Support for our coverage of Women in Water is provided by DN Tanks.
At AC19 Palm Springs, CWEA held it’s Second Annual Women Impacting Water Breakfast. It was a morning of networking, inspiration, encouragement and career advice. Megan Yoo Schneider of Seven Management Consulting lead the audience and panelists on an interactive discussion on challenges, career development and ways to encourage more women to join this great sector.
Panelist(s) included CWEA’s Past President Connie Leonard of CDM Smith; Dorien McElroy, Collection Systems O&M Manager at Irvine Ranch Water District; Rosalyn Prickett Senior Water Resources Planner of Woodard & Curran; Paula Rasmussen, Executive Officer of the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board and Tama Snow, Senior Associate/Operations Manager of Hazen and Sawyer.
Schneider posed various thought-provoking questions to the audience via text poll. The screen would quickly fill up with a word cloud showing emphasis on the more popular response. For example, achieving work/life balance – yoga was very popular, dog, hike, play, etc. All things that are necessary to achieve that balance we need.
Each panelist was given a moment to provide a brief story, words of wisdom and advice to the audience, i.e. “Aim High” and “Don’t take no for an answer,” “Be willing to take risks” and “Be open to opportunities.”
Other discussion topics included diversity and inclusion, adapting to change, advice on how to find a mentor, attracting young professionals to the water sector and empowering women.
The audience walked away with new friends, valuable ideas and lessons, a goody bag and a pep in their step as they moved on to the Opening General Session. (The latte cart may have had a little help in that pep!)
Thank you United Rentals, ARUP, DN Tanks, Woodard & Curran and V&A Consulting for sponsoring this event. And thank you Berlinda Blackburn and Megan Yoo Schneider for organizing.
Check out some of the word clouds created during the discussion:
What is something you do to maintain work/life balance?
What are some key take-aways we can start implementing today at this conference?
How can we become more innovative and adapt to the changing world around us?
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
What are you learning and applying after attending these women in water meetings? Leave a comment or send us your story to [email protected].
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