same suggestions. I noted that women are more likely to be interrupted — interestingly by both men and women. I also discussed how many women, especially young women, often do not sit at the tables during meetings — and the impact that could be made if their colleagues invited them to sit with them at the table.

Penn State Transportation Engineering Safety Conference – Mentor V Sponsor panel

Nothing will change if we do not speak up, are not visible and do not take deliberate actions. I believe being a senior-level women in our company who is focused on digital and innovation helps other women within and outside of our company see what’s possible. Being highly visible through social media, conference speaking engagements and visiting our offices and encouraging women to step up also helps to drive gender parity.

Every day I see women taking the lead to bring about a better environment for our clients and for our people. To everyone celebrating IWD this year, should you have the title or just the influence, be the leader that you want to see in this business. That’s what I’m trying to do every single day and I would love to work alongside you.

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We asked our male leaders to share why International Women’s Day is important to them and how they’re contributing to celebrating women’s achievement and raising awareness against biases.

Dave Beddell – Inclusion & Diversity Lead and Strategy & Growth Director for UK&I
As our clients seek more innovative and sustainable solutions to meet the changing needs of the communities we serve, developing a diverse workforce becomes increasingly important. The first IWD event in 1911 was supported by more than a million people who came together to support a common goal of gender equality in what was a very different world than the one we live in today. In 2020, the IWD platform will reach people many more times that number. This year’s theme of #EachforEqual perfectly sums up the concept of allyship; it is about using the power of collective action and shared responsibility to drive positive change. It cannot and should not be women alone who push for gender equality. As a male leader in the industry, as a father and as a human being, I am proud to embrace my role as an ally in supporting equality, inclusion and diversity, both within ArchTam and society as a whole.

Jay Duncan – Senior Vice President, Americas, and Director of Transportation Planning

My mother taught me that capability rather than gender is the most important attribute for progressing in the workplace. As a nurse practitioner and certified physician’s assistant, she showed me that women are just as capable as men — and that biases do exist.

When I joined ArchTam, my manager and three of the six planners on our team were women. It was clear that ArchTam was a strong supporter of women in the workforce and it still is providing women with the same opportunities afforded to men and highlighting the value that women bring to our company, country and the world. Celebrating International Women’s Day is an important way to show this support.

I survey the room during meetings and industry events and at times see less than 5 percent of attendees are women. I am actively working to change this by volunteering to serve on ArchTam’s Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) coordinating committee, which works with women to help raise awareness, mentor and advance their industry standing. The tides are shifting, but being a woman in an engineering firm is still challenging. Organizations like WTS are taking proactive steps toward changing the landscape.

Karl Jensen – Executive Vice President, National Governments, Americas

International Women’s Day is important because the ability to share common goals and experiences to influence change is extremely valuable. I joined the U.S. Naval Academy 10 years after women were integrated. I assumed equity was normal. When I got out to the fleet, I realized there was still work to be done. I’m honored to have been in the company of the first wave of female aviators on aircraft carriers in 1994. I remember the ups and downs of the integration, but most of all, that those pioneers were brave and that our team was stronger with them aboard.

When I joined the private sector in 2002, I was surprised to discover how slowly positive progress was being made outside of the Navy. Since then, I have worked for two female CEOs and have increased the diversity of my teams with every position I have held. We should all accept the challenge to cultivate inclusion and diversity. We need more agents of change to achieve gender parity and I am thrilled to be part of the movement.

Billy Wong – Southeast Asia Regional Executive

The power of allyship begets the question: “Who and what is an ally?” To me, allies are people who advocate for others and provide an avenue for each other to build confidence, have share of voice and access to equal opportunities.

At ArchTam, our people display the spirit of allyship in actionable and concrete ways. I am so proud to be part of an organization whose leadership recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusion and takes decisive strides in accelerating leadership opportunities for women. Our words and action are in sync. We ensure equal opportunities are given to competent colleagues, regardless of gender. Whether it is representation at the leadership levels or empowering colleagues who are in various life transitions to continue to stay in the workforce by introducing corporate policies such as flexible working arrangements, ArchTam is investing resources to support its people and make a difference to their lives.

In Southeast Asia, I am proud that we celebrate the achievements of all, regardless of gender. At a recent Singapore townhall, we recognized our top performing employees who are delivering transformative work to our clients. Of the six Quality Excellence Awards, five of them went to our female colleagues. It is also particularly inspiring that our two biggest markets, Singapore and Malaysia, are helmed and led by Jee Yi Yng and Ailee Loh, both outstanding and capable leaders. As country representatives, they are role models to our younger engineers and are now shaping the success of our business and operations in their respective markets.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is especially important that we continue to reward and celebrate the accomplishments of all. Equal opportunities will open doors for our best people to be recognized for their leadership and performance, and ensure excellence in everything we do.

