Episodes
As part of our commitment to connecting, sustaining and advancing women in transportation, Detours & Destinations is all about real stories, real growth and real impact.
Find and follow Detours & Destinations on Spotify, YouTube, Linktree or listen here:
Some of the greatest contributions to our industry come from individuals dedicated to advancing their technical expertise, providing the foundation for the innovations and solutions that make transportation projects possible. In Episode 3 of Detours & Destinations, we sit down with Mei Cheong, Associate Principal – Major Rail Projects, Arup, whose engineering career journey has her contributing to complex infrastructure projects across four continents.
With her infectious energy, optimism, and genuine passion for people, Mei brings a refreshing perspective to career growth. Her story is powerful reminder that success doesn’t follow a single path. Whether your journey leads to technical excellence, project leadership, or a blend of both, each path creates an impact. In this episode, Mei reflects on:
- Why deep technical expertise should be viewed as a competitive advantage, not a limitation
- The lessons she learned from building a career across multiple countries
- Recovering from burnout and finding the confidence to lead again
- How an unexpected task early in her career gave her a front-row seat to leadership and accelerated her professional growth
Her biggest takeaway? Stay curious. Keep Learning. Don’t be afraid to chart your own course. Whether you aspire to be a technical leader, a project manager, or both, some of the best opportunities are the ones you never saw coming.
In episode 2 of Detours & Destinations, Eve Wiggins, Chief Operating Officer, Nieuport Aviation, reflects on how candid feedback, unexpected career detours and difficult personal decisions helped her leadership journey in ways that no classroom or career plan could.
From stepping away from the aviation industry, which she thought would define her professional life, to eventually finding her way back to aviation after leading some of the most visible and complex transit operations in the GTA, Eve reflects on the pivotal moments that challenged her, strengthened her confidence, and accelerated her growth as a leader. She shares how those experiences taught her to:
- Lead under pressure
- Make tough decisions
- Accept constructive feedback
- Trust the value you bring to the table – even when your next step isn’t obvious
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re ready for the next big opportunity, or whether it’s time to make a bold career move, this episode is for you. Listen to episode 2 now and discover why some of the most important career destinations begin with an unexpected detour.
E01 - Hilda Esedebe
In our inaugural episode, we sit down with Hilda Esedebe, Program Manager, Special Projects at the City of Vaughan, for an engaging conversation about career transitions, resilience, and leadership as a woman in the transportation industry.
From climbing wind turbines early in her engineering career to leading interdepartmental initiatives in municipal government, Hilda shares the pivotal moments, bold moves and hard-earned lessons that shaped her journey.
The discussion covers:
- Breaking engineering stereotypes
- Overcoming barriers, tokenism and self-limiting thoughts
- Being bold in the face of judgement
- Mentorship, allies and representation
- And yes, even becoming a game show celebrity