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Lessons Not Taught in the Classroom

By Jennifer Walsh, PE, Traffic and Planning Section Manager

Relationships are important – with family, friends, coworkers, or anyone you meet.

Relationships don’t happen overnight, they require time, effort, and trust.  Most people think of relationships in the personal sense, but professionally, relationships with coworkers and clients are directly aligned with our development and success.  

I’ve always believed the most significant and meaningful endeavor one can undertake is to contribute back to the very entities and experiences that have played an integral role in shaping one's life. My active involvement in professional societies has helped me form these invaluable relationships, friendships, and mentors that have helped me all throughout my career and I hope will last beyond retirement.

My advice to the younger generations: relationships take time to build and the time to start is NOW. As me and my fellow peers enter the last stage of our career, you will become the future leaders in our industry. Drawing upon my three decades in the industry, I’ve recognized that those with the strongest relationships are often the ones that are most successful. That applies to both companies and to individuals.  Cultivating trust and relationships over the years is not taught in an engineering class. So, the next time your boss invites you to a lunch meeting, or to attend a project meeting, or there’s an extra spot at a professional society event, I encourage you to say YES. You will meet people and establish these crucial relationships that you’ll look back on in 30 years and reflect on how grateful you were for that opportunity.