Ed Cettina – Chief Operating Officer, Construction Management

As leaders, it is our job to be actively engaged in building a diverse and inclusive workforce. In the New York Metro region, I’m the executive sponsor and chair of a grassroots employee group, ArchTam Women’s Initiative Network (AWIN), that aims to connect all talent, men and women, through networking events and career development workshops. It has been a privilege to champion this group, guiding their vision and helping to obtain executive buy-in. Our ultimate goal is to have AWIN chapters in all our major metropolitan areas to support and empower the next generation.

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There is a growing acknowledgment of the importance of water worldwide. Nonprofit organizations provide drinking water to small remote villages, allowing women who used to spend much of their days fetching water to use the time saved to engage in empowering activities such as education and starting their own businesses. Access to clean water is crucial to public health, economic security, food security, sustainability and wellness. As women are the primary caregivers in most cultures, we must be aware of the impact that clean water has on our communities and act accordingly for ourselves and those we nurture.

Women also have new career opportunities in water as there is a focus on sustainability and preparing for a warming climate, which is a local, regional and global problem with many solutions. Planning and designing for resiliency, as an impact of climate adaptation, has led to an emerging aspect of the water industry that planners and engineers can explore and develop their careers. Many municipalities, which are focused on the day-to-day needs of their customer base, are looking to current civil servants to learn new skills to help develop forward-focused ways of thinking so utilities can thrive in the future. This is not just an issue for coastal areas. The impacts of climate change are far-reaching and still being studied. The water industry will need to be agile and our solutions will need to be adaptable and scalable in order to be effective. While water itself is a constant in our world, the impact that women will have on the industry is continuously evolving.

One of my personal and professional goals is to encourage every young woman I encounter to appreciate math and science. I want every girl to know that she can understand, enjoy and excel in math and science with proper guidance. I am a firm believer in the saying “If you see it, you can be it.” If they’re having trouble finding mentors, I want to share my story and offer to help them find their path. When I found a mentor that believed in my abilities, my world opened up to possibilities in STEM.

While there is much more access to learning about career opportunities now than there was 20 years ago, women in science and engineering need to make themselves accessible to the next generation of women that will excel in our industry. We need to make more meaningful, long-lasting connections with these young women. One approach I take is by explaining the benefits of tap water to everyone I meet, while also telling young women about my role as an environmental engineer and how I am positively impacting their drinking water. That direct connection between my work and their water is the perfect segue into strategizing how their interests can translate into a career in water and ways to make their careers deeply meaningful and rewarding.

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Humans have taken steps to transcend our planet’s boundaries, but for the majority of the 7.7 billion people on Earth, this is it. Anything humans consume or discard is limited to our earthly home.

My parents were raised in the 1930s and in our house growing up, behaviors reflected being raised in a time of scarcity. Many people have joked about Depression-era folks saving short pieces of string. Indeed, growing up we had a closet and drawer with string, rubber bands, short pencils, yarn, paper sacks, computer punch cards and various odds and ends that came in handy for home or arts and crafts projects. Very little was wasted and creative reuse was encouraged.

This sort of behavior — which goes back centuries — is what I consider the original sustainability initiative. Having limited resources drives conservation and the mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle” (or the 3-Rs) contributes to grassroots (or household) conservation. In my home, like that of my parents and grandparents, wecompost food waste, reuse packaging and are generally more conscientious about consumption, also known as ethical consumerism.

To achieve the goal of sustainability, or the balanced coexistence of the Earth’s resources with human civilization, it’s not going to be as simple as saving bits of string, but it is rooted in the same sensibility on a larger scale. As we celebrate this year’s theme for International Women’s Day, #EachforEqual, I’m interested in how the ideology of collective individualism informs the need for a balanced coexistence with resources. I’ve always been told and strongly believe that maximizing opportunities for each person to contribute — irrespective of gender, age, race, ethnicity — benefits all people. #EachForEqual is meant to encourage individual actions that collectively support equality, which I feel is intertwined with sustaining our planet and resources.

At the intersection of my two interests — sustainability and gender equity — I am encouraged by the empowerment of every individual to contribute to a better planet. I have been inspired by recent developments to that end, such as improved small loan availability globally to women entrepreneurs, a group historically and culturally limited by access to capital and business networks. Who better to solve the world’s problems than those most affected by them? Consequently, we may see the greatest improvements coming from those who feel the greatest need for change.

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We asked our leaders to describe the importance that inclusivity plays in conjunction with diversity and how they’re helping to drive gender parity.

Helen Carnevale – Communications and Content Specialist, Environment
Inclusivity not only involves inviting a diverse community to the table, but also creating comfortable pathways for all to be heard. As editor of the Environment global newsletter, I’m thrilled to share accounts and images of our women employees across the world in all stages of their careers. Consistently featuring their accomplishments, awards and stories in a global publication advances parity and provides vision to young women employees.

Are you listening thoughtfully to women? Observe who you are and aren’t including in your professional conversations. Work to embrace diverse colleagues; your next great idea may come from someone who originally didn’t have a voice at the table.

Marissa Farrar – Vice President, People Strategy and Operations, DCSA + CM

Innovative companies are inclusive, and inclusive companies are more likely to meet or exceed financial targets because they bring together people with different backgrounds who have varied ways of seeing things. This diversity of thought yields a wellspring of creativity and prevents groupthink, thereby reducing risk.

