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In this episode, I talk with Alishia Ballard, M.S.E.M, land development engineer at County of San Diego and an expert in stormwater practices, about how earning a master’s degree in Civil Engineering has been a game-changer for her career, unlocking new opportunities and growth.
***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:
Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Alishia:
- Could you explain how combining a master’s degree in engineering with a degree in management has helped your career, particularly in your current role?
- What motivated you to pursue your master’s degree in engineering management, and how did you manage the challenges of working full-time while completing it?
- What strategies helped you balance your full-time job with your master’s program, and how did the support from your workplace and team dynamics contribute to your success?
- In what ways did your master’s program help you in your current role, particularly with GIS projects and engaging under-represented communities?
- How does dynamic leadership, which focuses on character development, listening, and fostering a shared vision, differ from traditional leadership, and how have you applied these principles in your work?
- Implementing leadership changes takes time and patience, often requiring small steps over a long period. Can you share an example of an innovative process you’ve developed through STEM mentorship that had a significant impact?
- Can you share an example of an innovative STEM mentorship process you’ve developed that had a significant impact, such as the Lego STEM camp or GIS training you mentioned?
- What challenges and successes have you encountered while implementing stormwater low impact development and best management practices for the Regional Water Quality Control Board?
- What final piece of advice would you give to engineers considering pursuing a master’s degree?
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Maximize Your Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering:
- Combining a master’s degree in engineering with a management degree enhances leadership and problem-solving skills, leading to innovative solutions and a stronger impact in the current role.
- Engineers considering a master’s degree should ensure they have a flexible work schedule to accommodate their studies, and should seek support and understanding from their supervisors and team.
- Pursuing a master’s degree later in life allows for a more mature approach to education, enhancing better communication with professors and a stronger reliance on team support. Ensuring workplace flexibility during this period is crucial for balancing academic and professional responsibilities effectively.
- Engineers often struggle with communication due to their analytical mindset, but developing interpersonal skills can transform analytical thoughts into comprehensible messages, enhancing their effectiveness as communicators. This shift is crucial for advancing from a good engineer to a great one.
- Dynamic leadership goes beyond traditional process-focused management by emphasizing character development, active listening, and cultivating a shared vision among team members. This leadership style incorporates all voices to achieve collective goals, significantly impacting organizational culture and effectiveness.
- Implementing leadership changes often requires patience and time, as significant improvements typically result from cumulative small steps rather than immediate transformations. This gradual approach can lead to substantial, lasting changes within organizations.
- A recent Lego STEM camp and GIS training session showcased significant community engagement, drawing in local media personalities and impacting around 30 young community members. These events underscore the critical role of STEM activities in promoting educational and developmental opportunities for youth.
- Implementing stormwater low impact development and best management practices in San Diego presented challenges, notably due to new regulations and techniques unfamiliar to many engineers. To facilitate understanding and application, a detailed spreadsheet was developed, linking each step to specific sections of the design manual, enhancing both internal and client comprehension.
- For those working full-time while pursuing a master’s degree, it’s crucial to have a flexible schedule. Ensuring support from supervisors and team members can make a significant difference in balancing work and study.
More Details in This Episode…
About Alishia Ballard, M.S.E.M:
Alishia Ballard is a land development engineer with the County of San Diego, where she conducts land development discretionary review for private development projects. Her role requires her to analyze drainage studies, including hydrology and hydraulic design to accommodate flooding conditions and 100-year storms.
She helped implement the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s stormwater low impact development and best management practices. She regularly consults with clients on technical specialization reviews and standards. Furthermore, she also collaborates with traffic engineers on maintaining County standards for private developments.
She is passionate about innovating new processes of making the world a better place through STEM, volunteerism, and mentorship. She enjoys writing, all things data, and is an art and culture buff.
Alishia currently holds a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University and an M.S. in Engineering Management from California State University, Northridge.
About the Host: K. James Taylor, Jr., P.E.
K. James Taylor, Jr., P.E., is a licensed professional engineer and an associate vice president at Verdantas, an emerging environmental, engineering, and technical consulting company with a green, sustainable, and people-first approach in the foreground. James has over 17 years of experience in civil engineering in the land development and municipal fields. Land development services include the design of subdivisions and site plans for compliance with local codes and ordinances, civil/site engineering, stormwater management, road design, and utility design. James has served as a project manager since 2018. In 2021, James was recognized with the Outstanding Project Manager Award at Duffield Associates (now Verdantas) for outstanding performance as a project manager and his consistent display of leadership traits valued by the company, including scheduling, management, proactive communication, collaboration, responsiveness, and client-focused service.
James was selected as the 2021 Young Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Delaware Section, and served as the President of the Delaware Engineering Society and the New Professionals Director on the NSPE Board of Directors from 2021-2023.
Books Mentioned in This Episode:
Sources/References:
County of San Diego
SWOT Analysis
MS4 permit (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit)
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Connect with Alishia Ballard, M.S.E.M, on LinkedIn
This Episode Is Brought to You by PPI
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We would love to hear any questions you might have or stories you can share on how you maximize your master’s degree in civil engineering.
Please leave your comments, feedback, or questions in the section below.
To your success,
Anthony Fasano, P.E., LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