I’m a spouse, mother of three, Woman of Color, on the cusp of Gen X and Gen Y and prefer pronouns of she/her/hers. I have both the privilege and passion for helping to shape inclusive people processes and cultivating a culture where those people feel valued, respected and safe to speak their minds. I accomplish this by mentoring others, bringing awareness to unconscious bias through learning programs and sharing my own story about the intersection of gender, gender roles, race, generational nuances and parenthood in the workplace. It’s important to take the time to engage with others who view diversity (including gender diversity) and job qualification as being at odds with each other. I love to facilitate these conversations and I aim to create more opportunity for them. When we seek to understand the life experiences that shape our attitudes and keep an open mind to hear and absorb those of others, we elevate the level of wokeness and move the topic of inclusion from words to action.

Wendy Lopez – Texas Executive

As both a female and an out lesbian leader in the historically male-dominated engineering industry, I have the unique opportunity to prove to our employees that it is OK to be yourself and that you are not going to be discriminated against at ArchTam. I also make sure to show up and represent ArchTam in the LGBTQ community.

In fact, one of my favorite recruiting events is ArchTam’s sponsorship of the nonprofit professional association oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology? Engineering and Mathematics), which offers one of the more diverse talent pipelines. This event is important for someone who is just starting their first job and concerned about whether they will see people like them in leadership roles. By having representation of the LQBTQ community at industry events, we’re providing young professionals reassurance that it is not only safe, but also encouraged to be who you are at ArchTam.

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We asked our women employee network: What’s the best career decision you’ve ever made? From associate vice presidents to senior engineer consultants, here’s what they had to share.

 Ready for your next big career move? Browse our Careers site and sign up for our Talent Network to stay in the loop on new opportunities.

Amy Canfield – Associate Vice President, Transportation

I attribute a lot of my success to identifying mentors early on in my career. I’ve proactively sought out relationships with people in positions I aspire to and I’ve been fortunate to have several people take me under their wing. The advice, cautionary tales and relationships they helped me foster have shaped my career goals. I’ve surrounded myself with allies who truly care about me and support my ambitions — both professional and personal. I don’t work in fear and because of that, I’m happy, I take chances and I’m not afraid to dream big.

Dana Al-Qadi – Senior Engineering Consultant

The best career decision I ever made was realizing that careers are hardly ever built on a single decision. Careers are the culmination of all the times we decide to say “yes” — a tiny word that can lead to immense change. I have benefited from saying yes to working in new disciplines, investing in my own technical growth in emerging areas, prioritizing learning from our many experts and committing my time to mentorship and team growth. Even when opportunities do not immediately seem like they fit in the larger goals of your pre-planned career, they can still be incredibly valuable.

Maria Ivanova – Architect
The best career decision I’ve ever made was to join the graduate development program in Continental Europe. It introduced me to new people in various roles who had different expertise. I’ve learned that expanding my network is one of the most powerful development tools. Collaborating with and learning from others has helped me become more confident, both personally and professionally — I was able to settle in to a new role in Kazakhstan with ease. I am now a big advocate for the graduate development program and lead initiatives to bring more talent to the Eastern Europe region.

Amineh Ahmad – Senior Engineer, Project Controls

My career path with ArchTam started in 2015 as a graduate project controls engineer, where I supported design projects and had the opportunity to work with an amazing project manager who later became my mentor. The best career decision I’ve ever made was during my second year — I had a choice to continue on my current path or join the civil infrastructure end market. The idea of changing end markets was terrifying because it involved a transition from residential and healthcare to ports and bridges. I also had to consider the established relationship with my mentor. Ultimately, I decided to make the shift because of the new challenges that my new work profile and projects would bring. Making this change helped me gain confidence and increased my sense of accomplishment at work.

Bryony Martin – Regional Director and B+P UK&I Aviation Market Sector Leader

The best career decision I ever made was to get a mentor. My first mentor was a director working at ArchTam, but on a completely different team. Having someone to bounce ideas off of was hugely valuable; I was lucky that my mentor had faced many of the challenges that I was facing, was very successful in her career and was formidable in her approach to work. She challenged me to think differently about work and life! She has been one of the most influential and inspiring people in my career. Ever since building our relationship, I have been a huge advocate for the mentoring process, and I have learned to accept constructive feedback and use it to improve my skills and reflect on the impact I make.

Elke Watts – Operations Manager

The best career decision I’ve made has been to say “yes” to things outside my comfort zone. I joined ArchTam as an environmental scientist in 2014. After a few years managing projects and delivering technical work, I wanted to explore doing entirely different things. When opportunities to work on new projects within the business became available, I took the chance to branch out. The unknown can be perceived as risky, but by saying yes and opening myself up to new tasks, I secured an amazing job working with a team that I love. The ANZ Operational Services team has allowed me to work with a diverse group of people and on challenging projects — ultimately making me a very happy employee! Change is constant. Don’t be afraid of it. You don’t want to be the person whose heels are in the mud when the wagon starts pulling you in different directions.

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